Learn about an amazing sea creature with this paper weaving seahorse craft for kids! Includes multiple techniques of cutting, printing and weaving.
There’s one thing in our home that everyone fights for. No it’s not the morning paper; it’s bubble wrap! As soon as a package comes in, the war for the wrap begins, and the victor enjoys the spoils by sitting and bursting one bubble after another. I can’t explain it, but there’s something so soothing about hearing those little pops!
However, if you ever have the self-control to stop yourself from popping those bubbles, then we’ve got a project for you that’s so good it’ll make that abstinence worth it! Bubble wrap projects are fun to make, and today we’re making a paper weaving seahorse craft that uses bubble wrap to make the sea.
Seahorses are fun creatures aren’t they? Did you know that seahorses belong to the Syngnathidae family of fish, which are the only creatures whose males get pregnant? Amazing, right? Here are some more fun facts about Seahorses:
- They can move each eye independently of the other
- Seahorses are monogamous; they mate for life
- With no stomach, seahorses must eat constantly to stay alive
- Most other animals avoid eating the seahorse since it is too bony to digest
Okay, that must have got you all interested to start making your very own seahorse. Let’s begin!
Paper Weaving Seahorse Craft for Kids
Supplies Required:
- Large sheet of bubble wrap
- Large sheet or chart of white paper
- Cardstock in black, white, green and blue colors
- Gluestick
- Paper Cutter or Scissors
- Blue Paint
Instructions for the Paper Weaving Seahorse Craft:
1. We’re going to start by making the background – the sea! And for this, we need the large sheet of white paper, the bubble wrap, blue paint and a paintbrush. Spread out a newspaper first to catch the mess.
2. Paint the bubble wrap blue, making sure the paint covers all the ‘bubbles’ completely.
3. Turn the bubble wrap over and carefully place on the white paper. Press firmly all over the bubble wrap.
4. Slowly lift the bubble wrap. Let the painted paper dry completely.
5. Time to move on to the star of the project, the seahorse. Download the seahorse template and print. Cut out the seahorse.
6. Trace the seahorse onto colored green cardstock and cut it out. Cut out the back fin and side fin from blue cardstock.
7. Cut a large circle from white cardstock and a smaller circle from black cardstock.
8. Using a paper cutter, make vertical slits along the seahorse’s body. If you don’t have a paper cutter, fold the seahorse in half from top to bottom and cut slits into the middle. Leave at least half of an inch all the way around to avoid tearing the paper.
9. Cut out thin strips from the blue cardstock. Or you can use any other color as long as it is in a contrasting color from the body.
10. Weave the cardstock strips in and out of the seahorse through the vertical slits as shown in the picture below. Secure the ends with a bit of glue.
11. Use scissors to cut off any excess paper hanging over the sides.
12. Stick the black circle inside the white circle to make the eye and then glue it on the seahorse’s face. Stick the back fin and side fin in the appropriate places.
13. Use a black marker to add a smile to the fish and some detail to the side fin.
14. Finally, glue the seahorse onto the bubble wrap print background. Your paper weaving seahorse craft is ready!
This is a wonderful classroom project! How cute would these look on a bulletin board in a rainbow of colors? You could make this as an accompaniment to Eric Carle‘s book, Mister Seahorse, or as part of a study on ocean creatures. Or simply when you’re able to rescue a large piece of bubble wrap from everyone else!
Each paper weaving craft comes with it’s own free printable craft template so you can crack straight on having creative fun with your little ones. These woven beach crafts look adorably cute and are a fantastic way to introduce kids to simple weaving and build their scissor and fine motor skills too.