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This fun and easy egg carton caterpillar craft requires a few simple steps and some basic craft supplies. You also get to teach your preschoolers about the butterfly life cycle!

As you survey your kitchen after a long week of cooking and baking, you may find yourself with a surplus of egg cartons. Don’t throw them away! Put your egg cartons to good use and create a fun, colorful caterpillar craft.

This craft is great for kids of all ages, but the version we’re making is for preschoolers who need a little more help. Plus, getting them to use recycled materials is a great way to introduce the concept of reusing and recycling, while teaching them about the life cycle of a caterpillar! 

And if you have a copy in your home library, pair this easy caterpillar craft with a reading of the hungry caterpillar book!

In this post, we’ll provide a step-by-step tutorial for making an egg carton caterpillar craft. We’ll also show you how to customize your caterpillar, so it can be as unique as your own and your kid’s imagination. 

Before we begin, we have three reminders to help you along the way: 

• Have fun: This is an excellent opportunity for your child to get creative and explore their artistic side. Be sure to let them come up with the design elements, so their caterpillar is truly unique.
• Safety first: Make sure you provide supervision for your kids when using scissors, glue and any other materials. And if you are using paint, make sure your child is wearing an apron or clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. 
• Be patient: Art projects are meant to be enjoyed. Encourage your kid to take their time and pay attention to the details.

What you will need:

• Dry Egg Cartons
• Googly Eyes
• Paint Brush
• Acrylic Paint
• Paper tape
• Scissors
• Pipe Cleaner
• Used Paper
• Art smock (optional, but I highly recommend)

Here’s how it works 

Stage 1: Cut the egg carton

Step 1: Cut the paper carton into half. This will serve as the body of our hungry caterpillar. 

In my experience, it’s manageable when flipping the egg carton just like in the image but I think it also depends on the egg carton that you will use. 

Step 2: Cut the edges or excess egg carton.

Step 3: To create the pop head of the caterpillar, cut one egg carton and attach it using paper tape, same as in the image.

Step 4: Attach the remaining egg carton to the other one to create a long caterpillar body and secure it using paper tape. 

Optional: You can paint the egg carton white to make the acrylic color more vibrant. You can also sun dry it or use a hair blower. You can move on to the next step if you prefer directly coloring on the egg carton caterpillar craft.

Stage 2: Paint the Hungry Caterpillar

Step 5: After air drying or blowing dry the white egg carton,  grab your paintbrush and paint the egg carton with your favorite color. You can also just stick to the usual color of a caterpillar, which is green.

To clean your brush, dip it in a glass of water. Then, dry it with a paper towel.

An additional optional feature: You can paint white (or your preferred color) dots on the egg carton caterpillar’s body.

Stage 3: Attach the Egg Carton Caterpillar’s Face Features

Step 6: For the facial features of our caterpillar, paste on the googly eyes and draw a smiley using a marker or black paint. 

Step 7: An adult will need to attach the pipe cleaner to serve as the caterpillar’s antenna. To do this, create a hole on each side near the side of the googly eyes using scissors.

Why Create Egg Carton Caterpillar?

With this easy project, even toddlers and preschoolers can make their own beautiful creations! It’s perfect for parents who want to give their kids a chance to be artistic from a young age. Plus, it’ll only take you an hour top set up and do. With some paint and egg cartons, you can turn boring usual objects into brilliant works of art that are unique – just like your little ones!

Your child can bring their egg carton caterpillar to the park and play make-believe in the bushes with real plants, as you explain what an actual caterpillar does. It also makes a great pairing to everyone’s favorite hungry caterpillar story.

FAQ #1: Can I replace egg carton with any other material?

Yes, you can also use paper mache or cardboard as an alternative to egg carton for your caterpillar craft. You’ll just need to adjust the instructions accordingly.

FAQ #2: What kind of paint can I use on egg carton?

You can use acrylic paint, watercolor, or even tempra for your egg carton caterpillar. Make sure to check if the paint is non-toxic and safe for kids. Also, prepare a bowl of clean water and disposable kitchen towels to keep your brush clean after use.

FAQ #3: Can I create a bigger egg carton caterpillar?

Yes, you can make the egg carton caterpillar longer by adding more egg cartons. You just need to attach them together securely with paper tape or glue.

Other Crafts You’ll Like:

• Paper Plate Ladybug Craft
• Turkey Paper Bag Craft

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