How to Make Pinball Games Out of Cardboard_Hobbies and Crafts_Common Sense of Life

Method 1 Method 1 of 4: Creating a Pinball Machine From a Cardboard Shoe Box

1 Gather your materials. You will need:
- Shoebox. You can also use the top
- Clear tape
- 2 cups from an egg carton
- Duct tape for decoration (optional)
- Scissors
- Straws
- Brass paper fastener (1/2" or 3/4")
- Thin cardboard (the cardboard from a cereal box or tissue box etc.)
- Marble or other small ball
- Odds and ends to create obstacles in the playing field (optional). Examples include:
  - Small paper cups
  - Bottle caps
  - Pipe cleaners, markers, aluminum foil, popsicle (craft) sticks
2 Paint and decorate the shoebox if desired. Let it dry overnight.
3 Set the box on an angle.
- Tape or glue the two egg carton cups to one end of the shoe box.
4 Create a ball-launching lever.
- Fold a two-inch strip of cardboard lengthwise.
- Attach the cardboard to the lower left-hand corner of the shoebox using a brass fastener.
- Test the lever by flicking it with your finger to see if it can shoot the marble. Adjust the lever as needed.
5 Design the playing field.
- PBS Kids recommends making a path on the left side of the box by taping down a straw to lead your marble to the top of the box.
- Add a curved piece of paper to the top left corner of the shoebox to enable your marble to roll smoothly to the right.
- Create an obstacle course with miscellaneous objects on the right side of the box.
6 Try it out! Keep testing the playing field until you are satisfied with how the pinball machine works.

Method 2 Method 2 of 4: Creating a Pinball Machine from a Larger Cardboard Box

1 Create a ball launcher to start with.
- Materials needed:
  - Pencil
  - Thumbtack
  - Washer wide enough to place around the pencil
  - Spring wide enough to thread around the pencil
- Stick the thumbtack in the pencil eraser.
- Slide the washer up next to the thumbtack.
- Thread the spring onto the pencil.
2 Install the ball launcher
- Cut a hole just big enough to fit the pencil.
- Thread the launcher through the hole.
- Use a small piece of cardboard to create a chute next to the launcher for the marble.
- Use your imagination and create more obstacles.
3 Add flippers to your pinball table.
- Determine where you want to locate the flippers.
- Cut slits in the cardboard box big enough to insert craft sticks.
- Insert craft sticks. Reinforce the slits with duct tape.
4 Add obstacles to the playing field.
- Attach the cardboard bat to a craft stick or other type of stick.
- Place the marble on top of the thumbtack, pull back the launcher, and let it go!
- The Scientific Mom has many suggestions for creating playing field obstacles, including setting up ramps, bells, and flaps.
  - Create tunnels and ramps out of toilet paper tubes.
  - Create flaps using a skewer and cut paper.
5 Start playing and having fun!

Method 3 Method 3 of 4: Creating a Cardboard Maze

Method 4 Method 4 of 4: Making a Cardboard Skee Ball Game

1 Gather your materials. You will need:
- Two large cardboard boxes of approximately the same size.
- 2-3 plastic storage bins
- Sharp craft knife or Canary knife
- Packing or duct tape
- Tennis balls (or similar)
2 Create a skee ball game similar to one described on the Momtastic site.
- Make a ramp by cutting the short side of one of the boxes so it lies down flat. Be sure to leave the rest of the box intact.
  - You should have a box that is solid on three sides with a flap that folds out.
- Cut out the short side of the other box so it is the same size as the first box.
- Fold the flap from the first box into the box at an angle so it forms part of a ramp. Tape in Place.
- Place the cardboard cut from the second box on top of the ramp and tape in place.
- Place the containers behind the cardboard box.
3 Play the game by rolling tennis balls up the ramp and into the plastic containers. The farther away the container is, the more points scored.
4 Fold up the ramp and put the box away when you're finished playing.

How to Make Pinball Games Out of Cardboard