Make some mini banjos from old jar lids and loom bands. This is a fun musical instrument craft for kids and the finished miniature banjo is so adorable!
Once finished, your mini banjo’s loom band strings make a very soft strumming sound (which parents might prefer, haha!).
This Mini Lid Banjo craft was Originally Published in 2015 and has been updated for today’s audience
You might also like these cardboard tube shakers.
Jar lids and washi tape are both things I’ve been collecting for a while, feeling sure that they would come in handy for some future craft idea (I may have been called a hoarder once or twice).
Now I’ve finally used them for something – hooray! The kids love these mini banjos so much that they don’t even mind that I raided their loom band collection for the strings. You can make your own Mini Lid Banjo in less than ten minutes (and that’s a conservative estimate).
How to make a mini lid banjo
You will need:
• Jumbo craft sticks – one per banjo
• Loom Bands – four per banjo
• Washi tape
• Duct tape
• Sequins
• Craft glue
How to:
Place four loom bands over the lid and secure in place with a piece of duct tape as shown (I did try a hot glue gun for a more seamless finish but guess what? the loom bands melted and snapped as soon as they touched the hot glue – whoops!)
Next cut the end from your jumbo craft stick and decorate it with a washi tape pattern.
Now attach the lid with loom bands in place to the craft stick with a second piece of duct tape.
Finally use small dabs of craft glue to stick on your sequins, or alternatively use plastic gems or a marker to draw the little tuning knobs on the end of your banjo handle.
That’s all! The sound is less amazing than I’d hoped for but they do look cute and that’s the most important thing don’t you think?
Aren’t they cute?
More fun ideas kids will love
- Make some fun Cardboard Tube Shakers
- These sponge boats are fun in the bath tub or for outdoor play
- OR what about a balloon powered sponge boat?
- Did you know that you can make an iphone speaker from a paper roll?
- What about a DIY straw swing set or see-saw? So fun!
Is this not the most cute innovative idea ever!! Love it!
Thanks for sharing 🙂 when my lil one gets old enough, we are totally doing this so she can jam with daddy (who plays guitar!)
– Natalie at relentlessatheart.com
Thanks Natalie! It’s always great to hear positive feedback.
Love these – they are so cute! Am going to make them into busy bags to keep my kids entertained for an afternoon while on holiday! Am off now to check out the rest of your site for more great ideas! Thank you A
Thanks Angela,hope they have fun making them!
Super cute craft. Think we will cut circles of scrapbook or origami paper for the inside and back of the lid. Love these sooo much.
That sounds like a great idea!
Do these have different pitches?
They’re more just for fun, but yes the smaller lid sounds slightly higher pitched than the larger one but the quality of sound is not amazing in both
Do you think this would work with mason jar lids?
I’m sure it would
Hi Kate,
Do you think it will work if I use the narrow craft sticks?
it will work but it might look a bit different and the length of the handle would be smaller. You could try two craft sticks together
can you use rubberbands
That could work if the rubber bands are small ones, try it?
Thanks Kate for such a nice idea, we made one and have kept for drying, we used small pieces of left over cloth pieces for our banjo. It kept my 5 year old busy for a while making and playing it.
Sounds lovely! I’m glad you guys had fun
omg I love these thank you Kate, you’re so nice and I will recommend for all my friends and give it to them for Christmas and we can make a banjo show
What a fun idea!
I made some of these and gave them to my friends and then we all played them in a banjo show all of them loved the banjos so much and everyone enjoyed the show thank you for suggesting such an innovative idea Kate, much appreciated xoxoxox
Why do you cut the popsicle stick?
Because the stick was a bit too long in proportion to the lids. You don’t have to cut it if you think it doesn’t need it 🙂
Hi!!!! This is such an amazing craft. Loved it! I am scrolling through the rest of your website now!
Thanks! I’m glad you like it
I help with children’s crafts at a Bluegrass Festival, and we need some new crafts. I am definitely recommending this banjo craft!! (We’ll have to get a bunch of people to save washed jar lids, but I think that’s possible!) I think the kids would like this a lot!! Thank you so much!! 😃
Sounds like fun!
do you know if it makes a sound and if its quiet? doing a school project wondering if this would work !
It makes a little sound, but it’s not very loud and sounds nothing like a real banjo. If you want to make an instrument with better sound try something modelled off a guitar design like a box with a hole in the front