Create an adorable interactive owl craft with moving parts!
This paper plate project features a painted night sky with a tree frame and an owl on a popsicle stick that slides up and down for imaginative play.
Moving Owl Craft Materials
Gather these supplies to create your interactive owl decoration:
Essential Supplies:
- 2 paper plates
- Construction paper (gray, white, yellow, tan/beige)
- Paint (brown, blue, white, and black)
- Paintbrushes
- White marker or white paint pen
- Scissors
- Glue stick or craft glue
- Popsicle stick (craft stick)
- Owl template (printable)
- Pencil (for tracing)
Step-by-Step Moving Owl Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your interactive owl craft:
Step 1: Paint the Night Sky Background
- Take one paper plate and paint it to create a gradient night sky
- Apply black paint at the top of the plate
- Paint blue in the middle section
- Mix blue and white paint together and apply to the bottom for a lighter sky effect
- Allow the paint to dry completely
- Once dry, use a white marker or paint pen to draw stars across the night sky
Step 2: Create the Tree Frame
- Take the second paper plate and draw a circle in the center (about 2-3 inches from the edge)
- Cut out the inner circle, leaving the outer rim intact
- Cut jagged, uneven strips around the inner edge to create tree branch strands
- Paint the entire plate and branch strands with brown paint to resemble a tree trunk with branches
- Allow to dry completely
Step 3: Cut and Trace Owl Templates
- Print the owl template pieces
- Trace each template piece onto the corresponding colored construction paper
- Carefully cut out all the traced pieces
Step 4: Assemble the Owl
- Start with the gray owl body as the base
- Glue the white chest piece onto the center of the owl body
- Attach the white wing pieces on either side
- Glue on the yellow eyes with black pupils
- Add the gray beak in the center
- Draw small “v” shaped marks on the white chest and wings to create feather texture
- Then glue the owl to the popsicle stick
Step 5: Add Tree Branch to Background
- Glue the brown paper blue to the blue one. IMPORTANT: Remember to leave an unglued area at the bottom where you will slip your popsicle stick through.
- Use a black pen and add some ‘log/branch' detailing to your plate.
- Glue the branch onto the night sky plate
- Use a black pen and add some log details to your branch
Step 6: Create Snow Base
- Glue the larger wavy white piece along the bottom third of the paper plate
- Then glue the smaller white piece at the top.
Step 7: Assemble the Moving Owl Craft
- Insert your owl popsicle stick from the top down through the plate.
- The owl can now slide up and down behind the tree frame, appearing and disappearing through the opening!
Final Thoughts on This Moving Owl Craft
This DIY moving owl paper plate craft transforms simple materials into an interactive woodland scene.
The movable owl on a stick adds an element of play that keeps kids engaged while the painted night sky and tree frame create a beautiful nature backdrop.
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Explore our kids craft blog for even more creative projects that combine art with imaginative play!
