Chinese Yo-Yo: Easy Toy Crafts for Kids Using Recycled Wrapping Paper

When the holiday or birthday dust has settled and a mound of wrapping paper litters the floor, gather it up to create this fun and super-easy toy kid craft. You'll find new purpose for the wrapping paper and kids will have oodles of enjoyment with their new recycled wrapping paper toy.

This is a terrific craft to use to celebrate the Chinese New Year, to use for a summer craft activities, or even to create as a child's birthday party favor.

Chinese New Year Paper Yo-Yo

Materials:

Drinking Straws (non-bendable kind)
Wrapping Paper
Double-Sided Tape (can substitute regular tape)

Instructions:

Trim drinking straws (if necessary) to a nine inch length.

Cut one six-foot by four-inch strip of wrapping paper for each yo-yo. If you do not have a six-foot piece of wrapping paper available, cut two three-foot by four-inch strips, or three two-foot by four-inch strips-then tape strips together to form a six-foot by four-inch strip.

Note that tape may make the yo-yo a little stiffer, but it will still work. Try to use invisible tape, if possible, as it is a lighter tape and will match the thickness of the paper better.

Tape one four-inch end of the wrapping paper strip to the top of the drinking straw, using double sided tape. Wrap and tape a second time to fully secure the wrapping paper to the straw.

Continue wrapping the paper (without taping) around the top of the straw, keeping the wrapping paper edges even, until paper is completely wound around the top of the straw.

The yo-yo is now ready for use. Holding the bottom of the straw, flick wrist in a downward motion. The yo-yo will stretch out. To bring the yo-yo back into position, flick wrist in an upward motion.

Additional Tips:

- A straight, rounded wooden stick (dowel) may be substituted for the straw.

- This craft is a great way to recycle drinking straws, too. Just wash the straws and store for later use.