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Easy "Nutcracker" Themed Hanging Paper Wall Christmas Tree: Christmas DIY Using Simple & Recycled Materials + Links To FREE Resources!

Last year I tried making a paper "Wall Christmas Tree", I've seen a couple of wall Christmas Trees in the past but it was only last year that I finally go ahead and do one myself. I'm glad I went through with it, that tree ended up nice and for Christmas this year I decided to make another paper wall Christmas tree in a different style and theme with "Nutcracker" as its elements and decorations. DISCLOSURE:   T his blog and post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies and you will too! The elements of this paper Christmas tree was inspired from "The Nutcracker Prince" animated movie and "The Nutcracker Ballet". I had clara , some  ballerinas , the  sugarplum fairy , the  nutcracker  soldiers, assorted colors of  lollipops  (from palace of sweets) along with other traditional Christmas candies such as c...

Ocean Craft | Octopus Craft: Foam Ball & Craft Stick Octopus + Link To FREE Printable! | Home Learning Art & Craft Project Activity

In this post, I will be sharing an "octopus" craft. This was an art project that Lauren did in Brightly Beaming Resources' (Step 2: Letter of the Week) home school curriculum for the short "o" sound as in "octopus". Lauren made 3 octopus (orange, pink, and purple), you may create your octopus in any colors of your choice.


DISCLOSURE: This blog and post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies and you will too!

LEARN ABOUT THE OCTOPUS

Learn something about this soft bodied, 8-armed sea creature in the video below!

Meet the Octopus - Learn About Octopus for Kids
Click Here to watch the video @ DAILYMOTION

READY FOR KID BEFORE STARTING ACTIVITY ALONG WITH OTHER MATERIALS

* cut eyes and mouth template 


* cut craft stick patterns (to cover octopus legs)

DONE BY ADULT OR PARENT

NOTE: This craft is a collaboration between parent or caregiver and child and is suitable for kids about 6 and above, you may adapt the process to the skill or ability of the child. 

OCTOPUS EYES & MOUTH: I have put together these eyes and mouth for our our octopus, Click Here To Check Out Printable Octopus Eyes & Mouth we used.

OCTOPUS LEGS COVER: Take a craft stick and traced it on a bond paper, draw a bit of an extension at the ending. Cut the created pattern and trace several patterns of it on a construction paper with the same color as what your child will paint the octopus ball head. Fold construction paper several times to create many sections in it, trace the extended craft stick pattern on top of folded paper and cut to reveal several patterns in 1 cutting. You will need 16 pieces of this pattern to cover 8 crafts stick legs back to back for 1 octopus (8 octopus legs x 2= 16).

DONE BY CHILD

* paint octopus head

* glue octopus eyes and mouth on ball

* glue octopus leg covers on crafts sticks

* insert sticks below octopus body

* decorate octopus legs.

STEPS IN DOING THIS OCTOPUS CRAFT

STEP #1: Let child paint foam ball with any color of choice. Set painted ball aside to dry. Once foam ball is dry, let child glue paper eyes and mouth on it.


Get Craft & Hobby Supplies Online @ orientaltrading.com

STEP #2: Next, let child glue the stick cover patterns on the craft sticks back to back using dry glue stick.


STEP #3: Afterwards, let child decorate octopus legs by gluing any sequins or gem stickers of choice on craft sticks to create the suckers. 


STEP #4: Then, let child insert each 8 craft sticks around bottom part of  octopus body to form the legs. Let child, curl or fold the extended papers at the end of each octopus legs upward. 


And there goes your "FOAM BALL & CRAFT STICK OCTOPUS". Get the kids creating their own version of this octopus craft today!


MATERIALS FOR THIS CRAFT

Shop for materials used in this craft online @ shopee.ph by clicking on the materials highlighted in BOLD below.

styrofoam ball (about 3 inches) * poster paints or any paints suitable for crafts * paint brush * paint mixing tray * regular craft sticks * construction papers * scissors * solid glue stick * sequins or gem stickers


LEARNING IS MORE FUN WITH A SONG!

Did you know that octopuses are smart creatures? this is due to the fact that they have a big brain. Here is a fun octopus song "Octopus' Garden" by Ringo StarrIt's about the singer's experience on a boating trip with his family where "he learned the fact that octopuses are fond of collecting stones and shiny objects underwater, which they build GARDENS with. Ringo, who thought that an octopus's garden was one of the happiest things he'd heard, was inspired to write the song." (SOURCE: The Beatles Wiki) 

Octopus' Garden - Fun Octopus Song 

LEARNING IS MORE FUN WITH STORIES!

Below are read aloud stories about "octopus" that you can watch and listen with your kids. These stories features characteristics of octopuses as well as moral lessons like bravery, helping otherstrying new ways and exploring the worldClick on the storybook picture to watch the videos @ DAILYMOTION.

    
 Get "Inky The Octopus" and "Tickly Octopus" + more children's books @ thriftbooks.com

I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

If you got any reactions and thoughts regarding this craft or topic, feel free to interact and write it down in the comment box below. I'd be happy to hear from you. Thank you so much for viewing and reading.

POST UPDATED: April 2023

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