Reuse Bowling Set

I have had this idea since I was a kid. Every time I ate Pringles (which wasn't often, thanks Mom!), I desperately wanted to make them into bowling pins. There is something so great about setting them up and then knocking them down. Just ask any two year old... or me.

I finally got around to doing it, and I'm pretty satisfied with the results. Not only was this fun for me, but it also saved some cans from a landfill, and was super cheap to boot! I also numbered them and made them different colors. Don't want to pass up any opportunity to make a game a learning experience.

So here's how I did it...

Supplies: 

6 Pringles cans (and before you judge me, it took me a loooooong time to save up that many)

paint

paper

permanent marker

dried corn or beans

ball

black spray paint

I had everything on hand so this came out free for me. I guess if you include the actual Pringles chips, it was about $6.

Step 1: Round up your Pringles cans. Looking like a bowling set already, right?

Step 2: Paint them! I used acrylic paint. You could use any number of paints, just make sure if it's water soluble paint and you plan on playing with these outside that you coat them later in some kind of clear, waterproof topcoat.

Step 3: Once they've dried, print out a picture of bowling pin. I pasted one to a word document and then just cut it out to use as a stencil. You want it to be about as tall as your can.

Step 4: Trace around the "stencil" with a sharpie (or some marker/pen that you're going to be able to see later)

Step 5: Fill in the pin lines with white paint. Once that dried, I went back around the edges with sharpie to make the lines look a little more crisp, and I added the red stripes with a red sharpie. You could obviously use paint if you want.

Step 6: Fill your cans with some dried corn or beans. I used feed grade corn that I had left over from another project. I know, right? Who has extra feed grade corn in their house? I do. There. I said it.

You want enough to weigh the can down somewhat but not so much that it's going to be impossible to knock it over later. I used about 1/2 Cup in each I think.

Step 7: Print out some numbers for the top of your cans. I used all different fonts, you just want them to be about the same size and not too big to fit on the inside of the lid.

Step 8: Place one of your lids on top of the numbers and trace around it.

Step 9: Once you have them traced, cut out the numbers. You want to cut them somewhat within the line, though. That way your circle will fit into the inside of the lid.

Step 10: Place one of your number circles inside a lid. Make sure you know at this point which pin you want to be that specific number.

Step 11: Put a bead of hot glue around the edge of the circle on the inside lip of the lid. Quickly position and place the lid on the pin.

This is not only going to keep the number in place, but also hold your lid on so corn doesn't go flying everywhere in the middle of the 5th frame.

Repeat for all of the numbers and pins.

Taa Daa!!!!

I found an old foam soccer ball at a yard sale for 50 cents. Score! So I spray painted it shiny black to go with my set, and there you have it! I have a feeling this is going to be a big hit with some toddlers in my life!