Have you ever noticed how sometimes the sidekick becomes the real star of the show? Cinema history is full of side characters who ended up stealing the spotlight from the protagonist, but the most famous case has to be the Minions.
These pill-shaped, yellow, gibberish-speaking henchmen were initially created to boost the image of the main character, Gru. The goal was to make a supervillain seem more likeable. However, they ended up stealing people’s hearts globally! They became so popular that they are now the official mascot of Illumination Entertainment.
With the release of Despicable Me 4 this year, minion fever is back in full swing. Whether your child loves Kevin, Stuart, or Bob, there is no better way to celebrate the new movie than by getting creative.
In this guide, we have curated 15 Magical Minion Crafts for Kids. From recycled art to sensory play, these activities are perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged kids.
Why We Love Minions (And Fun Facts to Share!)
Before we dive into the glue and glitter, it is fun to share some trivia with your kids while you craft. It turns a simple art session into a fun learning moment.
- Star Wars Inspiration: The creators of the minions were actually inspired by the Jawas from Star Wars and the Oompa Loompas from Willy Wonka.
- A Lot of Henchmen: There are a total of 899 unique minions!
- The Voice: In an incredible feat of voice acting, all the minions are voiced by the French animator and director Pierre Coffin.
- Minionese: Their language isn’t just random sounds. It is a linguistic cocktail of French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and English.
- The Banana Obsession: Minions love bananas, apples, and papayas—in that specific order.
- Color Theory: Have you noticed the evil minions are purple? This is because purple and yellow are on opposite sides of the color spectrum, representing their opposing natures.
- Counting Skills: Minions only have three fingers on each hand, meaning they can technically only count to six!
Now that you are a Minion expert, let’s get to the crafting!
The Ultimate List of 15 Minion Crafts
1. “You’re One in a Minion” Gift Tags
If your child has a best friend they want to appreciate, handmade tags are the way to go. How to make it: Use yellow cardstock to cut out standard tag shapes. Glue on large googly eyes (one or two, depending on which minion you are making!). Use a black marker to draw the goggles and a smile. Write “You’re one in a Minion” on the back. These are perfect for attaching to birthday gifts or party favor bags.
2. DIY Felt Minion Pencil Toppers
Make homework fun with a little buddy on top of the pencil. How to make it: You will need yellow and blue felt. Cut two small capsule shapes from the yellow felt and stitch (or hot glue) the edges together, leaving a hole at the bottom for the pencil. Cut tiny blue overalls from the blue felt and glue them on. Add a googly eye and a black thread smile. It’s a great introduction to sewing for older kids!
3. The Classic Toilet Roll Minion
Never throw away empty toilet paper rolls! They are the perfect shape for minions. How to make it: Wrap the roll in yellow construction paper. Use blue paper to create the bottom half (the denim overalls). Use silver paint or foil to create the goggle straps and glue on wiggly eyes. These stand up on their own, making them great for pretend play scenes.
4. Paper Plate Minion Face
This is perfect for preschoolers because it offers a large canvas. How to make it: Paint a standard paper plate bright yellow. Cut a thick black strip of paper and glue it across the center—this is the goggle strap. Glue two silver jar lids (or paper circles) onto the strap for the glasses, and place eyes inside. This craft focuses on big, bold shapes and is great for fine motor skills.
5. Minion Slime (Sensory Play)
Kids love slime, and Minion slime is incredibly easy to make. How to make it: Use your favorite clear glue and borax/contact solution recipe. Add plenty of yellow food coloring and yellow glitter. The secret ingredient? Mix in a handful of googly eyes! As the kids stretch and squish the slime, the eyes pop out, looking just like a melting minion.
6. Painted Minion Stones
Rock painting is a huge trend that spreads kindness. How to make it: Find smooth, oval-shaped river stones. Paint them solid yellow. Once dry, paint on the blue overalls and the facial details. These are durable and can be placed in your garden or hidden around your neighborhood for other children to find.
