Tissue Box Guitar

Tissue Box Guitar

Create a guitar with your budding musician. Recycled items, such as a tissue box and paper towel roll, get you started.

New high-flying adventures 1/22-25 @ 11am on NickNew high-flying adventures 1/22-25 @ 11am on Nick

Tissue Box Guitar

Craft Features

Allow for Dry Time
You'll need to allow extra time for glue or paint to dry.
Parent Supervision Needed
This craft requires extra parent involvement and a watchful eye, because it may require sharp tools or intricate handiwork.

Developmental Skills

Make Music with Us
Music skills include: singing or playing instruments, dancing and moving, appreciating different styles of music, and understanding concepts like rhythm and dynamics.
Create with Us
Create with us skills involve self-expression, experimentation, and imagination through visual arts (like painting and sculpting), dramatic play, cooking, and dance.
Ages: 4-6

Materials

  • Newspapers
  • Rectangular tissue box
  • Paper towel roll
  • Pencil for tracing
  • Scissors
  • Glue (in a squeeze bottle)
  • Craft paint (or self-adhesive contact paper)
  • Paintbrushes
  • Rubber bands
Tip: Painting adds color. You can also add stickers to decorate the guitar.

Directions

  1. Step 1

    On a work surface covered with newspapers, place the tissue box short-side up with the tissue slot facing towards you. Stand the cardboard paper towel roll on top and trace around it. Cut out the traced circle and insert the tube into the hole. (Parents may want to do this part.) Glue the tube in place and let it dry completely.

  2. Step 2

    Your child can paint the guitar with craft paint (or help your child cover the box and tube with self-adhesive contact paper). Let the paint dry completely.

  3. Step 3

    Stretch several rubber bands lengthwise around the box and over the the tissue slot. (Tip: Rubber bands in assorted widths will produce different sounds.) Roll a pencil under the rubber bands on the side opposite the guitar's neck and your child is ready to play.

Tip: Keep your child's size in mind. For older kids, use a bigger box and longer cardboard tube.
  1. More Crafts
    1. Dora Pocket Valentines

      Look who's popping up to say Happy Valentine's Day!

    2. Kai-lan Super Hearts Mobile

      Make a simple decoration that's SUPER cute

    3. Dora's Hearts Mobile

      Adorn your loved one's room with this heartfelt mobile you can make together

    4. Kai-lan Puppet Theater

      An imaginative stage for your kid's imaginative mind

    5. Kai-lan Hanging Lantern

      We'll shed some light on how to put recyclable jars to good use!

    6. Chinese New Year Money Envelope

      Nothing says "Gong Hay Fat Choy" more than these hand-made money envelopes!

    7. Tasha Valentine Fridge Magnet

      Love's in full bloom with this Backyardigans craft

    8. Uniqua Valentine Fridge Magnet

      Surround your Valentine with a circle of hearts!

    9. Tolee Valentine CD Case

      Wear your heart on your CD sleeve this Valentine's Day!

    10. Kai-lan Paper Lanterns

      Pick, print, tape -- PRESTO! Enchanting lanterns to put on display!

    11. Dora Valentine CD Case

      Here's a nifty gift idea for faraway loved ones--a CD of your kids' pictures slipped into a handmade case

    12. Kai-lan Pop-Up Valentine

      Make sweethearts super happy with this crafty card

    13. Kai-lan's Heart-Shaped Box

      Make your little sweetheart "super happy" with a treats-filled heart box!

    14. Pablo Hat Frame Magnet

      Proudly display those family photos in this homemade magnetic clay frame.

    15. Wonder Pets Magnetic Clay Frame

      This family-friendly craft is the product of teamwork--share your memories for years.

    16. Rintoo Valentine's Pillow

      Turn a "roarrr!" into a "purrr" with this cuddly pillow

    17. YeYe Valentine's Pillow

      Give your heart and your love to someone special this Valentine's Day.

    18. Tolee Valentine's Pillow

      Snuggle up with Tolee this Valentine's Day!

    19. Sun Valentine's Pillow

      Warm your Valentine's heart with this no-sew pillow

    20. Hoho Valentine's Pillow

      Hoho's even cuter on a pillow!

    21. Kai-lan Valentine's Pillow

      Share a heart as big as Kai-lan's with someone special.

    22. Kai-lan's Pocket Valentines

      Kai-lan and Rintoo are popping up to say Happy Valentine's Day!

