DIY GumBall Candy Dispenser Machine from Cardboard
Are you looking for a fun and easy DIY project that can be enjoyed by people of all ages?
How about creating your own Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine from cardboard?
This Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine can be a great source of entertainment at a children’s party or a fun addition to your home or office decor.
Please scroll down for step-by-step tutorial of how to make Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine from Cardboard.
This project is perfect for spending time with the family, and it’s a great way to showcase your creativity, save money, and bring joy to others.
Our step-by-step tutorial takes you through every step of the process, including designing and cutting the cardboard, as well as assembling and decorating the gumball candy dispenser machine. Let’s get started!
HERE IS THE TUTORIAL:
You will need the following materials:
- thick porous three-layer cardboard
- scissors
- double sided duct tape
- thick plastic or acetate sheet
- rubber band
- pliers
- glue gun
- duct tape
- ruler
- wooden sticks
- ice cream stick
- marker
- glue stick
STEP 1. Take a sheet of porous three-layer cardboard and cut it into rectangles of the following sizes:
- 2 pieces of 6 cm by 2 cm
- 1 piece of 6 cm by 6 cm
- 1 piece of 3 cm by 2 cm
Mark the piece of cardboard 6 cm by 6 cm into three parts with horizontal lines at 2 cm intervals as shown in the picture below
Now you will need narrow double-sided duct tape
Put the tape as shown in the picture below
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape
Take the piece of cardboard measuring 6 cm by 2 cm and attach it to the duct tape as shown in the picture below. If you’ll see that your duct tape is not strong enough to hold all elements, you can use a hot glue gun instead.
Take the piece of cardboard measuring 3 cm by 2 cm
Put double-sided duct tape on the edge of the long side
The tape should be attached to both sides of the cardboard
Flip the piece of cardboard over and put the tape on the opposite edge along the long side
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape on both sides
Attach the piece of cardboard with the tape to the side at an angle to the base, as shown in the picture below
Put double-sided duct tape on the base along the line, as shown in the picture below
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape
Take the remaining piece of cardboard measuring 6 cm by 2 cm and attach it to the duct tape, as shown in the picture below.
This is how it should look like:
STEP 2. For this step, prepare two pieces of cardboard measuring 6 by 9 cm and one piece of cardboard measuring 7 by 9 cm
Use a marker and a ruler to draw lines on them as shown in the picture below
Take double-sided duct tape
Attach the double-sided duct tape to the prepared pieces of cardboard as shown in the picture below
Take one of the pieces of cardboard measuring 6 by 9 cm
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape
Attach it to the previously made part, as shown in the picture below
Repeat this step with the second piece of cardboard measuring 6 by 9 cm
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape and attach the cardboard piece to the opposite side of the base
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape on the remaining piece of cardboard measuring 7 by 9 cm
Put two strips of double-sided duct tape to this cardboard piece, as shown in the picture below
One strip on each of the long sides of the cardboard piece
Another strip on the other long side of the cardboard piece
This way, the tape is attached to three sides of the cardboard piece measuring 7 by 9 cm
Remove the protective paper layer from the double-sided duct tape
Attach this cardboard piece as shown in the picture below
This will be the back side of the body
As a result, this part will have the following appearance.
STEP 3. Take double-sided duct tape and attach it to the indicated areas in the picture below
Remove the protective paper layer from the double-sided duct tape
Using scissors or nife, cut a piece of cardboard 6 by 6 cm
Make a square hole in it 2 by 2 cm, as shown in the picture below, 1 cm from the edge
Insert this piece of cardboard inside the body, as shown in the picture below
The 2 by 2 cm square hole should be closer to the back side
STEP 4. Cut out 3 cardboard pieces of the specified shape and size
Dimensions are shown in the picture below
Take a glue stick
Glue the cut-out pieces together, placing one on top of the other
Place the piece with the wide side facing up
Take a wooden stick with a tapered end and insert it into the specified location
The stick needs to be inserted between the layers of cardboard
Now you will need pliers
Cut the stick so that the ends stick out 1 cm on each side
Cut the stick with pliers
Make sure that the ends of the stick do not protrude more than 1 cm
STEP 5. Use scissors or knife to cut two pieces of cardboard, each measuring 3 by 1 cm
Take 2 wooden sticks with tapered ends
Cut them with pliers so that they are 5 cm in length
Take double-sided duct tape and attach it to the specified places shown in the picture below
Remove the protective paper layer from the double-sided duct tape
Attach the cut-out cardboard pieces measuring 3 by 1 cm onto the tape
Take the previously made cardboard part with the inserted wooden stick
Insert it into the body
Make sure that the part moves freely inside
STEP 6. Take the cut pieces of sticks with a tapered end, prepared earlier
Insert them into the body in the specified location shown in the picture below
Insert the sticks so that they stand out 1 cm above the cardboard
Repeat the same action with the second stick
The second stick should also stand out 1 cm above the cardboard
Take the previously made part with the inserted wooden stick
Insert it inside the body
Make sure again that the part moves freely inside
STEP 7. In this step, we will need 2 rubber bands
Take the part made earlier with a wooden stick inserted through it
Put the rubber bands on the protruding ends of the sticks
Insert the cardboard part into the body, as shown in the picture below
