Owls are amazing little creatures. Whether you are spotting them in your backyard at dusk or reading about them in your favorite storybooks, they captivate the imagination of children and adults alike.
There are thousands of animals in cartoons and animated movies, and for many of them, you kind of know what to expect. Dogs are loyal, cats are sassy, and elephants are gentle giants. However, there’s one creature that always keeps us guessing regarding the role it plays—the owl!
From the loyal Hedwig in Harry Potter to the know-it-all Owl in Winnie the Pooh, these birds are found in a variety of roles, likely due to the mystery surrounding them. Are they really wise? What do they see at night? Why do they always look like they know a secret?
To help answer these questions and spark creativity, we have gathered 15 of the best owl crafts for kids. These projects range from simple paper plate art for toddlers to intricate recycled projects for older children. Not only will these crafts keep little hands busy, but they also offer the perfect opportunity to teach your children about biology, nature, and art.
Why Owl Crafts are Perfect for Development
Before we dive into the glue and glitter, let’s look at why these specific crafts are so beneficial.
- Fine Motor Skills: Cutting feathers, gluing googly eyes, and painting help strengthen hand muscles.
- Sensory Play: Using diverse materials like pinecones, cotton balls, and dried leaves stimulates the senses.
- Recycling Education: Many of these crafts use household waste (toilet rolls, old CDs), teaching kids the value of upcycling.
Fun Owl Facts for Kids
Share these tidbits while you craft to turn playtime into a lesson!
- Silent Fliers: Owls have special feathers that break up turbulence, allowing them to fly in near-total silence to sneak up on prey.
- Head Turning: Contrary to popular belief, owls cannot spin their heads 360 degrees. They can, however, turn them 270 degrees—which is still pretty impressive!
- Not “Wise” in the Human Sense: While we call them wise, owls are actually less trainable than crows or parrots. Their “wisdom” comes from their large, forward-facing eyes that make them look serious and thoughtful.
15 Outstanding Owl Crafts for Kids
Here is our curated list of 15 creative, colorful, and cute owl crafts that use simple materials you likely already have at home.
1. The Rainbow Newspaper Owl
Nature might give us brown and grey owls to blend in with trees, but in the world of crafting, anything goes!
- The Idea: Take an old newspaper and have the kids paint sections of it with watercolors in bright rainbow shades. Once dry, cut teardrop shapes out of the painted paper to act as “feathers.”
- Assembly: Glue these colorful feathers onto a cardstock owl outline. The newsprint showing through the paint gives it a fantastic, textured artistic look.
2. Recycled CD Owl
Do you have old CDs or DVDs scratching up your drawers? Turn that digital trash into art treasure.
- The Idea: The shiny surface of the CD acts as the owl’s body and reflects light beautifully.
- Assembly: Glue a pair of large felt circles for eyes and a triangle beak onto the center of the CD. Use cardstock wings and feet. These look amazing hanging in a window as suncatchers!
3. Pinecone Nature Owls
This is the perfect autumn craft. Start with a nature walk to collect supplies.
- The Idea: Use a pinecone as the body of the owl.
- Assembly: Pull apart cotton balls and stuff the fluff between the pinecone scales to give the owl a “downy” winter look. Glue on felt wings and large googly eyes. These make adorable ornaments for a Christmas tree.
4. Toilet Paper Roll Hooters
The classic cylinder shape of a toilet paper roll is perfect for an owl’s body.
- The Idea: Push the top of the cardboard roll down in the center to create two “ears” on the sides.
- Assembly: Paint the roll brown or grey. Use a black marker to draw “U” shapes for chest feathers. Add paper wings and eyes. This is one of the easiest crafts for preschoolers.
5. Paper Plate Snowy Owl
Celebrate the majestic Snowy Owl (like Hedwig!) with this textured craft.
- The Idea: Use a white paper plate as the base.
- Assembly: Cut white tissue paper into squares. Have the child crumple them up and glue them all over the plate to create a fluffy texture. Add big yellow eyes.
