Nintendo has declared March 10 Mario Day to celebrate all things Super Mario Bros. This plucky plumber has been around for over 30 years, dashing and jumping his way into our hearts, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down.
Take part in the MAR10 Day fun with this upcycled pencil cup craft for you and the kids.
What You Need
- Toilet paper roll
- Starbucks cup sleeve or long, flexible piece of cardboard
- Small piece of cardboard, approximately 2.5″ by 2.5″
- Green cardstock paper
- Orange paint
- Mario template (link below)
- Thin, flexible wire
- Wire cutters
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Ruler
- Black marker
- Glue
- Hot glue
- Clothespins
Get Started!
Begin by painting the cardboard piece orange. Set aside to dry.
Next, pull apart the ends of the cardboard Starbucks cup sleeve. (A thin piece of cardboard, if flexible, can also work.) Cut a strip approximately 1.5″ wide and 5.625″ long. Measurements don’t have to be precise.
Place the strip on the green cardstock paper and trace around it. Cut the paper slightly larger than the cardboard strip so that it will be covered completely.
Glue the cardboard to the green cardstock (logo side) and let dry.
Next, measure a piece of green cardstock (approximately 5″ by 7″) against the side of the toilet paper roll and cut the height to fit.
Wrap around and glue the green cardstock so that the roll is completely covered. If you’re using school glue, hold the edges in place while drying with clothespins.
Let the glue dry completely. While it’s drying, use the black marker to draw the ground pattern from Super Mario Bros. on the orange cardboard.
Next, glue the cardboard strip to the top of the tube to complete the green pipe. Use the clothespins to hold the strip in place while drying.
While you’re waiting for it to dry, print and cut the Mario template. You will need to use a craft knife to get the small squares cut carefully.
Once both Marios are cut from the template, use the wire cutters to cut a piece of thin wire approximately 7″ long.
Glue the Marios to the top of the wire so that the color is facing out on both sides.
Poke the wire into the middle of the cardboard, where the bricks meet in the middle. Add glue around the base of the wire to give it extra hold.
Remove the clothespins from the green pipe. Carefully place the pipe with Mario in the middle and glue it to the cardboard with the hot glue gun.
Your Super Mario pencil cup is complete. Happy MAR10 Day!
