If you are looking for a homemade alternative to a nerf gun, consider a marshmallow gun.

Marshmallow guns, or marshmallow shooters as they are commonly called, are basically a blow gun made from PVC pipe. The ammunition used? Small marshmallows, easily obtainable at any grocery store. The fun? Endless.

My husband and boys made marshmallow guns because they couldn't always get out to the back of the property to play paintball.

You will need 1/2 inch pvc pipe cut to the following lengths. You can cut it with a hacksaw or sometimes you can have it cut at your local home improvement store. Since pvc comes in ten foot lengths you will have some left over. The materials for the marshmallow guns cost less than $5.00.

• One 9"
• One 7"
• Two 4"
• Two 2"
• One 3"
• Two 90 degree elbows
• Two T's
• Two end caps

Assemble them by pushing them together. You can later take them apart easily for cleaning, or for changing the way your marshmallow blow gun looks. Do not use adhesive in putting them together. You won;t be able to clean the shooter when you want to.

You can also use the following configuration:

• Six 3"
• One 7"
• Two PVC elbows
• Two PVC "T"-fittings
• Two PVC end caps

This makes a more versatile weapon, that you can change the barrel length on, and the velocity of the marshmallow. How do I know? The marshmallow guns get reconfigured daily at our house to find the best design. My kids have added a PVC piece with a flared end on the end of the barrel. Don't be afraid to experiment.

Push the pieces together as they are in the photographs. It is much easier to do by seeing a picture than explaining with words. You can paint your marshmallow shooter any way you would like. Since the pieces to ours get rearranged and traded so often we chose not to paint them.

To use, take a mini marshmallow and put in the upper chamber. Blow hard and the marshmallow will shoot out the barrel, hitting your target with amazing accuracy. The marshmallows do get sticky so you want to make sure you do this somewhere you don't mind marshmallows flying around.

These things are all kinds of fun. For very little money your kids can have a great time shooting at targets, and ambushing Dad when he comes home from work. The marshmallows are soft, but remind your kids to not aim at faces. You may want to have them wear safety glasses. Some people do, we don't.

There was quite a lot of these for sale on ebay a few years ago. Potentially they would make a great Scout project, or money maker at a church bazaar. Just be sure to stock up on marshmallows, you go through them fast.