Make some merry noise with castanets made out of cardboard or paper plate.
Do and have one for your own!
Materials
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Small paper plate or thick cardboard
-
Colored permanent markers or any water-based
paint
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Scissors
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Hot glue gun
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Hole punch or pencil
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Buttons, coins or metal washers
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Elastic band or ribbon
Steps:
1. The castanets can either be made from a paper
plate or from thick cardboard. If you
are using cardboard, cut it to a size that more or less fits in your hand when
folded. Mine is about 4 x 8 inches.
2.
Fold the paper plate or cardboard in the middle.
Crease lightly along the fold but do not crease too much. The castanet should
maintain a certain spring when opening and closing it.
3.
Think of what shape, object or character that
you want your castanet to look like. Try to think of something that is somewhat
roundish or squarish in shape. You may perhaps want to make flower or
seashell-shaped castanets or go with a favorite cartoon character. Draw an
outline on the front panel of the cardboard.
4.
While keeping the cardboard folded, cut along
the outline. If the cardboard is too thick, you may (a) cut out the design on
the front panel first; (b) keep the cardboard folded and trace the outline onto
the back panel of the cardboard; (c.) then cut out the back panel.
5.
If you're using a paper plate or if your
cardboard castanet is a lot larger than your palm, it is best to attach a pair
of straps for an easy grip. While
keeping the paper plate or cardboard folded, punch 2 pairs of holes about an
inch from the folded edge. If the cardboard is too thick for a hole punch, you
may use the point of a pencil to carefully poke holes.
6. Draw any design that you like using a black
permanent marker or a black crayon. You can go with more spontaneous or
abstract patterns or draw something that goes with your current lesson or
theme. You may also draw with the paper plate folded or spread open, whichever
you prefer.
7.
Color the entire castanet using permanent
markers or any water-based paint.
8.
As an option, you can paint the flip side of the
castanet as well. Allow the paint to dry.
9.
If you want to attach straps, cut a pair of
approximately 8-inch long elastic bands or ribbons. Take one elastic band or
ribbon and insert the ends into the pair of holes in one side of the
castanet. Knot the ends from the inside
making sure that the knot is bigger than the hole. When using a ribbon, you can tie the ends of
the ribbon together instead of knotting each end.
10.
Attach the second elastic band or ribbon.
11.
Try holding the castanets with your thumb in one
strap and the four other fingers in the opposite strap. Open and close the
castanets and see how well the straps fit. Adjust the length of the straps to
achieve a comfortable fit.
12.
Use hot glue gun to attach 2 or more pairs of
buttons, coins or metal washers along the inner edges of the castanets. The
coins or buttons should be opposite each other so that when the two sides of
the castanet are clapped together, they produce a nice clicking sound.
13.
To use the castanet, simply hold it with your
hand and clap the two sides of the castanet together to make some merry noise.