Shoebox Guitar

What You Need:

• Shoebox
• Scissors, or craft knife (with parental supervision)
• 2 cardboard squares 3" x 3"
• Rubber bands
• Construction paper
• Markers
• Cardboard tube
• Glue
• Drinking glass
• Pencil
• Optional: glitter, acrylic gems, stickers, colored duct tape

What You Do:

1. Have your child trace the drinking glass on the box top of the shoebox. This will become the sound hole of the guitar and should be a bit lower than the center of the box.
2. Help him cut out a hole using a craft knife or scissors.
3. Have him cover the bottom of the box, the box lid and the paper tube with construction paper.
4. He can decorate the construction paper however he likes using markers, glitter, acrylic gems, stickers and colored duct tape.
5. Cut both 3-inch squares into three equal parts. You should end up with a total of six rectangles.
6. Stack and glue three of the cut cardboard rectangles into one stack. Set this aside. Then, stack two cardboard rectangles and glue them together. Discard the remaining rectangle.
7. Decorate both of the stacked rectangles.
8. Have him trace the end of the cardboard tube to the center of the bottom half of the shoebox.
9. Help him cut out the hole so it's tiny bit smaller than drawn using the craft knife. This will ensure a snug fit.
10. Push the tube through the hole and inside the box.
11. Have him glue the edges of the box lid, and then put the lid on the body of the guitar to secure it.
12. Help him stretch the rubber bands over the shoebox. Make sure they cover the sound hole.
13. Now he's ready to rock out!