Using scissors, stretch the rubber bands over the sticks previously inserted into the cardboard
Each of the rubber bands should connect the ends of the sticks located near the side of the body, as shown in the picture below
Repeat the same action with the second rubber band
It is necessary to connect the free ends of the remaining wooden sticks
Now, the part inside the body is spring-loaded
Make sure that the part moves freely inside the body
Check the cut-out holes of the part and the body of the construction, they need to match
It is very important that the holes match
The candy will fall out through this hole
STEP 8. Cut a piece of cardboard measuring 6 by 6 cm
Make a square hole in it measuring 2 by 2 cm
Take double-sided duct tape and attach it to the edges of the cardboard piece as shown in the picture below
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape
Attach the cardboard piece with the hole as shown in the picture below. The hole should be closer to the front side of the future “machine”
Test the construction by pressing the protruding part of the cardboard piece – the button
After pressing, the button should return to its original position
Cut three pieces of cardboard measuring 2 by 1 cm using scissors
Stick them around the hole on the top of the body as shown in the pictures below
STEP 9. Attach the double-sided duct tape strips around the square hole on the top part of the body as shown in the picture below
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape
Now we need a sheet of thick plastic
Fold the plastic sheet in a way that it forms a square base measuring 6 by 6 cm
This will be the candy container
The required shape is shown in the picture below
Place the plastic container on top of the body as shown in the picture below
So, the plastic container is now installed
Now we need to make the front panel for the cardboard body
For this, we need the double-sided duct tape
Attach it in the designated areas shown in the picture below
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape
Cut a piece of cardboard measuring 7 by 9 cm
Make 2 square holes in it as shown in the picture below
Attach the cardboard piece onto the previously applied duct tape
Test the mechanism of Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine by pressing the button
After pressing, the button should return to its original position
Now we need to make a funnel through which the candies will enter the mechanism of Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine
Cut 4 pieces of cardboard as shown in the picture below
We will also need the ordinary duct tape
Use the tape to attach these 4 pieces of cardboard together in a funnel shape as shown in the picture below
The funnel should be in the shape of a square measuring 5.8 by 5.8 cm
The inner hole should also be in the shape of a square measuring 2 by 2 cm
Insert the funnel into the plastic container as shown in the picture below
Now, let’s test our Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine
Take a candy and drop it into the container
Press the button, the candy will fall out
STEP 10. Now we need to make the top of the Candy Dispenser machine.
Cut a square piece of cardboard 6 by 6 cm. Make a square hole in it 3 by 3 cm
Make sure the inner square part is well-cut and can be removed easily
Put the inner square part back in its place
Take a wooden stick with a tapered end and insert it into the cavity between the layers of cardboard, as shown in the picture below
Insert the stick in such a way that it passes through the edge of the inner square part. This is necessary to allow the square part to open
This will be the window through which candies will be poured into the container
Take pliers and cut the ends of the wooden stick
The ends of the stick should not protrude beyond the edges of the cardboard piece
STEP 11. Cut 4 pieces of cardboard using scissors:
- 2 pieces 6 by 2.5 cm
- 2 pieces 7 by 2.5 cm
Take the double-sided duct tape and attach it onto the cardboard pieces that were just cut out, as shown in the picture below
Remove the protective paper layer from the tape
Attach the cardboard pieces, that were just made, onto the square that was made earlier
Make it in the form of a box, as shown in the picture below
This will be the top part of the Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine
Put the newly made part on top of the plastic container
Cut two small pieces of hot-glue stick
Use a glue gun to attach them to the opening window of the top part of the Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine
Take an ice cream stick (you can decorate it as you like)
Use the hot glue to attach the ice cream stick to the glue pieces
Use this stick to easily open the window for pouring candies
STEP 12. It’s time to give the Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine some beauty
We can decorate the button to look like a nose. The hole below the button will look like an open mouth. Draw the eyes or attach the toy-eyes like we did.
So, let’s test the Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine in action
Open the window on the top and pour candies into the container
Press the button and catch the candies!
The Gumball Candy Dispenser Machine is ready to bring joy and delight to you and your friends!
In conclusion, creating a gumball candy dispenser machine from cardboard is a fun, easy, and rewarding DIY project that anyone can do. Not only is it a great way to showcase your creativity and save money, but it’s also a perfect way to bring a touch of nostalgia and joy into your life.
With just a few materials, you can create a unique and personalized dispenser that reflects your individual style. You can involve your kids or friends in the project and work together to create something fun and unique. This project is also a great opportunity to teach kids about recycling and repurposing materials, as you can use an old cardboard box instead of buying new materials.
Looking for a fun and unique addition to your next children’s party or home/office decor?
So, what are you waiting for? Prepare your materials and get started on this fun and rewarding project today!
