Mini Lid Banjos - The Craft Train (original) (raw)

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.

Mini lid banjos - repurpose old jar lids into a cute DIY toy. These miniature banjos are a fun stem or steam craft idea for summer!. Also a great musical instrument craft for kids #musicalinstrument #recycle #recyclingcraft #kidscraft #diytoy #jarlids #craftsticks #banjos #diy #thecrafttrain

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).

Mini banjo craft for kids made from a repurposed jar lid and loom bands

How to make a mini lid banjo

mini lid banjos steps

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!)

mini lid banjos steps

Next cut the end from your jumbo craft stick and decorate it with a washi tape pattern.

mini lid banjos steps

Washi tape steps for banjo craft

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.

Making the handle of the banjo

Two mini banjos made from jar lids

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?

mini banjo craft idea

Aren’t they cute?

More fun ideas kids will love

Mini banjo craft idea for kids. Make a recycled mini lid banjo from jar lids strung with loom bands