Make an Octopus!
Make a colorful octopus craft using paper plates, paint, scissors, and pipe cleaners, learning about eight arms, symmetry, and creative decorating skills.
Step-by-step guide to make an octopus craft
Step 1
Gather all the materials and find a clean workspace you can make a little mess on.
Step 2
Paint the front of the paper plate with your favorite color or patterns using the paint and brush.
Step 3
Let the paint dry completely before you move on so your colors do not smear.
Step 4
Bend and curl eight pipe cleaners into wavy arms so each one looks like a tasty octopus tentacle.
Step 5
Use a marker to make eight evenly spaced dots along the bottom edge of the paper plate to plan where the arms will go.
Step 6
Carefully make a small hole at each dot using the tip of the scissors while an adult watches and helps.
Step 7
Thread each shaped pipe cleaner through a hole from the front to the back and twist the end under the plate to hold each arm in place.
Step 8
Glue on big googly eyes or draw eyes with your marker to give your octopus a friendly face.
Step 9
Decorate the octopus body with stickers or coloring materials, making the left and right sides look similar to practice symmetry.
Step 10
Count all eight arms out loud and point to matching decorations on both sides to see the symmetry.
Step 11
Take a picture of your finished octopus and share your creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I can't find pipe cleaners or googly eyes?
If you don't have pipe cleaners, thread yarn, ribbon, or strips of cardstock through the holes and knot or tape them under the plate, and if you can't find googly eyes, cut eye shapes from paper or use stickers and glue them on when you 'Glue on big googly eyes or draw eyes with your marker.'
My holes tore or the arms keep slipping out—what should I do?
If holes tear or arms slip, reinforce each marked hole with a small piece of tape or a glued paper circle on the back before threading and twisting the pipe cleaner end under the plate, and be sure the paint is completely dry as the instructions say so decorations don't smear.
How can I change the activity for different ages?
For younger children, have an adult pre-poke the eight holes, pre-bend the pipe cleaners into wavy arms, and use stickers for eyes, while older kids can paint more detailed patterns, practice the symmetry step by matching decorations on both sides, and curl tentacles into more intricate shapes.
How can we make the octopus more special or more challenging?
To personalize or extend the project, add sequins or glitter glue when you 'Decorate the octopus body with stickers or coloring materials,' write a short story on the back, attach a string to hang it as a mobile, or take the 'Take a picture of your finished octopus' step to share on DIY.org with a custom name and background scene.
Watch videos on how to make an octopus craft
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Facts about paper plate crafts for kids
✂️ Pipe cleaners were first used to clean tobacco pipes, but crafters bend them into fun shapes like curly octopus legs.
🖐️ An octopus has eight arms (not tentacles) covered in hundreds of suction cups to help it grab and explore.
🎨 Mix red + blue = purple! Learning basic color-mixing helps you paint endless colorful octopus designs.
🧠 Octopuses are very smart: they can solve puzzles, open jars, and even use tools like coconut shells.
🐙 Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood—two hearts pump to the gills and one pumps to the rest of the body.
How do you make a colorful octopus craft using paper plates, paint, scissors, and pipe cleaners?
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