DIY: Mini Pedal Bin | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Mini Pedal Bin

Artistic Adventures

Ages: 3-5

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Your little ones might be interested in throwing away rubbish, so let's make some mini bins for them! The lid opens and closes by pressing a pedal, which is not only fun but also helps children learn about colours and sorting.

Materials Needed

3 coloured paper cups
3 white paper cups
glue
tape
coloured card
lolly sticks
marker pens
pencil
scissors
craft knife
ruler

An assortment of craft supplies lies arranged on a light woodgrain table. Four paper cups in blue, orange, yellow, and white are positioned at the top left. A bottle of white glue and a roll of yellow tape are next to the cups. A piece of bright yellow construction paper sits below the blue cup. Three white markers with orange, green, and blue lids are grouped together, alongside two wooden craft sticks and a brown pencil. Black-handled scissors, a magenta utility knife, and a clear plastic ruler complete the collection of supplies. The image displays the materials gathered for a craft project.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Cut the lolly sticks into 6cm and 2cm lengths. You'll need three sets of these.

Two small pieces of light-colored wood or craft stick material lie on a light woodgrain surface. The larger piece on the left is 6cm long and has rounded ends. The smaller piece on the right is 2cm long and appears to be a section cut from a similar stick, with straight cut ends. Lines and labels indicate the measurements of each piece. The image illustrates the preparation of specific-sized wooden pieces for a craft project.

Step 2

Use glue to attach the 2cm stick to the 6cm stick as shown. Repeat for the other two sets.

Two hands hold two small pieces of light wood, likely craft sticks or popsicle stick pieces, against a light woodgrain background. A smaller piece is attached perpendicularly to a longer piece, forming a T shape. It appears the smaller piece has been glued or otherwise fastened to the longer one. The hands are carefully holding the pieces together, likely ensuring the bond sets. The image shows the process of joining two small wooden pieces for a craft project.

Step 3

Place a paper cup upside down on the card and trace around the rim to make a circle. Repeat this process on different coloured card for the other two circles.

Two hands are shown tracing the bottom of a white paper cup onto a piece of bright yellow construction paper. The cup is placed upside down on the paper, and a pencil is being used to carefully trace around the rim. The image captures the process of creating a circle template using a cup and pencil on colored paper, likely for a craft activity.

Step 4

Cut out all three circles with scissors.

A pair of hands is cutting out a circle from a piece of bright yellow construction paper with scissors. A pencil-drawn circle is visible on the paper, guiding the cutting process. The hands hold the paper and scissors against a light woodgrain background. The image shows the step of cutting a pre-drawn circle from construction paper, a common task in craft projects.

Step 5

Place the paper cup right side up. Draw a 1cm x 0.5cm rectangle on the cup's bottom.

Two hands hold a bright yellow paper cup against a light woodgrain background. One hand holds the cup steady while the other hand uses a pencil to draw a small rectangle near the bottom edge of the cup. The rectangle is labeled with dimensions: 1cm long and 0.5cm wide. The image demonstrates marking a specific area for cutting or modification on a paper cup as part of a craft project.

Step 6

Carefully cut out the rectangle using the craft knife. Repeat for the other two coloured cups.

A hand holds a bright yellow paper cup against a light woodgrain background. A utility knife with a red and black handle is being used to carefully cut a rectangular slot in the side of the cup. The image demonstrates the process of modifying a paper cup by cutting a precise opening, likely for a craft or DIY project.

Step 7

Place the white paper cups inside the prepared coloured cups.

Two hands hold a bright yellow paper cup with a rectangular slot cut into its side and a plain white paper cup against a light woodgrain background. The white cup is positioned slightly inside and on top of the yellow cup, as if being placed over it. The image shows two paper cups being used in a craft project, likely being combined or modified in some way.

Step 8

Using a pencil, draw a line around the white cup where it extends above the coloured cup.

Two hands hold a bright yellow paper cup with a rectangular slot cut into its side and a white paper cup rim against a light woodgrain background. The white rim is placed on top of the yellow cup, and a pencil is marking a line around the inside edge of the white rim. The image demonstrates the process of marking a cutting line on a paper cup using a second cup's rim as a template, likely for a craft activity.

Step 9

Remove the white cup and cut along the marked line. Repeat for all three white cups.

A hand holds a white paper cup against a light woodgrain background. Scissors are cutting along the rim of the cup, removing a thin strip of the top edge. The image shows the process of trimming or modifying a paper cup using scissors, likely as part of a craft or DIY project.

Step 10

Insert the assembled lolly sticks into the coloured cups, with the short end protruding through the slot. Ensure the 2cm stick prevents it from falling through.

Two hands hold a white paper cup over a light woodgrain background. Inside the cup, a small wooden craft stick is positioned horizontally. One hand holds the cup while the other adjusts the craft stick. The image shows the process of assembling a craft project using a paper cup and a wooden stick. The cup appears to be prepared for some sort of insertion or attachment related to the stick.

Step 11

Attach the cut circles to the coloured cups using tape on both sides. Repeat for all three cups.

Two hands hold a bright yellow paper cup and a yellow circle of paper over a light woodgrain background. The circle has a small piece of tape attached to it and is being inserted into the cup. The image shows the process of creating a craft project using a paper cup and a paper circle, likely a lid or a decorative element being added to the cup.

Step 12

Place the trimmed white cups back into their respective coloured cups.

Step 13

Draw and cut out 10cm x 0.5cm rectangles from three different coloured cards.

A rectangular piece of bright orange construction paper lies on a light woodgrain background. A narrow, rectangular section is marked near the center of the paper, labeled with the dimensions 10cm in length and 0.5cm in width. The image illustrates a measured and marked section on a piece of paper, likely for cutting or as a guide for a craft or construction project.

Step 14

Fold the coloured card strips as shown. Repeat for all three.

A small, orange strip of paper, bent into a Z or elongated S shape, lies on a light woodgrain background. Lines and labels indicate the dimensions: a 6cm long horizontal section, with two 1cm vertical sections at each end, creating the bends. The image shows a piece of folded or bent paper, likely a component for a craft or paper construction project.

Step 15

Finally, glue the folded strips to the circular lids to complete your pedal bins.

Two hands hold a bright yellow paper cup with a yellow circular lid over a light woodgrain background. An orange paper handle, shaped like a squared-off U, is attached to the lid. One hand holds the cup while the other adjusts the lid and handle. The image shows a completed or nearly completed craft project resembling a small bucket or container made from a paper cup.

Step 16

Try sorting items by colour into the matching bins!

The video shows a color-matching or sorting game using simple materials. Three small bins, resembling miniature recycling or trash cans, are arranged on a light wooden table. They are made from paper cups and have light blue, yellow, and orange lids with small handles. A handful of small, fluffy pom-poms in blue and yellow lie near the bins. Two hands pick up the pom-poms one by one, matching them to the bin of the corresponding color. A yellow pom-pom is placed in the yellow bin, demonstrating the activity.

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