Kids love music and banging on pots, pans, and plastic containers. Combine their creativity with their musical talent by making this adorable homemade drum. An hour of craft time will end with music to your ears!

Materials

• Aluminum coffee can with plastic lid
• 2 sheets yellow construction paper
• 1 sheet tan felt
• ½ sheet magenta felt
• Magenta yarn
• 1 rubber band
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• White craft glue
• 2 wooden dowels
• 2 small foam balls
• Blue yarn

Directions

1. Remove lid from coffee can; set aside for a later step.
2. Cover the side of the can with yellow construction paper. Use glue stick to apply glue all over paper, then press onto can.
3. Using the white craft glue, “draw” diagonal lines onto the yellow construction paper. Start at the bottom, go up at a slant to the top; then go down at a slant, creating a triangle. Continue this pattern all the way around the can.
4. Using magenta colored yarn, follow the glue lines and apply to the can. Do not cut the yarn into pieces; simply follow lines, gently pressing yarn into the glue as you go. Cut only once at the end.
5. Lay tan felt on the work surface.
6. Pipe white glue around and on the top of the plastic lid.
7. Place the plastic lid upside down in the center of the tan felt.
8. Use scissors to trim around the plastic lid, leaving a 1” – 2″ border.
9. Place the felt-covered plastic lid onto the coffee can and secure.
10. Wrap the rubber band around the coffee can, securing the tan felt border to the side of the can. Gently pull the felt tight so that the top is smooth.
11. Cut two ½-inch wide strips from the magenta felt (enough to go around the coffee can at the bottom as well as at the top); position around the tan felt to cover the rubber band. Glue in place with white craft glue.
12. To make the drumsticks, gently insert the end of a dowel into the foam ball. If you press too hard and the dowel goes through, just glue it back together.
13. Remove the dowel; add some white glue to the hole. Reinsert the dowel.
14. Cover the foam ball with white glue; wrap blue yarn around it until the ball is completely covered (as shown).
15. Put some glue on the dowel just below the ball and wrap some excess yarn around it. Trim and smooth in place with your fingers (be sure the end of the yarn isn’t sticking out).
16. Allow craft to dry completely (overnight is best) before using; otherwise the drumsticks may fall apart.

Note: To take this project to the next level, a parent can poke a hole on each side of the coffee can before beginning. After pasting on the construction paper, find the holes and poke through, then thread a long piece of cord or yarn through both sides to create a band to go around your child’s neck. Secure the ends by tying together inside the can then complete the project as directed. The colors chosen for this project are optional; make your drum personal by choosing your own hues.