Has the Fidget Spinner TOY CRAZE hit your house yet? Has your child lost it and are you refusing to buy another? Or maybe you have some Fidget Spinners on order… but they are taking 3 weeks to arrive? Or maybe you simply don’t “want to give in” and “waste money” on the latest fad? Well.. my kids came to me and said (yes they did): you can make anything Mummy.. can you make us a fidget spinner toy? Shock horror on my face.. and then I started thinking about it. Actually, a basic Hand Spinner Toy shouldn’t be too difficult. And of course these Fidget Toys make a good STEAM experiment for kids.. right? I did a bit of research.. and then spent quite some time “fiddling” to see which DIY Fidget Spinner without ball bearing would be the easiest for kids to make. And then we came up with today’s solution. I hope you like them.. even more.. I hope you have a go!
You may also be interested in our selection of Paper Toys (great STEAM projects there too), as well as our Paper Pokemon Neverending Toys – which work well as Fidget Toys too! We have also brought together the “best from the web” with these DIY Fidget Spinners to check out – from cardboard Fidget Spinner DIYs like ours, to ones using ball bearings (they can be bought cheaply online and in bulk – US/ UK (aff links)).
Oh and in case you we wondering.. here a 5 Reasons Why to Keep these out of schools (unless you are using them for a Science Fair Project!)
UPDATE: We now have a set of Printable DIY Fidget Spinner Instructions – step by step photos and how to! Great for the classroom, summer camps, library schemes and other youth programs.
DIY Fidget Spinner – Materials
- cardboard (we used cereal packes, an old party hat and some pretty card)
- a toothpick
- 2 1 penny coins (I think you would use quarters in the US, right?)
We also used –
- glue stick
- strong PVA glue
- a pin
- scissors
- a homemade template (I have no added 3 Fidget Spinner DIY Templates here)
UPDATE: a NEW set of DIY Printable Fidget Spinner Templates here!
How to Make a Fidget Spinner DIY
—-> Template for 3 Fidget Spinner DIY Templates here <—–
As mentioned in the video. I spent some time trying to come up with the EASIEST Fidget Spinner How To. What would the children be able to manage (more or less) by themselves. We tried toothpicks, wires and paper clips. We tried layering and we tried rubber bands.. in the end we came up with this Fidget Toy DIY.
I also mention in the video, that these DIY Fidget Spinners are of course NOT as good as the shop bought ones. They have their limitations and they WILL break with use. The important thing is not to panic, or be annoyed, but to simply gather up your pieces (e.g. the toothpick may fall out) and glue it back together again. They are not perfect, but then they are EASY and they are CHEAP and they are still LOTS OF FUN. So with those caveats in mind, on to our how to make a fidget spinner video!! ENJOY!!
As always, I would love to hear about your creations, do share your photos on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to @redtedart me and let your friends and family know where they can find the Fidget Spinner Tutorial.
You may also enjoy my friend’s AMAZING LEGO Fidget Spinner – so clever – and definitely one for LEGO Nuts! And there are lots more DIY Fidget Spinner ideas here.
Fidget Spinners make a FANTASTIC Science exploration – as outline in our Fidget Spinners for Science Fairs posts. If you love the educational elements of this fun DIY.. you may also like the following!
If SCIENCE for KIDS excite you and you are looking for MORE fabulous STEAM activities for kids.. I can highly recommend this collection of STEAM Activities for kids. Packed with FUN. Packed with COLOUR and packed with SCIENCE. You will LOVE it:
Get your copy here today – US/ UK
(and if you are REALLY tempted, there is a fantastic SEASONAL Bundle of books to check out too! US / UK)
(aff links)
How to make a
ENJOY!!!!
Helen Skiles says
May 5, 2017 at 4:58 pmcould you send me a template for the spinner
Red Ted Art says
May 6, 2017 at 9:33 amI don’t have one at the moment, I need to improve the Tri Hand Spinner a little. But will get it done next week. Please do check back!!! Or sign up to our newsletter which goes out Fridays and I will make sure it is included!
