5 matching craft projects — all using common materials, with clear instructions and safety notes.
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Cardboard Tube Animal
Ages 3–825 minEasyCardboard
Adult Preparation
Cut paper ear shapes in advance for younger children. Check that googly eyes, if used, are appropriate for the child's age and not a choking risk.
How to make it
1Choose an animal to make.
2Paint or colour the outside of the cardboard tube in the animal's main colour. Allow to dry.
3Cut or use pre-cut paper shapes for ears, wings, or fins.
4Glue ears and other features onto the top of the tube.
5Draw or glue on facial features.
6Allow to dry fully before playing with the finished animal.
Creative variation
Make a family of animals in different sizes using different tube sizes. Create an imaginary animal with no specific model.
Display or reuse: Use as a finger puppet, display on a shelf, or use in a small pretend play scene.
You will need
Cardboard tube (toilet roll or kitchen roll cut down)
Non-toxic paint or crayons
Paper scraps for ears and details
Glue stick or PVA glue
Optional extras
Googly eyes
Pipe cleaners for whiskers (adult handles cutting if sharp)
CTA
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Safety note
Adult handles any cutting. Check paint is non-toxic and child-safe. Ensure googly eyes are not used with children under 3 who may detach and swallow them. Supervise drying so wet paint is not touched.
Cleanup
Wash brushes immediately after use. Wipe paint from the table with a damp cloth. Wash hands with soap and water.
Cut the cardboard into a frame shape — a rectangular border with the centre removed — and cut a small stand or backing piece. Cutting is done by the adult only.
How to make it
1Decorate the frame border using crayons, paint, or glued paper scraps.
2Allow to dry.
3Place the drawing or photograph behind the frame opening.
4Tape or glue the backing card on to hold the image in place.
5Attach a folded card strip at the back to act as a stand, or add a loop of tape to hang it.
Creative variation
Decorate the frame to match the picture inside — a sea-themed frame for a fish drawing. Make a series of frames for a mini gallery.
Display or reuse: Give as a gift, display on a shelf, or hang on a wall.
You will need
A piece of thick cardboard
Crayons, paint (non-toxic), or paper scraps for decoration
Tape or glue
A picture or drawing to frame
Optional extras
Buttons, fabric scraps, or pressed leaves for decoration
CPF
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Safety note
Adult handles all cutting. Check cardboard edges are smooth. Use non-toxic paint.
Cut notches approximately 1 cm apart along the top and bottom edges of the cardboard. Thread the warp — vertical — strings across the board by looping yarn through the notches and tying the end at the back.
How to make it
1Thread the warp strings from top to bottom of the board, through each pair of notches.
2Cut a length of weft — horizontal — yarn.
3Weave the weft thread over and under each warp string across the board.
4Push each row gently downward with a finger to keep weaving compact.
5Begin each new row going in the opposite direction.
6When finished, slide the weaving off the board and secure the ends.
Creative variation
Use fabric strips instead of yarn. Try mixing different textures — smooth and textured threads alternating.
Display or reuse: Display as a textile artwork. Give as a handmade gift. Use as a small pouch or mat.
You will need
A piece of thick cardboard (about 20 cm × 25 cm)
Scissors (adult cuts notches)
Yarn or wool in two or more colours
Optional extras
Strips of fabric or ribbon as additional weaving material
CWB
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Safety note
Adult handles cutting and initial setup. Long yarn can be a tangle or trip hazard — keep the work surface tidy. Supervise so yarn does not wrap tightly around fingers.
Cleanup
Wind excess yarn neatly onto a card bobbin. Trim any loose thread ends.
Remove the box lid. Cut a small opening at the front for the stage (adult handles cutting). Optionally cut small slits at the top for string or at the base for stick puppet insertion.
How to make it
1Decorate the inside of the box as a scene — a forest, a room, an outdoor landscape.
2Cut or draw characters on card and attach to sticks.
3Arrange the scene.
4Use the characters to tell a story, moving them through the stage.
5Optionally make fabric curtains and attach at the front opening.
Creative variation
Change the scenery for different story settings. Make a permanent theatre and rotate the set pieces.
Display or reuse: Use for storytelling. Display as a model scene on a shelf.
You will need
A shoebox or deep cardboard box
Crayons, paint, or paper scraps for scenery
Card for characters
Sticks or straws for puppets
Tape
Optional extras
Fabric scraps for curtains
Small figurines instead of puppets
MCT
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Safety note
Adult handles all cutting, including box and card cutting. Ensure stick ends are not sharp. Check that paint or glue is fully dry before children handle the theatre.
Cleanup
Store puppets in a bag. Keep the theatre in a safe place for future use.