    23. Olivia's Pocket Valentines

      Surprise your preschooler with a Valentine's Day greeting from Olivia and Julian

    24. Kai-lan's Chinese Rattle Drum

      Make some beats with rattling beads

    25. Kai-Lan's Fancy Lantern

      This stunning lantern is surprisingly simple to assemble!

    26. Valentine's Ribbon Decorations

      Decorate for parties or just for fun!

    27. Valentine Mailbox Craft

      Collect Valentines in a mailbox featuring your kid's favorite Nick Jr. friends

    28. Kai-lan's Ladybug Festival Fan

      It's FAN-tastic!

    29. Peter Rabbit Winter Mobile

      Make an indoor winter wonderland that somebunny will love!

    30. Team Umizoomi Paper Bag Puppets

      Turn paper bags into your favorite math-loving team!

    1. More Creative Recycling
      1. Valentine Mailbox Craft

        Collect Valentines in a mailbox featuring your kid's favorite Nick Jr. friends

      2. Team Umizoomi Paper Bag Puppets

        Turn paper bags into your favorite math-loving team!

      3. Dora Rocks Puppet Theater

        Turn a cereal box into a barnyard and host a big bash with Benny & friends!

      4. Lily Ornament

        Kids can hop on over to the Christmas tree to hang this charming decoration!

      5. Benjamin Ornament

        Rabbits are brave and he’s no exception! Add Benjamin to your x-mas collection.

      6. Peter Rabbit Ornament

        Peter has a new gift for you to see. It's round, and blue, and hangs on a tree.

      7. Bubble Guppies Book Holder

        Turn a cereal box into a swimsational storage place for your Guppy's fish tales!

      8. Tommy Paper Bag Puppet

        Kids can make this craft in no time!

      9. Guppies Ocean Theater

        Surf's up! The Guppies can ride the waves in this cool movable craft!

      10. Dora Mermaid Puppet Theater

        Dive into Dora's Mermaid Kingdom with this simple cereal box theater!

      11. Mike the Knight Castle Craft

        Set the scene for marvelous missions with this majestic shoe box craft!

      12. Bubble Guppies Tambourine Craft

        Ready to play some music? Hit it!

      13. Team Umizoomi UmiCar Craft

        Beep, beep! The Umi Team's four-wheeled friend is here and ready for action!

      14. Dora's No-Sew Unicorn Craft

        Kids can take a ride with the Unicorn King on a hobbyhorse made out of a sock & broomstick!

      15. Dora's Enchanted Forest Castle

        Kids can start their own magical adventure when you put together this charming shoebox theater!

      16. Fresh Beat Band Goody Bags

        Here's the perfect party parting gift to celebrate the ending of a great day!

      17. Team Umizoomi Numberland Castle

        Shape a shoe box into a stage for your child's very own action-packed Umi adventure!

      18. Team Umizoomi Shark Car Craft

        Transform a recycled tissue roll & cereal box into a cool craft for kids

      19. Twist DJ Turntables

        Turn a cereal box into a twistable craft for your Fresh Beat fanatic!

      20. Fresh Beat Concert Binoculars

        Gear up for the on-air concert of the year with this oversized craft!

      21. Bubble Guppies Fishketball

        Make waves with your guppy fan by crafting this simple bean bag toss game!

      22. Bubble Guppies Microphone

        Make a craft that will TOTALLY ROCK your Guppies groupie!

      23. Bubble Guppies Planet Mobile

        Make a solar system together with a paper plate and some printable planets!

      24. Dora Dance Puppet Theater

        Kids can choreograph a dance recital with Dora and friends--excelente!

      25. Dino Dan Binoculars

        Dinosaurs are on the prowl! Now your kid can can scope them out just like Dino Dan

      26. Dino Dan Iron-On Patches

        Deck out your Dino Dan fan with these awesome dinosaur designs--so easy even a dinosaur could make them

      27. Marina's Found-Sound Drums

        Get on your feet and catch the beat with this kickin' craft!

      28. The Fresh Beat Band Microphone

        Kids can put on their own music show with this fresh DJ mic

      29. July 4th Pom-Pom Hair Band

        Go green this July 4th with your very own patriotic plastic hair band

      30. July 4th Pom-Pom Handbag

        Go indy for Juy 4th with this right-sized decorative carry bag