As a kid I spent a lot of time in Arizona. At some point, I came home with a Native American spin drum. Basically, it’s a small drum on a stick with strings and beads hanging out both sides. When you spin the stick between your palms, the drum turns and the beads hit it with a rat-tat-tat. I wanted to translate this into a craft for Annabel.
I cut two matching circles out of white index cards. You can also use a cereal box headed for the recycle bin. Annabel selected a sparkly purple polka-dot paper, and I cut a heart out of it. She decided to sign her name on the back. I had a handful of inexpensive foam paintbrushes, and I ripped the foam off the stick, exposing the flat plastic piece the foam was glued to. I cut a length of ribbon and Annabel strung six beads on it, three for each side of the drum. Using double stick tape, I affixed the ribbon, centering it in the middle of the paper circle. I applied more tape around the perimeter of the paper circle and put the two backs together, sandwiching the flat plastic part of the paintbrush in between. We had a leftover spool of red ribbon with hearts so I tied short pieces at the top of the stick.
It’s a fun craft, percussion instrument, unusual valentine and cat toy all wrapped up in one!
I'd love to see photos of your paper spin drums!
Karin
