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How to fold an origami maracas

Round off two coloured rectangles into egg-shaped heads and fold two strips into handles, then glue them crossed and draw on the stripes.

You need: Two 7 x 9 cm rectangles in bright colours, two 2.5 x 9 cm tan strips, a white gel pen and a glue stick. Easy, 8 steps, about 8 minutes.

Steps

  1. Head: round it. Start with the orange rectangle, coloured side up, short edges at the top and bottom. Fold all four corners behind, the bottom ones more, to make an egg shape.
  2. Handle: new strip. Set the head aside. Take a tan strip, tan side up.
  3. Handle: in half. Fold the strip in half the long way, folding behind.
  4. Second head. Set it aside. Take the green rectangle, coloured side up.
  5. Head: round it. Fold the four corners behind, just like the first head.
  6. Second handle. Set it aside and take the other tan strip, tan side up.
  7. Handle: in half. Fold it in half the long way behind.
  8. Glue them crossed. Glue each head onto the top of a handle, and cross the two handles so the maracas lean apart.

Shake shake!

Draw two white stripes and a white zigzag around each head. Shake them to a song and dance along.

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