On-the-Go Octopus

crayola supplies

Color Wonder Glitter Paint
Color Wonder™ Markers
Color Wonder™ Fingerpaints
Color Wonder™ Paper
Color Wonder™ Paint
Color Wonder™ Soft Sticks

household supplies

clear adhesive tape
paper cups
plastic cup
wooden spoon
recycled gift wrap or paper towel roll

Why

What’s an octopus’s favorite number? 8 of course! Practice counting to 8 while constructing a Crayola Color Wonder octopus pal that can sing, dance, tell jokes, and go wherever you go!

Steps

1. Wrap a piece of Crayola Color Wonder Paper around a paper or plastic cup. Tape in place with 8 small pieces of tape. First tape the sides of the paper to the cup. Next tape the corners of the paper inside the cup. Press, fold, and wrinkle the paper so it lays flat against the cup.
2. Tear a second piece of Color Wonder Paper into 8 strips for the octopus’s tentacles. AGES 4 AND UP: If you are learning how to cut with scissors, use Crayola Blunt-Tipped Scissors to cut out 8 tentacles for your octopus.
3. Tape one end of each tentacle around the inside of the cup using 8 small pieces of tape. TIP: Be sure you tape the tentacles so the coloring side of the Color Wonder Paper faces up when the octopus sits flat on the table with tentacles outstretched.
4. Have fun adding color to your octopus! Use your imagination and your favorite Crayola Color Wonder product or follow these steps: • Use Color Wonder Markers to draw eyes and mouth. • Add color to the body with your fingers and Color Wonder Finger Paint. • Use Color Wonder Finger Paint on one finger to dab suction cups along each tentacle. Can you make 8 suction cups on each tentacle? • Draw a circle around each suction cup using Color Wonder Soft Sticks.
5. Put a cardboard tube or wooden spoon inside the cup to turn your octopus into a dancing puppet!

When & Where

"The children celebrated the number 8 by making On-the-Go Octopus puppets then we had fun singing silly songs with our puppets, like "8 Little Octopuses Jumping on the Bed". "
- Jessica T., family childcare provider

"What a great craft for our family’s week at the beach! We got out the supplies the first morning and the fun lasted all week. Before bed each night, the littlest cousins told their octopuses about the fun they had that day. A memory we will never forget! "
- Shelley G. and Kristina R., sisters, also mothers of 8 cousins under the age of 12

Interesting Info

Each tentacle on a real octopus has 240 suction cups to grasp its prey.

Safety Guidelines

Adult Assistance is required for this arts & crafts project.

Color Wonder™—Wash hands well with soap and water after use.

Recycled Cardboard Tubes—Use paper towel tubes, gift-wrap tubes, or long cardboard tubes that can be cut to any length. Health professionals caution against using recycled toilet paper tubes for arts & crafts projects because of the potential fecal contamination.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.