How to Make a Box Guitar Toy

We took advantage of the fabulous weather this weekend by going to Magic City Art Connection, an annual art festival in downtown Birmingham. We love everything about the event, but now that we have a little boy, we see the festival in a whole new light. Yesterday, we spent almost the entire time making crafts in the kids area. This year, we learned how to make a toy guitar out of a box. Thanks to the friendly event volunteers, here’s a step-by-step guide how to make one of your own using common office supplies:

 

1. Locate a box. Most any box will do. Ours was pretty big so the end result was too big to work as a guitar…but we found another use for our instrument. (See #9).

2. Tape the box closed and cut a hole in the middle.

3. Using a hole-punch, punch 3-5 holes on opposite sides of the hole you made in the box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Thread clips through each hole and …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

… then wrap a colorful rubber band between two opposite clips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Slide popsicle sticks along each set of clips. You can decorate your popsicle sticks if you want. Or buy colored ones. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Take a flat side of another box and roll it into the shape of a handle, or guitar neck. Cut a hole on the side of the box and slide the tip of the neck into the base and tape it in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Paint your masterpiece. (On second thought it may have been best to paint the guitar before installing the strings.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Set the guitar aside to dry and clean the paint off your hands as best as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Once the paint is dry, enjoy your new box guitar or, as in our case, standup bass!

 

 

 

 

Photos, JWJourney