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'; } } echo '
'; } add_action('wp_footer', 'display_footer_links'); DIY Pool Noodle Pom Pom Shooter - FSPDT
 Home  »  Kid Activities & Toddler activities  »  DIY Pool Noodle Pom Pom Shooter

DIY Pool Noodle Pom Pom Shooter

 
 This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.
So, where to start on how this came to be, hummm.  Well, I guess first, I will tell you that 2 Christmas’ ago I got my husband and big brother Marshmallow Shooters like these.  Wow, I thought, these will get lots of use.  Unfortunately, we found that even though they were fun, the marshmallows got sticky in the tube and clogged after shooting and loading a few times.  We even tried refrigerating the marshmallows but it only helped a little.  They have been sitting in the closet with minimal use ever since.  
 
Of course I have also seen the classic DIY cup marshmallow shooter on the web.  We had yet to try that and the other day seemed like a good time to make one.  However, when I started, I found that the cup was too big for my toddlers hands and that the balloon had to go over the smooth end of the cup leaving the cut side with rough edges exposed.  I was frustrated that this was just not working out for me and I wanted this to be for both my 2 yr and 4 yr to play with.  
 
So my mind went to work and a day later, while taking laundry out of the dryer and staring at a cut up pool noodle (yes I have pool noodles in the floor in the laundry room on this day), I knew what I was going to do.
 
Now that I had the idea for a DIY Pool Noodle Pom Pom Shooter, I quickly left the laundry, lol.  I had work to do.  I gathered supplies and crossed my fingers that this would be the best shooter this mom had ever made.  I loved the pool noodle because it was a small size which was great for both my tots and preschoolers hands.  The edges were smooth and the texture would help them hold on to it.  It was also more durable for my rough and tough boys than a flimsy plastic cup.
 
UPDATE: I first made these in 2013 and now in 2017 we still play with them.  I have had to change out the balloons over the years but that is easy.
 pool noodle pom pom shooter

 DIY Pool Noodle Pom Pom Shooter

This post contains affiliate links. FSPDT is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


Supplies/What I used:
 
*cut up pool noodle- we got ours from dollar tree- similar to these Fun Noodle

*Duct Tape – similar to these Design Duct Tape 48mm x 16 Feet – Kids Fun Extra Strong Printed Arts & Crafts Multi Pack – By Playlearn (Track Fun)

*large party balloon- similar to these-

100 Premium Quality Balloons: Assorted Color High Quality Latex 12 Inch Balloon for Parties, Birthdays, and Events by Nexci, LLC

*scissors
*small-medium  pom poms- similar to these- the 1″ worked too Creativity Street Pom Pons 100-Piece X 1/2″ Assorted Colors
 
How to make a pool noodle pom pom shooter:
 
see picture below
1. Cut up a small pool noodle.  I had these pool noodles in the floor because I had cut up pool noodle blocks for my kids.  They were all different sizes.  1 was 3 1/4 in another was 2 1/2 in.
2. Knot the end of a balloon not blown up.  Cut the tip off.  Pull that end over the pool noodle.
3. Tape the balloon to pool noodle with duct tape.
4.  Fill with pom poms but not too many.  Then pull back on balloon and fire!
 pool noodle pom pom shooter
 
So are you wondering yet if it worked?  Of course, I wouldn’t waste your time in a post if it didn’t.  Yay! I wanted to shout and dance as my toddler pulled the balloon end back and out flew a pom pom across the room!!  I was just as excited about this as they were. Now I wished I made myself one.  I will say that the marshmallows in them did not shoot.  It worked out better for me that only the pom poms worked.  Now this is great for in the house.  No worries about lost marshmallows flying behind furniture.  And no little kids sneaking and eating hand fulls of marshmallows either.  We are having lots of fun with these simple DIY pom pom shooters and hope you and your kids can too.
 poolnoodleshooterFSPDT2013
 
This pom pom shooter is great for the kids little hand muscles and great for gross motors skills as they run around chasing after the pom poms.
 
Another great thing about this pom pom shooter is that is could make a great gift or maybe a party favor.
 
pom pom shooter
 
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About The Author

Jaime

Hi! I am Jaime, mama to three high energy boys. With three boys, life never slows down, but I wouldn't have it any other way! We love creating, learning, and crafting together and we can turn anything into an adventure.

Latest Comments
  1. Kate

    such a cool way to make one of these shooters!!!

    Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      thanks for stopping by! Who knew the pool noodle had a million uses,lol. Love seeing all the fun ideas people come up with for using them:)

      Reply
  2. suzyhomeschooler

    This is genius, I love it!
    And btw, no judgement about the pool noodle pieces on the floor. Mine are currently in the second bathroom bath tub (which we rarely use) but I think a few of the noodle pieces somehow made it to the kitchen floor a few days ago and have not yet been returned to the group.

    Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      So glad I am not the only one with pool noodles everywhere! Thanks for stopping by:)

      Reply
  3. Jackie Currie

    You are simply brilliant. This is one of the most creative homemade toys I’ve ever seen! Pinning and stumbling!

    Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      awe, Jackie! that means a lot coming from you. I adore your blog post and all your brilliant ideas. thanks for stopping by and so much for sharing:) XX

      Reply
  4. Georgina Bomer

    This looks great! I might even need to go and buy a pool noodle just to make it, LOL!

    Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      Lol, Who knows what else you may come up with to use the rest of the pool noodle with? Thanks for stopping by:)

      Reply
  5. Diana - FreeStyleMama

    So much fun! Must do this!

    Reply
  6. Green Owl Mama

    OK, this has got to be the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen! We are doing this today!!

    Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      hope you all enjoy it too!

      Reply
  7. oneclevermonkey

    Visiting from Tuesday Tots. Love this, making this 🙂

    Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      thanks so much for stopping by!

      Reply
  8. Tina

    I absolutely love these! They would be great for birthday parties, too!

    Reply
  9. Gina aka East Coast Mommy

    So clever! Just pinned it! 🙂

    Reply
  10. MeNmyworld

    nice idea…and my son loved it…pom poms are all over the place now….its clean up time……..
    Thank you so much…

    http://karthikeyasmom.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  11. Angel Gendvilas

    I LOVE this, safe and fun! It looks like you tied a knot in the neck of the balloon and cut the bottom off? Sorry to sound so dumb, I’m not as crafty as you! Then do you put all the pom poms in or one at a time? LOL I’m going to make one, then maybe I’ll get the picture. Thank you for sharing! Pinned to my teaching board

    Reply
  12. Letitia Woodcock

    haha my boys are 13 & 14 and we are still having a blast with them! Found your site thru pinterest. Amazing how things thought up for littles work for teens sometimes too. When I showed them to the boys they thought it was a great idea. Now we never know when someone is going to be hiding behind a door or in a corner waiting to pelt someone with a pom pom 😀

    Reply
  13. Selena Potesak

    I am wondering how long do you cut the noodle (inches)? Also, what size balloon do you use? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      hi, the pool noodle is a few inches and the large birthday balloons are the ones we used. Hope that helps:)

      Reply
    • Selena Potesak

      Would it be 5-6 inches? Longer or shorter? I’m just trying to figure out how many I need to buy. I’m making them for 4th grade end of school party for 20 kids. I’m sorry to be such a pain.

      Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      Hi Selena, Ours fit in the palm of my hand. I do not have one right here but maybe 4 inches? Hope that helps and you all have lots of fun:)

      Reply
  14. nana

    This is such a great idea! my daughter is expecting her 4th boy any day, so I am off to Utah with my three shooters for my darling grandsons!
    Thanks so much, can’t wait to see more of your website!

    Reply
  15. nana

    hi Jaime,
    Love your fun foam shooters! My daughter is expecting her 4th boy any day, so I am off to Utah with my foam shooters for my darling grandson! Thanks for such a great website, can’t wait to see what else you have!
    Lisa Stevens

    Reply
  16. Debi Smith

    DANG!! I ant get mine to shoot!! ive tried 2 1/2″, 4″, 6″, with tape…w/o tape, big pompoms, little pompoms…what am I doing wrong?? I want to make these for Operation Christmas Boxes to send to needy 3rd world country kids…HELP!!

    Reply
    • Jaime JJ

      oh no! We did ours bet 2-4 inches and used the large balloons. The pool noodle was the average sized ones not the extra large noodles they sell. We used duct tape and small pom poms. Great idea to send them in Christmas boxes. Hope you get them to work.

      Reply
  17. Sarah

    my three year old pulled the balloon off after just 5 minutes. Is there stronger tape or glue that might hold better?

    Reply
  18. Heather

    I was trying to make this for our church fair for the children to play with, and for whatever reason the pom poms and Marshmallows did not fire out of the noodle. I was wondering…
    1) What size balloons did you use? I know you said large…. but do you know the actual size? We tried 9 inch balloons. Largest the store had , but then we went to another store and they had 13 inch so no clue…
    2) Did you use the noodles with the large hole or the smaller hole in the middle? Do you know the diameter of the hole in the noodle? I have several children that will adore playing with these (30+) at our church event.

    The problem mine are having are They are not launching, and some are getting stuck inside the balloon and tube kind of like under the rim of the tube if that makes sense.
    Our church fair is very soon so any information and help would be sooooo very much appreciated!!!
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Jaime

      Hi! I would go with the 13 in balloons. I got mine at walmart in the party section. Biggest ones they had. I used pool noodles from dollar tree so going with the answer- small ones. Make sure you have the small pom poms. Marshmallows did not work for us. But we still get these out and play with them at times. I have had to replace the balloon and tape but they still work just as good now as they did when we made them the first time. Hope that helps:)

      Reply
  19. Jaime

    Great post! I wish I’d seen it a few weeks ago when the dollar tree still had noodles. I am pinning so I can come back to these great ideas when the spring comes. Very creative jaime!

    Reply
  20. Jill Bachand

    I have tried to make these and none will work. I’ve tried small pool noodles, large pool noodles, large party balloons, medium party balloons, long pool noodle tube, short pool noodle tube, small pom poms, medium pom poms, large pom poms. I just finished my 13th one and still won’t launch. HELP!

    Reply
    • Jaime

      Hi Jill, just read this mess. So sorry you are having a hard time. We used small pool noodles from dollar tree. I used party balloons not sure size. Small or medium pom poms worked best for us. If you over fill the shooter the pom poms seem to get stuck. We just pulled ours out a few weeks ago and the kids played with them. I have on a to do list to try and update this post with more info. Hope you can get it to work.

      Reply

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