1Prepare cardboard or paper plate.

The castanets can either be made from a paper plate or from thick cardboard.

• Cardboard - cut it to a size that fits on your hand when folded. Mine is about 4" x 8".
• Paper plate - 6" or the smallest paper plate you can find.

2Fold in half.

Fold the cardboard or paper plate in the middle. Crease lightly along the fold, taking care not to crease too much. The castanet should maintain a certain spring when opening and closing it.

If you opted for paper plate castanets, skip to Step 5.

3Draw an outline on the cardboard.

Think of an object or character you want your castanet to look like. Go with a shape that fills as much of the surface of your folded cardboard—perhaps a flower, a seashell, a cat's head, or the face of a favorite cartoon character. Draw an outline on the front panel of the folded cardboard.

4Cut out the shape.

While keeping the cardboard folded, cut along the outline. If the cardboard is too thick, you can:

1. Cut out the shape on the front panel first.
2. Keep the cardboard folded and trace the outline of the shape onto the back panel.
3. Cut out the shape on the back panel.

5Punch holes.

If you're using a paper plate or if your cardboard castanet is a lot larger than your palm, it is best to attach a pair of straps for an easy grip.

While keeping the paper plate or cardboard folded, punch 2 pairs of holes an inch from the folded edge. The distance between the holes should roughly be the same as the width from your little finger to your pointer finger.

6Draw details.

Use a black permanent marker or crayon to draw the details on your castanet.

7Color the castanet.

Color the castanet with crayons or colored markers. You can also use a water-based paint like tempera or poster paint. Color or paint the inside of your castanet if you like.

8Attach straps.

If you did Step 5, attach straps by cutting a pair elastic bands or ribbons that are about 2 to 3 inches longer than the distance between the holes on the paper plate. The idea is for the straps to fit snugly around your four fingers.

Take one strap and insert the ends through the pair of holes on one side of the castanet.

Knot the ends from the other side of the paper plate, making sure that the knot is bigger than the hole.

When using a ribbon, you can tie the ends of the ribbon together instead of knotting each end.

9Adjust the straps.

Once you have attached both straps, try wearing the castanet on your hand by placing four fingers through the first strap and your thumb on the other strap. Open and close the castanet. The straps should be snug yet comfortable. Adjust the length of the straps if necessary.

10Glue coins or buttons.

Use a glue gun to attach 3 or more pairs of buttons, coins, or metal washers along the inner edges of the castanet. The coins or buttons should be opposite each other so that when the two sides of the castanet are clapped together, they produce a clicking sound.