These egg carton animal portraits are seriously adorable! Using a simple cardboard egg carton, you can create the cutest little animal faces and frame them with painted “outfits” for a fun and whimsical portrait.
This is such a fun and easy upcycled craft that’s perfect for kids and adults alike! Whether you’re looking for a creative Earth Day project, a classroom craft, or just a way to reuse old materials, these animal portraits are sure to be a hit.
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How to Make Egg Carton Animal Portraits
Materials:
- Egg carton
- Acrylic paint (multiple colours)
- Cardboard
- Acrylic paint markers
- Tacky glue
- Googly eyes (8mm)
Equipment:
- Craft knife (or scissors)
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut parts from an egg carton
- Cut an egg carton, removing one of the cup parts. You can use a craft knife or scissors.
- Trim the cup part down, creating a “bowl” shape with even edges.
- Then use some of the scrap carton that you just cut off to make ears for your animal. They may be pointed or rounded, depending on which animal you make.
Step 3: Paint the animal’s head
- Paint the egg carton your animal’s base colour. If you’re adding features to the animal in a different colour, you don’t have to paint the whole cup. Allow to dry and add a second coat, if needed.
- Use an accent colour of paint to add features to your animal. Here we used a deep orange to make a brow and nose line for our fox. Paint the ears as well and, again, allow to dry.
- Then use black paint to add a rounded nose to your animal.
Step 4: Make the frame
- Cut a piece of cardboard to be a frame for your animal portrait. Here we made a 3 by 4 inch rectangle, but you can also make a square or oval. Then use a paint pen to decorate the edge of the frame.
- Use acrylic paint to make a body for your animal. Here we made a green shirt.
Step 5: Add details
- Glue the head and ears of the animal onto the frame with tacky glue. Allow the glue to dry.
- Then attach self-adhesive googly eyes to the animal. If you don’t have self-adhesive ones, tacky glue or hot glue will work to connect them.
- Finally, use another paint pen in a complementary colour or shade to add details to the outfit, like a collar or a pattern on the “material”.
- Your egg carton animal portrait is complete!
- Change up colours and ear shapes to make all kinds of different egg carton animal portraits!
Helpful Tips:
- Use sturdy cardboard for the frame. Thicker material will help your portrait hold its shape and stay firm—especially if you plan to hang it up.
- Pre-cut the egg cartons for younger kids. If you’re doing this craft with a group of little ones, it’s helpful for an adult to pre-cut the cups and ears ahead of time for easier assembly.
What kind of paint works best for these egg carton animals?
Acrylic paint works really well for making animals out of egg cartons because it provides good coverage and dries quickly. Since it dries quickly, you’re also able to add details overtop of painted areas without having to wait a long time for the paint to dry between layers.
Can I use something other than cardboard for the frame around my egg carton animal heads?
Yes, you can also use thick cardstock or craft foam for the base of these egg carton animal portraits. If using craft foam we recommend cutting the “shirts” out of paper or felt and gluing them on.
For a more durable display piece you can also use a pre-cut wooden plaque!
How do I hang up my DIY animal portraits?
To hang and display your egg carton animal craft, you can tie or hot glue a small loop of ribbon or string to it.
You can also glue a metal picture hanger or magnet to the back of the frame!
But if you don’t want to hang them, no need. These animal pictures also look adorable simply propped up on a shelf.
These egg carton animal portraits are so much fun to make and decorate! With a few simple supplies and a bit of imagination, you can turn recycled materials into adorable little works of art. These fun animal portraits are a great activity for an animal shelter fundraiser, a camp art activity, or a library craft program!
Here’s even more egg carton craft ideas:
Egg Carton Bunny Finger Puppet
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Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
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