The first thing you want to do is decorate the T.P. tube. Use colorful tape, decoupage using tissue paper and a glue stick, or just draw on the tube with markers! We have tried fabric, stickers, and beads on the outside. Each style creates a different sound, so why experiment?

Once fully decorated, you want to pinch down and staple one end of the tube closed.

Fill the T.P. tube with the filler of your choice. You don't need too much filler, only about 2 or 3 tablespoons.

Turn your tube a quarter turn and pinch off the end in the opposite direction as your first closure. You want to create a triangle-shaped T.P. tube as opposed to a flattened tube. Staple the end closed.

Use tape to cover both ends of the tube to ensure no little fingers get snagged or pinched by the staples.

Now you can shake it, shake it! Here are a few T.P. tube maracas I decorated.