6. Cupcake Liner Owls
If you have leftover baking supplies, this is a quick, low-mess activity.
- The Idea: Flatten two standard cupcake liners for the eyes and one for the body.
- Assembly: Glue two smaller white circles inside the flattened cupcake liners to make the eyes pop. The ruffled edges of the liners look just like feathers!
7. Handprint Keepsake Owl
This one is perfect for parents who want to remember how small those hands once were.
- The Idea: Paint your child’s hand brown. Have them stamp it onto a piece of paper.
- Assembly: Turn the paper upside down. The palm becomes the owl’s head, and the fingers are the feathers/wings. Once dry, paint on a beak and eyes.
8. Egg Carton Mask
Turn your child into the owl!
- The Idea: Cut out two cups from an egg carton, keeping the center divider intact (this acts as the beak).
- Assembly: Paint the cups bright colors. Punch holes on the sides and attach a string. It’s an instant masquerade mask!
9. Paper Bag Owl Puppet
Puppets are great because the fun continues long after the crafting is done.
- The Idea: Use a standard brown lunch bag. Keep it folded flat.
- Assembly: The flap of the bag is the face. Glue on big eyes and a beak. Lift the flap to reveal a hidden tongue or mouse underneath!
10. Rock Painting Stone Owls
Rock painting is a craze that isn’t going away.
- The Idea: Find smooth, oval-shaped river rocks.
- Assembly: Use acrylic paint or paint pens. The shape of the rock dictates the owl. A tall, thin rock can be a Screech Owl, while a round rock can be a Little Owl. These look great in the garden.
11. Mosaic Bean Art Owl
This is a great sensory craft for older kids that requires patience and precision.
- The Idea: Draw an owl outline on sturdy cardboard.
- Assembly: Use different dried beans (black beans, white navy beans, kidney beans, lentils) to fill in the different sections. The natural colors of the beans create a beautiful, rustic mosaic.
12. Celery Stamp Owl
Did you know a stalk of celery is shaped like owl feathers?
- The Idea: Cut the celery stalks to create a “U” shaped stamp.
- Assembly: Dip the celery end into paint and stamp it onto paper to create the layered look of breast feathers on an owl’s chest.
13. Popsicle Stick Owl
- The Idea: Line up 5-6 jumbo popsicle sticks and glue them together (or glue them onto a piece of cardboard).
- Assembly: Paint the sticks. Add triangle ears at the top. This sturdy craft can be used as a bookmark or a door sign.
14. Felt Owl Plushie (No-Sew)
For kids who want a soft friend to cuddle.
- The Idea: Cut two owl shapes out of felt.
- Assembly: Instead of sewing, use strong fabric glue to seal the edges, leaving a small gap. Stuff with cotton or fabric scraps, then glue the gap shut. Decorate with felt scraps.
15. Bark and Leaf Owl
Another great nature craft.
- The Idea: Use a large piece of tree bark as the body.
- Assembly: Glue two acorn caps for eyes and use dried leaves for the wings. This is a beautiful, organic craft that teaches children to see art in nature.
Tips for Stress-Free Crafting
To ensure your owl crafting session is a hoot and not a headache, keep these tips in mind:
- Prep is Key: Pre-cut shapes (like circles for eyes and triangles for beaks) if you are working with toddlers. Their attention spans are short!
- Adhesive Matters: For paper, glue sticks are fine. For rocks, wood, or buttons, use liquid white glue or a low-temp glue gun (with adult supervision).
- Cover Up: Acrylic paints can stain. Always use an old tablecloth and have the kids wear smocks or old t-shirts.
Conclusion
Owls are creatures of mystery, but there is no mystery about why kids love them. Their big eyes, soft feathers, and nocturnal habits make them fascinating subjects for study and art.
By engaging in these 15 outstanding owl crafts, you aren’t just filling an afternoon; you are helping your child develop essential skills, express their creativity, and learn about the natural world. Whether you choose the sparkling CD owl or the rustic pinecone friend,