Play the Guitar w/ DIY Star Toadette
Make a DIY Star Toadette guitar pick and puppet, then learn basic strumming and two simple chords to play a short song.
Step-by-step guide to play the guitar with DIY Star Toadette
Step 1
Gather all Materials Needed and lay them out on a clear table so you can reach everything easily.
Step 2
Use your pencil to draw a guitar pick shape (a rounded triangle) on the craft foam or cardboard.
Step 3
Cut out the pick shape carefully with scissors following your pencil line.
Step 4
Draw a big star and a cute Toadette face on the pick with your colouring materials.
Step 5
Draw a Toadette head shape about the size of your palm on another piece of cardboard.
Step 6
Cut out the Toadette head shape with scissors.
Step 7
Colour the Toadette head and add eyes and mushroom spots using your colouring materials.
Step 8
Glue or tape the bottom of the Toadette head to the top of the popsicle stick to make a puppet.
Step 9
Hold your new pick between your thumb and index finger of your strumming hand with the point facing the strings.
Step 10
Practice a steady downstroke by moving only your wrist and strumming all the strings gently eight times.
Step 11
Form an Em chord by placing your middle finger on the A string 2nd fret and your ring finger on the D string 2nd fret.
Step 12
Strum all the strings once to hear the Em chord clearly.
Step 13
Form a G chord by placing your middle finger on the low E string 3rd fret your index finger on the A string 2nd fret and your ring finger on the high E string 3rd fret.
Step 14
Play the short song by strumming G for four steady down counts then Em for four steady down counts and repeat this pattern four times while singing "Star Toadette strums along" or humming.
Step 15
Take a photo or video of your Star Toadette pick and puppet and share your finished creation and short song on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of craft foam or cardboard for the guitar pick and Toadette head if those materials aren't available?
If you don't have craft foam or cardboard, cut the pick shape from a cereal box or thin plastic (like a milk jug) and use a paper plate or heavyweight cardstock for the Toadette head, attaching it to the popsicle stick with glue or tape as instructed.
My pick bends while I strum and the puppet head keeps coming loose—how can I fix that?
If the pick bends or the Toadette head loosens, make the pick from thicker cardboard or double-layer the craft foam and reinforce the popsicle stick joint by gluing both front and back and wrapping tape around the base, allowing the glue to dry fully before strumming.
How can I adapt this activity for preschoolers versus older kids?
For preschoolers, pre-cut the pick and Toadette head and let them color and glue while an adult holds the popsicle stick, and for older kids have them cut, assemble, and practice forming the Em and G chords and the four-count strumming pattern independently.
How can we make the Star Toadette song or puppet more creative or challenging?
To enhance the activity, decorate the pick and puppet with stickers or glitter, add more chords like C and D to expand beyond the G–Em pattern, and record a photo or video of the performance to share on DIY.org as the instructions suggest.
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Facts about beginner guitar and music for kids
🎵 A guitar pick (plectrum) changes tone: thicker picks make a warmer sound, while thin picks give brighter, jangly strums.
🎶 Believe it or not, many popular songs can be played with just two chords and a steady strumming pattern.
🎸 Most standard guitars have six strings — learn three or four chord shapes and you can already play lots of songs!
🎮 Toadette first appeared as a playable character in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003) and is known for her cheerful mushroom-cap look.
🧦 You can make a fun puppet from a single sock or felt — puppetry has been used for storytelling around the world for thousands of years.
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