Easiest Cardboard Rainmakers Ever! | Pink Stripey Socks

Maybe your like

Friday, September 18, 2015

Easiest cardboard Rainmakers ever!

Recently my son and I have been talking a lot about the weather. We're currently in the middle of a horrible drought in Southern California so we desperately need rain. Since we always have a ton of cardboard rolls lying around (which we LUUURVE using for cardboard roll crafts), we recently made a rainmaker together. Set-up was simple and it was a snap to put it together. Here's how we did it!

Shake! Shake! Make Your Own Rainmaker with Kids!

Make a rainmaker with kids- super easy craft for preschoolers!

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support! I had seen several tutorials online showing how to make rainmakers, but a lot of them used Pringles cans or nails (neither of which we typically have on hand.) So when I found a few that just used aluminum foil, I knew we had to try making some for ourselves.

Easiest Cardboard Rainmakers Ever!

Step 1: Grab a paper towel roll. Then, cut out a circle from a paper bag that's slightly larger than the circumference of your paper tower roll. Trace the paper towel roll in the middle of your circle. Then, cut out about 4 equally spaced slits from the edge of the circle to your traced circle. tape up one end of your rainmaker

Step 2: Fold up your paper bag circle over your cardboard roll. Use masking tape to attach your circle to your cardboard tube and seal off an end. fold the aluminum foil to put inside DIY rain stick

fold the aluminum foil to put inside DIY rain stick

Step 3: Pull out a box of aluminum foil. Rip out a sheet of foil that's about 3x as long your tube. Scrunch the aluminum foil into a long snake. Then, fold it to and fro, creating a bunch of kinks. (This will slow down the fall of your rice and corn to make it sound more like a real rain stick!) When you're done, stick it into your tube! (By the way, my son LOVED this part. There's something quite satisfying about squishing foil!) mix rice and corn to put inside your DIY rainmaker

mix rice and corn to put inside your DIY rainmaker

Step 4: Mix up a bunch of corn and rice. (We poured out way too much and ended up only using about 1/2 of this amount. Also, even though we liked our result, perhaps using just corn or just rice would have worked out better. So definitely experiment!) (By the way, we did everything in a plastic tray. We got a cheap one at Ikea, but if you're in a pinch I'm sure a dollar store would have them too! Or, you could always order one from here. But they're kinda pricey!) Step 5: Pour your rice/corn mixture into your cardboard tube. Then, seal the other end following the same directions found in steps 1 and 2. easy preschool marker scribble artwork

Step 6: Now it's time to decorate your rainmaker! Cut out a piece of paper that will cover your cardboard tube. Then, doodle out a design! (We used a piece of white craft paper, but a sheet of computer paper should also do the trick!) easy preschool marker scribble artwork

My son doodled a design and then together we colored in the shapes. (I came across a similar idea using watercolors here) and loved her results, so we tried it too. It was fun creating collaborative art together. preschool marker art

how to make a super easy rain stick craft with kids

Step 7: Once we finished, we taped the artwork on around our tube. Then voila! We had ourselves a lovely rainmaker and proceeded to shake it for good luck and rain. (Unfortunately, it's been days since we've finished this craft. And we see some grey skies, but no rain in sight!)

5 Musical Instrument Crafts:

Got a music-loving kid? Here are 5 crafts that are fun to make and play!

Cardboard Guitar Craft
Cardboard Rattle Drum Craft
4 Easy Bell Crafts (at the same time!)
DIY Cardboard Roll iPod Speakers
Make a record player (from everyday materials!)

5 Cardboard Roll Crafts:

Got cardboard tubes up the wazoo? You're in luck! Here are 5 of my favorite cardboard crafts!

Toilet Roll Totoro Craft
Shark Binoculars
Moveable Cardboard Roll Snake
Cardboard Rocket Launcher (It really shoots!)
Toilet Roll Airplanes

5 More Corn Activities:

Looking for a way to use up that un-popped popcorn? (Am I the only one with that stuff always lying around?) Today's craft is part of a collaboration between 6 preschool-activity loving bloggers! Our theme is CORN and here are some more great ideas for preschool activities involving corn!

Candy Corn Pizza Craft | Artsy Momma
Preschool Corn Counting Activity with Printable | I Heart Crafty Things
Corn vs. Popcorn Science for Kids (with Printable Graph) | A Little Pinch of Perfect
STEAM Candy Corn Pop Art | Handmade Kids Art
Printable Candy Corn Bingo Game | School Time Snippets

Let's keep in Contact!

You can always find more fun ideas on my Pinterest,Facebook,Instagram, or Twitter accounts! (Or subscribe to my email mailing list by filling out the pink bar at the top of the screen. Happy making, friends!

easiest cardboard rainmakers ever- great preschool craft!

Looking for a craft?

Reader Favorites

Hyper Colorful Painted Paper Plate Flowers!
Weaving Cute Baby Turtles Using God's Eye Weaving Pattern
How to do Easy DIY Hair Wraps with Kids
How to Make Colorful and fun paper plate dragons! (And our 10+ Favorite Dragon Books)
How to Fold Origami Minecraft Creepers (Easy and less than 5 minute craft)