These simple spinning tops are a fun craft for kids to make, and you probably have all of the materials on hand at home!

Penny Spinners - Toy Tops that Kids Can Make

A few weeks ago, we went to our local science museum, and they had penny tops in the gift shop.  They were made out of wooden disks and a penny, and I figured that we could easily make them out of cardboard.

My boys love coloring with Sharpies, and we had a great time designing these spinners!  We made some of them “color mixing” spinners.

Penny Spinners: Toy Tops that Kids Can Make!

Spin the red and blue one, and you get purple!

Penny Spinners: Toy Tops that Kids Can Make

Spin the yellow and blue one, and it makes green!  With the dots it doesn’t look like solid green, but you can still see it! It looks more green in person than it does in the photo because the camera’s shutter speed was so fast.

Penny Spinners: Toy Tops for Kids to Make

Here’s what you need to make them:

Penny Spinners - Toy Tops that Kids Can Make

  • Cereal box cardboard
  • Sharpies
  • Hot glue
  • A cup for tracing a circle
  • A pencil
  • Pennies
  • An X-Acto knife

Use a cup to trace a circles on cardboard.  Cut out the circles.  Use the X-Acto knife to make a slit in the center for the penny (adult’s job!).

Penny Spinners

Then color the tops with any design.

Penny Spinners

Attach the penny to the spinner by hot gluing it on the underside of the top.  When you are finished with the tops, you can easily peel off the glue and the penny is still perfectly usable.

Penny Spinners - Toy Tops that Kids Can Make!

9 Comments

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  1. Addi Ganley Jan 7, 2016

    What a great simple craft then would probably keep my boys busy for awhile.

    Not only is this craft simple but we usually have all of these items on hand. Thank you for this idea.

    Reply
    1. Paula Jun 11, 2016

      I actually did this double sided! This way it takes a little more time but they have two penny spinners instead of one! Thanks for the awesome idea!

      Reply
  2. Joy Jan 8, 2016

    We made these just now. We substituted with cardstock and scissors. The kids enjoyed designing doubled sided spinners (which we didn't even glue together) to make their spinner paper thicker. Worked great. We didn't use any glue at all. Just markers, pennies and paper. MARVELOUS IDEA!!!!! Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Sarah Jan 10, 2016

      How fun! Card stock is a great idea. I'm glad your kids had so much fun with it!

      Reply
  3. Amanda - Raising da Vinci Jan 20, 2016

    This looks so fun! We have done something similar with a old CD and marble. I love the idea of using a penny!

    Reply
  4. SeahorseOwl May 9, 2017

    This is great for a classroom party to keep everyone entertained! Thank you for the idea!

    SeahorseOwl

    BigPlittlep.com

    Reply
  5. Mlewert Aug 12, 2018

    Thanks for the tip on the hot glue

    Reply
  6. Suzy Feb 27, 2019

    i made one of them but made it with an old CD and just heated up the coin with fire and melted my way through to make the hole. it was really quick . and works fine and is rather stable.. paper things in my house don't last long. i really enjoy your activities. i have an active 7 year old.

    Reply
  7. darla Jul 6, 2019

    I love this idea..we made ours with small paper plate... no cutting required..they color one or two sides which ever they like. this was a huge hit..thank you so much

    Reply
  8. Laura Davies Jan 15, 2020

    Would this work with PVA glue?

    Reply
  9. Frezy Caranzo Apr 17, 2020

    Thank you for this idea. My kids they love art and they are very active too.They would love doing this.

    Reply

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