The Joy of DIY Craft Projects: Creating a Kaleidoscope with Your Kids

Hi guys, we do a lot of craft projects at our house and my kids love when I make something that they get to play with. Our DIY rain sticks are still one of their favorite toys this week, but today I'm going to show you how you can make your own super cool kaleidoscopes and have just as much fun with them.

To get started, all you'll need is an empty toilet paper roll, colored beads, a piece of clear plastic, a to-go container that works perfectly, some tape, washi tape, scrapbook paper, and a sheet of mylar cardstock. Now, let's cover our cardboard roll with some scrapbook paper to dress it up. You could also use fabric or wrapping paper - the possibilities are endless! Once you've covered your cardboard roll, it's time to create the inside of the kaleidoscope with our reflective paper.

I'm using this mylar cardstock, but any mirrored paper will work just as well if you're using an empty toilet paper roll. The measurements of your material should be four by six, so make sure to measure carefully. Now, take your triangle and slide it into the cardboard tube - voila! You actually have an open-ended kaleidoscope that's really fun to look at different images with. It's a great option if you don't have a lot of time, but I'm going to finish this one off with an end cap so that we have a fully functioning kaleidoscope.

Take a piece of your clear plastic and cut it off the bottom of the to-go container - it should be about the same size as the cardboard tube. Trace two circles using your cardboard tube and cut them out along the inside of your line. You may need to trim the first one down a little more, but that's okay. Now, pop it in the kaleidoscope making sure it lays flat.

Next, we're going to use a second cardboard tube to create the rotating mechanism. Cut off a piece about an inch wide and make a second cut down the middle - fold it over about a half an inch and secure with a piece of tape. It should fit securely in the end while still being able to rotate. Now, take your second plastic circle and place it on top of your end cap and secure it with clear tape.

Finally, I'm going to finish it off with some washi tape to give it a cleaner look and now it's time to add some beads to the end cap - attach it back to the base and tada! You have a fully functioning kaleidoscope that is truly cool. Strangely enough, I don't think my kids had ever played with a kaleidoscope before, but they were just amazed by this one.

We loved moving it slowly over a piece of patterned scrapbook paper and seeing all the cool designs it created - it was like magic! You can see that you Dexter and we also had so much fun experimenting with different items and seeing what patterns they would make. It's amazing how even a backdrop as simple as a tree or some grass creates a really cool effect.

I hope you guys will give this DIY project a try, because we had so much fun making and playing with our kaleidoscopes. Let me know in the comments below what other DIYs you'd like to see and we'll see you next Friday. Bye for now!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhi guys we do a lot of craft projects at our house and my kids love when i make something that they get to play with our diy rain sticks are still one of their favorite toys this week we built our own super cool kaleidoscopes and today i'm going to show you how you can make your own with just a few supplies all you'll need to get started is an empty toilet paper roll colored beads a piece of clear plastic a to-go container works perfect tape washi tape scrapbook paper and a sheet of mylar cardstock first we're going to cover our cardboard roll with some scrapbook paper to dress it up you could also use fabric or wrapping paper next we're going to create the inside of the kaleidoscope with our reflective paper i'm using this mylar card stock but any mirrored paper will work as well if you're using an empty toilet paper roll the measurements of your material should be four by six then make two folds to create a triangle and secure it with a piece of tape now take your triangle and slide it into the cardboard tube and you actually have an open-ended kaleidoscope that's really fun to look at different images with and a great option if you don't have a lot of time but i'm going to finish this one off with an end cap so that we have a fully functioning kaleidoscope take a piece of your clear plastic i cut this off the bottom of the to go container and trace two circles using your cardboard tube cut them out along the inside of your line you may need to trim the first one down a little more and pop it in the kaleidoscope making sure it lays flat now we're going to use a second cardboard tube to create the rotating mechanism cut off a piece about an inch wide make a second cut down the middle fold it over about a half an inch and secure with a piece of tape it should fit securely in the end while still being able to rotate then take your second plastic circle and place it on top of your end cap and secure it with clear tape finally i'm going to finish it off with some washi tape to give it a cleaner look and now it's time to add some beads to the end cap attach it back to the base and tada you have a fully functioning oh my goodness this is cool kaleidoscope strangely enough i don't think my kids had ever played with a kaleidoscope before and they were just amazed mommy this looks so cool we loved moving it slowly over a piece of patterned scrapbook paper and seeing all the cool designs it created i see you dexter and we also had so much fun experimenting with different items and seeing what patterns they would make you are getting sleek but even a backdrop as simple as a tree or some grass creates a really cool effect however i see a blue all right guys we had so much fun making and playing with our kaleidoscopes i hope you'll give it a try tell me in the comments below what other diys you'd like to see and we'll see you next friday bye guyshi guys we do a lot of craft projects at our house and my kids love when i make something that they get to play with our diy rain sticks are still one of their favorite toys this week we built our own super cool kaleidoscopes and today i'm going to show you how you can make your own with just a few supplies all you'll need to get started is an empty toilet paper roll colored beads a piece of clear plastic a to-go container works perfect tape washi tape scrapbook paper and a sheet of mylar cardstock first we're going to cover our cardboard roll with some scrapbook paper to dress it up you could also use fabric or wrapping paper next we're going to create the inside of the kaleidoscope with our reflective paper i'm using this mylar card stock but any mirrored paper will work as well if you're using an empty toilet paper roll the measurements of your material should be four by six then make two folds to create a triangle and secure it with a piece of tape now take your triangle and slide it into the cardboard tube and you actually have an open-ended kaleidoscope that's really fun to look at different images with and a great option if you don't have a lot of time but i'm going to finish this one off with an end cap so that we have a fully functioning kaleidoscope take a piece of your clear plastic i cut this off the bottom of the to go container and trace two circles using your cardboard tube cut them out along the inside of your line you may need to trim the first one down a little more and pop it in the kaleidoscope making sure it lays flat now we're going to use a second cardboard tube to create the rotating mechanism cut off a piece about an inch wide make a second cut down the middle fold it over about a half an inch and secure with a piece of tape it should fit securely in the end while still being able to rotate then take your second plastic circle and place it on top of your end cap and secure it with clear tape finally i'm going to finish it off with some washi tape to give it a cleaner look and now it's time to add some beads to the end cap attach it back to the base and tada you have a fully functioning oh my goodness this is cool kaleidoscope strangely enough i don't think my kids had ever played with a kaleidoscope before and they were just amazed mommy this looks so cool we loved moving it slowly over a piece of patterned scrapbook paper and seeing all the cool designs it created i see you dexter and we also had so much fun experimenting with different items and seeing what patterns they would make you are getting sleek but even a backdrop as simple as a tree or some grass creates a really cool effect however i see a blue all right guys we had so much fun making and playing with our kaleidoscopes i hope you'll give it a try tell me in the comments below what other diys you'd like to see and we'll see you next friday bye guys\n"