by Nancy Quinn

Created on: November 29, 2009   Last Updated: December 30, 2009

Party hats and noisemakers are two important ingredients to make your New Year's celebration more festive. Instead of buying noisemakers this year, let your guests create these one of kind creations. The children at your party will enjoy helping to make sure all your guests have a festive noisemaker to ring in the New Year with style. These creations will not only be fun to make, but will be helping to save the landfills as well.

JUICE CAN SHAKERS

Materials:

Juice cans (clean and dry)

Construction paper

Adhesive paper

Beans or jingle bells

Scissors

White glue

Pipe cleaners

1) To make the ends for the can, trace around the can on adhesive paper. Draw another one inch circle larger than the outline circle. Cut out the circles.

2) With the scissors, make cuts spaced one inch apart around the circle, from the out edge in. Make two, one for each end of the can.

3) Peel off the backing of the adhesive paper. Cover one end of the juice can and place jingle bells or beans inside the can.

4) Poke a hole in the center of the metal or plastic end of the can.

5) Bend a pipe cleaner in half and insert the two ends into the hole. On the inside of the can, twist the two ends to prevent them from slipping back through the can. The wire loop on the outside of the can will be the handle.

6)Cut a piece of construction paper the width of the can and cover the outside of the juice can and decorate.

WATER BOTTLE SHAKERS

Materials:

Small soda or water bottles

Rice

Beads, charms, glitter, sequins

Small kitchen funnel

Craft glue

Ribbon

1) Remove any paper from the outside of the bottle.

2) Place the end of the funnel into the bottle and fill with about one half cup of rice, then add small items to make it more interesting. Add a little sparkle inside the bottle with glitter or sequins.

3) Put some glue around the neck of the bottle and replace the cap tightly. This shaker just needs a New Year's ribbon tied around the neck of the bottle to complete this creation.

SODA CAN NOISEMAKERS

Materials needed:

Soda cans

Construction paper

Rice

Tape or glue

Magic markers, stickers, glitter or sequins

1) Put a few beans or rice in the soda can.

2) Place a piece of scotch tape over the hole to keep the rice in.

3) Trace a circle out of construction paper to fit on either end of the can.

4) Cut a piece of construction paper to fit around the can and glue or tape to cover.

5) Decorate this noisemaker with stickers, glitter or designs made with magic markers.

CONFETTI BALLOONS

Materials Needed:

Balloons

Paper confetti

1) Stretch the opening as wide as you can without ripping it.

2) Fill the balloon with some confetti.

3) Blow up the balloon and tie a knot at the end.

These unique noisemakers are inexpensive ways for your guests, young and old, to have fun as you all prepare to welcome in the New Year together!

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