Try this DIY binoculars craft today! Take them outside during your next nature walk or backyard adventure! This outdoor play prop turns a simple stroll outside into an exciting scavenger hunt. Search high and low for pieces of nature like stones, flowers, and animals with these stick binoculars!
We’re getting resourceful today and using some of those toilet paper rolls we have been saving! Reusing objects always makes crafting more rewarding and it’s fun to see everyday items transform into something useful. Kids will love helping with this process, but enjoy using their binoculars even more!
Ready to make this DIY binoculars craft? Here’s what you’ll need….
Supplies:
- 2 Paper Towel Rolls
- Washi Tape or Marker
- Single-Hole Puncher
- Twine or String about 18-20 inches (45-51 cm) long
- Craft Bond Tacky Glue
- 45-50 Straight sticks, about 3.5 inches (9 cm) and about 1/8 inch (.5 cm) thick. Test out one stick on your roll first. Make sure the stick sits under the washi tape line so it doesn’t poke your child’s eyes.
- 6 medium sized rubber bands and 1larger rubber band
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RELATED: Use These Binoculars with the Sticky Scavenger Hunt
Here’s How We Made This Beautiful Tic-Tac-Toe Game:
Step 1:
Put a washi tape border on one end of both paper rolls. Not only does this look nice, but will also protect your eyes from the sticks. If you don’t have washi tape, try drawing a border with marker! We used weeping willow sticks from a tree in our backyard.
Step 2:
Snap sticks by hand to the size you need. You can try scissors if your sticks are thin enough. Make them long enough to fit right under the decorative tape to the other end of the paper roll. Once you have one stick measured out to the correct length, snap the rest the same size.
Step 3:
Punch one hole under the washi tape on each of the binoculars. Take one end of your twine and thread it through the hole you made. Tie a knot to secure the thread to the paper roll. Use the same piece of twine and repeat with the other binocular.
Step 4:
Put glue on about 1/3 of your paper roll and place sticks on the binoculars. Press each stick on the glue for about 10 seconds. This part can be a little tricky and will require helping hands. If one or two sticks fall off during this process, just put it back in its spot and press the stick for 10 more seconds. I found it helpful to cradle the part of the binocular with drying sticks in my hand to keep them in place. Repeat this process until the entire binocular is covered with sticks.
Step 5:
Put three rubber bands around each binocular to keep them in place while drying.
Step 6:
Once the binoculars are completely dry, take the rubber bands off and glue a stick in the middle of the binoculars to connect them. This stick can be just as long or a bit shorter than the other sticks. Place a larger rubber band around the binoculars to keep them in place while they dry.
Don’t they look great when completed?!
They are perfect to take outside during any season, but we LOVE them for winter bird watching!
Want to make more nature binoculars? Try stone or pressed flower binoculars! If you have extra time, try painting the sticks to make colorful binoculars. We love our pressed flower binoculars pictured below.
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I hope you give this nature craft a try! I promise, your little nature lovers will love this activity as my boys.
∼Tara
