Caterpillar Collage Project

Let the kids get creative with this fun and easy collage project.

Celebrate the arrival of spring caterpillars and butterflies with this vibrant kids’ collage project from the creative minds at Spark Arts Center. Bonus: Celebrate Earth Day, too, by creatively recycling bits and pieces of wrapping paper, scrapbooking paper, greeting cards, comics or old artwork for the patterned paper needed for making the caterpillar’s body. You can even add to the fun by having your child paint their own paper beforehand! 

Materials

Pint glass or takeout coffee cup 

Pencil

Patterned papers

Scissors

Glue stick 

Construction paper or printer paper

Markers, crayons or oil pastels

Optional: googly eyes, pipe cleaners and liquid glue

Instructions 

1. Using the pint glass as a template, trace six circles from a variety of patterned papers. Cut them out. Also cut out 10 small rectangles for feet — approximately 1 inch-by-1/4 inch.

2. Glue circles and feet onto construction paper or printer paper in the shape of a caterpillar.

3. Draw on eyes, mouth, antennae and any background designs you want. Or use googly eyes and pipe cleaners for eyes and antennae. Pipe cleaners could also be used for legs. For antennae cut 4-inch lengths and fold into antennae shape. A pencil works well for making the curls on the tips. Use liquid glue to attach to paper. 

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Julie Jetton and Marla Munnich are co-owners of Spark Arts Center in Northeast Portland. Spark stocks all the art supplies you need to get artsy at home, plus offers after-school classes and summer camps.