DENISE LEEPER says
May 18, 2017 at 3:29 pmTHESE THINGS LEAD TO BE A CHOKING MATTER TO KIDS TOO…… SO BE CAREFUL WITH THEM AND DO NOT ALLOW KIDS TO PUT THEM INTO THEIR MOUTHS AT ALL..PARTS DO COME OFF AND CAUSE SOME SERIOUS IF NOT LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL ISSUES…… JUST READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT A CHILD CHOKING ON A PART OF THIS WHICH LEAD TO HER GOING INTO SURGERY TO HAVE IT REMOVED FROM HER ESOPHAGUS… PLEASE PARENT’S WATCH YOUR CHILDREN WITH THIS TOY!!!!!!!!
Red Ted Art says
May 19, 2017 at 6:52 amThese are meant for older kids.. but yes, agree.. keep them away from young children.
Sharalyn says
May 5, 2017 at 10:31 pmPlease add a template for the fidget spinner. My son would like to try the 3 point one as well.
Red Ted Art says
May 6, 2017 at 9:33 amI don’t at the moment, I need to improve the Tri Hand Spinner a little. But will get it done next week. Please do check back!!! Or sign up to our newsletter which goes out Fridays and I will make sure it is included!
deborah felton says
May 6, 2017 at 3:09 amCan you send me a copy of your template? Thanks in advance
Deborah
Red Ted Art says
May 6, 2017 at 9:34 amI don’t have one at the moment, I need to improve the Tri Hand Spinner a little. But will get it done next week. Please do check back!!! Or sign up to our newsletter which goes out Fridays and I will make sure it is included!
Jeeva says
May 6, 2017 at 5:21 amNice tutorial Maggy! Gonna try it out. Is there any way to make the spinner glow?
Red Ted Art says
May 6, 2017 at 9:34 amOoh what a great idea!!! I guess you could use glow in the dark paint.. but you probably mean more like a “light up LED” version, right?
Alison says
May 6, 2017 at 6:42 amLove the idea of these as refuse to buy my kids them….do you have the templates available ? Thank you!
Red Ted Art says
May 6, 2017 at 9:32 amI don’t at the moment, I need to improve the Tri Hand Spinner a little. But will get it done next week. Please do check back!!! Or sign up to our newsletter which goes out Fridays and I will make sure it is included!
Miriam says
May 6, 2017 at 8:35 amThank you for this idea! My kids are always leaving things behind/losing them so this is great! We also have pennies in the US and that’s what we will be using. Can’t wait to try these!
Red Ted Art says
May 6, 2017 at 9:31 amEnjoy!! Make a whole set all once to save time!
Patpat says
May 6, 2017 at 12:18 pmclever idea using recycled materials make fidget spinner .
please upload the homemade template .
Much thanks
Red Ted Art says
May 6, 2017 at 6:19 pmIn the process of sorting one!!
Paul says
May 6, 2017 at 5:07 pmWould appreciate a template thanks 🙂
Red Ted Art says
May 6, 2017 at 6:19 pmWorking on one now.. should have it ready next week and will make sure a link to it goes in the newsletter. Or come back and check for it!
momof2 says
May 6, 2017 at 11:56 pmLove redtedart.com so much!
Red Ted Art says
May 7, 2017 at 9:49 amThank you! 🙂
Regina Hudson says
May 7, 2017 at 8:55 amCan’t wait to make them , I love to craft with kids , don’t have any of my own , but my friends have plenty. Lol
Red Ted Art says
May 7, 2017 at 9:48 amWonderful. I will have a template ready for you tomorrow or Tuesday!
Kristin Zueger says
May 7, 2017 at 7:00 pmThese are very cool! My son is going to love this.
Donna says
May 8, 2017 at 8:21 amI would like a template for both spinners, love watching your videos
Red Ted Art says
May 8, 2017 at 9:04 amI have added the template for the spinners. Did you not see the link?
Vanessa says
May 8, 2017 at 12:30 pmPlease provide a template. Trying with my students to give to their mother’s for Mother’s Day. Question:can a hot glue gun be used instead?
