DLTK's Crafts for Kids
African Drum Craft

Contributed by Leanne Guenther

The finished project is about 9 inches tall.

Materials:

• drinking cups (styrofoam, plastic or paper)
  • recycle tip:  hard to believe, but disposable cups can be washed and used in craft projects.  It's a bit of a pain, but if you're doing a lesson on recycling, it's worth asking the children to wash a couple of McDonald's (or other) cups to get the point across that recycling takes some effort.
• glue,
• masking tape
• shoe polish
• rags
• permanent markers

Alternate idea:
Instead of using masking tape and shoe polish, you can paper mache on some white tissue paper and, once dry, brush overtop with coffee or strong tea.

• Paper Mache -- visit "How to Paper Mache" for the recipe

Instructions:

• glue two cups together, bottom to bottom and let dry
• if doing the project with a large group of children, predo the first step using hot glue to make things flow a bit more smoothly during craft time (most "low temp" craft hot glue guns work on styrofoam cups... carpentry ones will melt them though).
• have the children tear off 4 to 5 inch lengths of masking tape and completely cover the opening at the top and bottom of the cups.
• using 3 to 4 inch lengths of masking tape, completely cover the outside of the cups.
• brush shoe polish all over the masking tape covered cups and then wipe off with rags.
• draw geometric or other designs around the top, middle and bottom of the drums with permanent markers.