Make a DIY Hedwig
Make a DIY Hedwig snowy owl using paper, cotton, paint, and glue; practice cutting, gluing, and simple painting to create your own bird.
Step-by-step guide to make a DIY Hedwig snowy owl
Step 1
Gather all your materials and put them on a clear table so you can reach everything easily.
Step 2
Use your pencil to draw a big oval for the body and a smaller circle for the head on the white paper.
Step 3
Cut out the oval and circle shapes carefully with scissors.
Step 4
Glue the head circle to the top of the body oval so they stick together as one owl shape.
Step 5
Press the paper owl onto the cardboard scrap and glue it down to make a sturdy base.
Step 6
Pull apart cotton balls into fluffy pieces to make feather textures.
Step 7
Glue the fluffy cotton pieces onto the owl body covering most of the paper to create snowy feathers.
Step 8
Paint the cotton lightly with white paint so the feathers look smooth and snowy.
Step 9
Paint a small yellow triangle beak on the head using the yellow paint.
Step 10
Use black paint or a black marker to make two round eyes and add small black spots on the body for Hedwig’s markings.
Step 11
Let your Hedwig dry completely on a flat surface until the paint and glue are no longer tacky.
Step 12
Share your finished Hedwig on DIY.org and ask an adult to help you upload a photo and write one sentence about how you made it.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have cotton balls or a cardboard scrap?
If you don't have cotton balls, use torn white tissue paper or crumpled white construction paper for the feathers, and replace the cardboard scrap with a cereal box or thick cardstock to glue the owl onto.
The cotton keeps falling off after I glue and paint it—how can I fix that?
If the cotton won't stick or the painted feathers get soggy, spread craft glue in small patches on the paper or cardboard, press each pulled-apart cotton piece into the glue, weight Hedwig flat under a book until completely dry, and apply paint in thin layers.
How can I adapt this Hedwig project for preschoolers versus older kids?
For preschoolers, pre-cut the oval and circle and let them glue cotton and dab paint with a cotton swab using safety scissors for any trimming, while older kids can cut their own shapes, add fine black markings with a marker or small brush, and mount Hedwig on thicker cardboard for a freestanding display.
What are some ways to make or display Hedwig more special after finishing the basic steps?
To personalize and extend the project, paint a snowy nighttime background on the cardboard, add googly eyes or felt wings glued to the sides, and attach a string or small perch so Hedwig can hang or stand.
Watch videos on how to make a DIY Hedwig snowy owl
Top Owl DIY Ideas - Cute & Easy Paper Owl Crafts
4 Videos
Top Owl DIY Ideas - Cute & Easy Paper Owl Crafts
Owl Food Chain Model | Kids Craft
Easy paper toys | How to make a paper OWL
Finger Knitting Owl DIY - Keychain DIY or Owl Ornament DIY
Facts about paper crafts for kids
✂️ Papercraft uses simple cuts and folds to turn flat paper into shapes — no fancy tools required, just safety scissors and glue.
✉️ Hedwig is Harry Potter’s faithful snowy owl who often delivers letters and first appears in the first book.
🎨 Kid-friendly paints like tempera dry quickly and are easy to wash from clothes, perfect for a bird-making craft.
🦉 Snowy owls can have wingspans up to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) — your paper Hedwig will be a tiny, magical version!
🪶 Snowy owls look extra fluffy because their feathers insulate them from cold — cotton makes a great fluffy mimic for your DIY owl.
How do you make a DIY Hedwig snowy owl?
What materials do I need to make a DIY Hedwig snowy owl?
What ages is this DIY Hedwig snowy owl suitable for?
What are some fun variations to personalize a DIY Hedwig snowy owl?
One subscription, many ways to play and learn.
Only $6.99 after trial. No credit card required