Make Your Own Chinese Yo-yo!

A fabulously simple craft to make by the dozen for stocking stuffers or party favors, Chinese yo-yos are fun for any age. Customize them to your party theme or holiday easily by using appropriate gift wrap. The kids can help make these as a personal homemade gift for their classmates or friends as well.

This craft would also be a great way to use scraps of wrapping paper. Just attach them in a long strip with some transparent tape and cut the strip to the size indicated below.

Supplies needed:

1- 10 to 12 inch long X 1/4 inch diameter Dowel Rod (you could even make a smaller one with an unsharpened pencil!)
Roll of Gift Wrap

Clear Packing tape

Step 1: Remove gift wrap from roll and cut a strip about 4.5 inches wide by 36 inches long. This can be done by re-rolling the paper, measuring 4.5 inches up the side of the roll and cutting that section off.

Step 2: Put a piece of packing tape on one short end of the wrapping paper strip and attach it near one end of the dowel rod by wrapping the tape around the dowel. (See picture at right.)

Step 3: Roll the dowel rod up in the paper and hold tight with your hand for a few seconds.

To use your yo-yo:
Hold the long end of the dowel rod in your hand and 'fling' the paper end away from you (kind of like you're casting a fishing rod). The paper will slide out in a long whirly tube and spring back to the stick! You can store these with a rubber band around them to help keep them tight.

Heather is a wife, mom,school cafeteria worker,
councilwoman and babysitter from Ohio.She also blogs at Its All for the Bestand The Fat Bottomed Girl.