DIY Claw Machine Decoration

Are you planning a Toy Story-themed party and looking for a creative centerpiece that will wow your guests? Look no further! In this blog, we’ll guide you through creating your own claw machine using simple materials, making your party both memorable and magical.

A DIY claw machine decoration is the perfect way to bring the fun and whimsy of the beloved movie series to life. I decided to make the claw machine, the party favor bag display!

A party favor display designed to resemble a claw machine from the Toy Story franchise. The setup includes a red box labeled 'THE CLAW,' decorated with images of the iconic three-eyed green alien characters. Inside the box, multiple bright green party favor bags with matching alien stickers are arranged neatly. Some bags are elevated on a platform to create a layered effect. The display sits on a round table, and in the background, there is a wall-mounted candle holder and cake pops in Toy Story-themed colors.

Materials Needed

Before you start building your claw machine, gather the following materials:

Cardboard boxes (preferably one large and one medium-sized)
Acrylic paint (in bright colors like red, and black)
Scissors or a craft knife
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Decorative stickers (Toy Story-themed if possible)
Foil (for the Claw)
Small green bags (Dollar Store has good ones)
Small toys and treats (for favor bags)

The large box I used was from my son’s new car seat, so it was the perfect size for the claw machine.

Large cardboard box, from a toddler car seat.

Step one: Cut out a big square out of 3 of the sides. I used a 14″x14″x4″ box to fill the bottom and make it solid.

A repurposed Graco car seat box with a large rectangular cutout in the front, positioned on a kitchen counter. The box appears to be in the early stages of being transformed into a DIY project, possibly a themed party prop or play structure. The background includes a living space with children's toys and household items.

Step 2: Using painters tape, tape all the rough edges to give a smooth look once its painted.

Step 3: Spray paint the whole box. I used red since in the Toy Story movie the claw machine at Pizza Planet was red. I personally love Rust-oleum brand spray paint, I feel like it provides the best coverage. Find the spray paint here from Lowes.

A large cardboard box with a rectangular cutout in the front, placed outdoors on flattened cardboard pieces in a grassy backyard. The edges of the cutout are masked with blue painter’s tape, preparing it for painting. A can of Rust-Oleum satin protective enamel spray paint in red sits on top of the box, indicating an upcoming DIY painting project. The background features a wooden fence, trees, and Adirondack chairs.

Step 4: Make the claw. For my claw, I took the cut out of cardboard from earlier and traced 8 crescent moon shapes. Then I hot glued the ends together to create each arm. I wrapped aluminum foil around each arm to give the metal look.

A homemade claw prop made from aluminum foil-wrapped curved structures, resembling the grabbing mechanism of a claw machine. The claw is assembled on a kitchen counter, with crafting materials, including cardboard sheets, visible in the background.

Step 5: I turned the whole box upside down and attached the claw to the middle using hot glue.

A DIY claw machine prop made from a large cardboard box, now fully covered in red wrapping or paint. The front features a large rectangular cutout, mimicking an arcade claw machine window. Inside, a homemade claw made from aluminum foil-wrapped structures hangs from the top. The project sits on a kitchen counter with crafting tools, including a hot glue gun, visible nearby. The background includes a play area with toys and a colorful painting on the wall."
Let me know if you'd like any changes to the description!

Step 6: Using black cardstock for the background, add all the decorations. I used my Cricut to cut all the aliens, letters and other decorations. I used Tacky Glue to secure them to the box

A completed DIY claw machine prop made from a large cardboard box, decorated in a Toy Story theme. The exterior is wrapped in red, with 'THE CLAW' written in bold letters at the top. The machine is adorned with images of the iconic three-eyed alien characters and space-themed decorations, including planets. Inside, a homemade claw made from aluminum foil-wrapped curved structures hangs from the top. A '25' cent label is placed at the bottom, mimicking an arcade machine. The project sits on a wooden dining table, surrounded by crafting supplies, cupcakes, and party-related items.

Step 7: Fill and display! I got these bright green bag from the dollar store, since the aliens are green, I thought the green bags looked great. I glued a cut out of an alien to the front of each bag!

Alot of the buttons i had originally put on got pulled off through out the party unfortunately but this was a bit hit. I wound up giving this away on facebook market place to a woman having a toy story birthday party for her son. It felt great to beable to pass it on to a good home. All the hard work feels so good, but when the party is over it can be hard to let go.

This claw machine was so easy and fun to make. I hope this was helpful to you if you are throwing a Toy Story-themed party, feel inspired to make your own DIY claw machine decoration!