7. Popsicle Stick Minion Puppets
A simple stick craft that encourages storytelling. How to make it: Take three wide popsicle sticks and glue them side-by-side to create a wide surface. Paint the top two-thirds yellow and the bottom third blue. Draw on the details. Glue a fourth stick vertically to the back to act as a handle. Now, put on a puppet show!
8. Minion Corner Bookmarks
Encourage reading with a bookmark that “bites” the page. How to make it: This is an origami craft. Fold a square of yellow paper into a corner bookmark (there are many simple folding guides online). Decorate the triangular flap to look like a minion’s face. When you place it on the corner of a book page, it looks like the minion is peeking out at you.
9. Plastic Spoon Minions
One of the cheapest crafts you can make! How to make it: Buy a pack of yellow plastic spoons (or paint white ones yellow). The back of the spoon serves as the face. Dress them up with paper clothes and draw on faces. You can plant these in flower pots as cute garden markers.
10. Mason Jar Minion Banks
Teach kids about saving money with a “Despicable” piggy bank. How to make it: Take a clean mason jar and paint the inside or outside yellow. Screw on the lid. Cut a slot in the lid for coins. Decorate the outside with the signature blue overalls using paint or duct tape. The silver ring of the mason jar lid already matches the industrial vibe of the Minions!
11. Fingerprint Minion Cards
A lovely keepsake for grandparents. How to make it: Have your child dip their thumb in yellow paint and press it onto white cardstock. Once the yellow oval dries, use a fine-tip black marker to draw on the goggles, arms, legs, and hair. You can make a whole army of tiny thumbprint minions on one card!
12. Recycled Bottle Bowling
Get active with this craft-turned-game. How to make it: Save 6 to 10 empty plastic water bottles. Fill them with a little sand or water for stability. Paint the bottles to look like minions (Yellow tops, blue bottoms). Set them up like bowling pins and use a soft ball to knock them down. It’s perfect for a rainy day indoor activity.
13. DIY Minion Goggles
Let the kids become the minions. How to make it: Save silver mason jar rings or cut rings out of toilet paper rolls and paint them silver. Staple them to a thick black elastic band or a strip of black cardstock measured to fit the child’s head. It’s the ultimate dress-up accessory.
14. Paper Bag Minion Puppets
An old-school craft that never gets old. How to make it: Use a standard brown lunch bag. Paint the flap and the top half yellow, and the bottom half blue. The flap becomes the mouth area—when the child puts their hand inside and moves their fingers, the minion can “talk” (or sing the Banana song!).
15. Kinder Egg Surprise Minions
If you have those little yellow plastic containers from Kinder Surprise eggs, you are halfway there! How to make it: These yellow capsules are literally shaped like minions. Use permanent markers to draw on the faces and blue overalls. You can use blue playdough to make feet so they stand up. They are tiny, cute, and fit in a pocket.
Why Crafting is Beneficial for Kids
While making these yellow buddies is undeniably fun, it is also highly educational. Here is why you should encourage these activities:
- Fine Motor Skills: Cutting felt, gluing googly eyes, and painting within lines helps strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers.
- Following Instructions: Crafts require following steps in a specific order, which helps improve focus and sequencing skills.
- Creativity and Imagination: While Minions all look similar, allowing your child to give them crazy hair, one eye or two, or different expressions fosters individual creativity.
- Emotional Expression: Minions are very expressive. Discussing whether their minion is happy, confused, or mischievous helps kids articulate emotions.
Final Thoughts
The Despicable Me franchise has given us characters that bridge the gap between generations. Whether you are a parent who laughed at the first movie or a child experiencing the fourth one, the Minions bring joy.
These 15 Minion crafts are designed to be accessible, affordable, and, most importantly, fun. They use everyday household items—spoons, rocks, toilet rolls, and paper plates—proving that you don’t need expensive supplies to make magical memories.
So, grab your yellow paint, put on the movie soundtrack, and get ready to say “Bello!” to a house full of creativity.