Red Ted Art says
May 8, 2017 at 2:58 pmI have added the template (see links in materials needed) 🙂
And personally I don’t think that a hot glue gun is strong enough, UNLESS you “smother the coin in glue”, so it is covered and held secure. I would make a prototype and test it vigorously before using hot glue with the students! Good luck.
Naomi says
May 9, 2017 at 2:52 amHi there , would you kindly share with me the template for the two head spinner?
Is it advisable to use buttons than coins?
Red Ted Art says
May 9, 2017 at 9:19 amI have added links for the templates? Can you not see them?
And buttons COULD work, but they are not as heavy as coins. The heavier the better!
Lauraq Taylor says
May 15, 2017 at 5:57 pmHello,
Please send me the template if possible.
Thank you,
Laura
Red Ted Art says
May 16, 2017 at 9:35 amYou can download the template? I have added links!
planetgirl says
May 16, 2017 at 4:35 pmI love this spinner idea! Thank you so much!
May I ask WHERE did you get your fabulous “play button” ring? I want one immediately!!
Thank you!
Red Ted Art says
May 16, 2017 at 4:37 pmI made it.. and I am giving one away on my YouTube channel this week!
Kimberley Scott says
May 18, 2017 at 9:51 pmHI what a good idea! Just a few questions…Can you cover the pennies with more cardboard or funky design? And the strongest glue I have is hot glue. Would this be okay to use? Or what about gorilla glue? Thanks 😀
Red Ted Art says
May 19, 2017 at 6:51 amI think yes to both questions! 🙂 you could use beer bottle lids too?
Stacie :-) says
May 19, 2017 at 5:15 amThank you for all the wonderful ideas that you share xx
Red Ted Art says
May 19, 2017 at 6:49 amMy pleasure! Thank you for reading!
AB says
May 20, 2017 at 2:55 amWe are going to try this with hot glue. Has anyone here done that? Thanks for the creative fun spinner craft.
Red Ted Art says
May 21, 2017 at 8:48 pmHot glue should work – a few people on YouTube have reported back and said it was fine!
Lucy says
May 23, 2017 at 7:19 pmThanks very much for this, we had a great time making these this afternoon. I cut out two templates for each of my girls thinking that they could stick them together to make them more robust. My 7yr old suggested we stick the pennies in the middle like a sandwich. It’s only been a few hours but I think they may last a bit longer? We used hot glue. No patience for drying glue here! My daughter said it’s better than a shop bought one because she’s got the colour and design that she wants! I enjoyed making them too, I think there may be more!
Red Ted Art says
May 24, 2017 at 8:17 amOoh yes, great idea!! Thank you!!!
Carrie Reed says
May 29, 2017 at 2:22 pmThank you for the info. Please send me the template for the three wing fidget. I have a youth summer camp group that I would like to have do as a project.
Red Ted Art says
May 29, 2017 at 7:14 pmThe templates are on this page https://www.redtedart.com/easy-fidget-spinner-diy-free-template/ enjoy!!
Ronald mendis says
August 27, 2017 at 7:41 amcan you send me the template?
Red Ted Art says
August 27, 2017 at 10:07 amCan you not download it? It is attached to the post.. you click on the link and print! Good luck
Wish says
January 18, 2018 at 2:37 pmWe are going to try this with hot glue. Thanks
Red Ted Art says
January 18, 2018 at 4:25 pmGreat, I know many who have and it worked for them!
STEAMism.com says
March 6, 2018 at 9:33 pmThese are awesome!
We are siblings (high school and middle school) that run a STEAM blog and have been planning a Makerspace/STEAM family night event in our rec center. This might be one of the activities we pick since we still see kids playing with theirs.
vishal saini says
April 7, 2018 at 9:40 amgood blog
jhonson says
April 7, 2018 at 9:41 amnice
emma says
September 29, 2018 at 3:59 pmReally Amazing Spinner.
We are going to try this with hot glue.
Thanks Alot!
Red Ted Art says
September 29, 2018 at 6:09 pmAwesome! Have fun!