How to Build a LEGO Gumball Machine

Attach a 1x2 flat piece to the bottom square, one row in from the left edge on a 6x12 LEGO plate. Place a 1x1 piece directly next to it on the right bottom row. Place a 2x5 LEGO ramp one row in from the left and directly above the ramp on the 6x12 plate.

Create a block made from three 1x8 pieces stacked on top of each other and attach it to the bottom row of the 6x12 plate, directly to the right of the 1x1 piece.

Connect a 1x4 smooth brick to the top of a 3x4 ramp. Connect the bottom of that ramp to the top of another 3x4 ramp. Connect two 1x4 pieces to each other and attach the top of that unit to the bottom of the first ramp. Attach the remaining 1x4 piece to the bottom of the second ramp. Connect a 2x4 piece into the bottom of the two ramps, holding them together. Place this unit on the 6x12 so that the end of the ramp lines up to the right of, and faces, the 2x5 ramp piece already connected to the left edge of the plate.

Create a block made from three 1x10 pieces stacked on top of each other and attach it to the top edge of the 6x12 plate, leaving two open spots at the top left corner of the plate.

Stack 3 backwards L 6x2 pieces on top of each other and attach this unit to the left edge of the 6x12 plate such that the protruding L section fills in the open two spots at the top left corner of the plate.

Attach two 2x3 pieces to the bottom right of the stacked 1x8 unit such that the far right four spots are now covered with 2x3 pieces pointing towards the top of the 6x12 plate.

Lay the remaining 2x3 piece widthwise across the top right corner of the stacked three 1x10 unit you created earlier. Attach a left-facing corner bracket directly to the left of the 2x3 piece.

Use one, 1x8 piece, three 1x2 pieces and one 1x5 piece to fill in the uneven areas on the top level of the machine you are creating so that you have a level surface with one open lane leading to an open cavity in the machine.

Continue to build the machine up by placing a 1x10 along the bottom edge of the machine and a 1x4 directly above it on the right edge, followed by a 1x2 piece directly above that on the right edge. Connect another 1x10 piece along the top edge and a 1x2 piece directly below that, leaving a narrow, one piece width lane open along the right edge of the unit.

Attach a backward L 6x2 piece to the left edge of the machine, filling in open space so that the top level is again even.

Create an L-shaped unit out of two 2x4 pieces and two 1x2 pieces and connect this unit to the bottom right of the machine. Create a stack of two 2x2 pieces and connect this unit to the top right of the machine. Use any combination of pieces (1x10, 1x1, 1x2, 1x4, etc.) to fill in the remaining space in a two-row unit so that the top of the machine is again filled to level.

Attach another 6x12 plate to the top of the machine. Create a unit from one 1x4 piece with a 1x1 piece stacked on top of it, one slot in from the right edge and a 1x1 flat brick on top of the 1x1 stacked piece. Connect this unit into the open space on the right edge of the machine so that the tall, narrow lane is blocked off at the bottom.