The American Bald Eagle, a majestic bird with a powerful presence, is a symbol of freedom, strength, and resilience. These crafts are a perfect way to celebrate this iconic bird and its significance in American history.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy activity for young children or a more detailed project for older crafters, there’s an American Eagle craft here for everyone!
Crafts for the Littlest Crafters (Ages 2-4):
Handprint Eagles:
This adorable and mess-free craft is perfect for toddlers. Use washable paint in brown and white to create an eagle body and head with the child’s handprints. Add a beak and eyes with markers, and you have a charming keepsake.
Feathery Friends:
Cut out simple eagle shapes from white construction paper. Let the little ones decorate with feathers, buttons, or pom-poms for a sensory-rich experience.
Paper Plate Eagles:
Paint a paper plate white or brown for the eagle’s body. Cut out brown construction paper for wings and a beak. Glue everything together and add googly eyes for a classic and cheerful craft.
Puffy Paint Eagles:
Mix white and brown puffy paint for a fun tactile experience. Let the little ones create their own versions of the American Eagle on construction paper.
Do-A-Dot Eagles:
Print out a simple eagle template and provide dot markers in brown and white. Encourage children to fill in the eagle’s body, wings, and head with colorful dots.
Crafts for Growing Crafters (Ages 5-8):
Popsicle Stick Eagles:
This classic craft is easy and customizable. Arrange popsicle sticks in a fan shape for the wings, glue them onto a brown construction paper body, and add a beak and eyes.
Cardboard Roll Eagles:
Recycle cardboard rolls into majestic birds! Cut the roll in half and spread open for the wings. Decorate with brown and white paint or construction paper. Add a paper beak and googly eyes for a touch of personality.
Paper Bag Eagles:
Similar to the cardboard roll craft, brown paper bags can be transformed into eagles. Cut the bag open and flatten it for the body. Glue on brown construction paper wings and add details like a beak, eyes, and feathers.
Paper Plate Collage Eagles:
Cut out shapes for the eagle’s body, wings, head, and beak from construction paper. Let the children create a collage effect by gluing torn pieces of brown and white tissue paper onto the paper shapes. Assemble the completed pieces to create a beautiful textured eagle.
Yarn Wrapped Eagles:
This craft combines fine motor skills practice with creativity. Wrap brown yarn around a cardboard cutout of an eagle shape. Glue on a yellow or orange yarn beak and black felt eyes.
Crafts for Creative Crafters (Ages 9 and Up):
Origami Eagles:
For the more experienced crafter, origami eagles offer a unique challenge. Find beginner-friendly tutorials online and fold your way to a magnificent paper eagle.
Stencil Art Eagles:
Create your own eagle stencils using cardstock or plastic sheets. Use spray paint or acrylics to paint the eagle design onto fabric, wood, or canvas for a more permanent art piece.
Quilled Eagle Craft:
This intricate craft uses thin strips of rolled paper (quilling) to create a detailed eagle design. Patience and focus are rewarded with a stunning and unique work of art.
Salt Dough Eagles:
Mix flour, salt, and water to create a dough perfect for molding. Shape the dough into an eagle body, wings, and head. Bake until hardened and decorate with paint.
Felt Eagle Applique:
Cut out various shapes from brown, white, and yellow felt for the eagle’s body, wings, beak, and feet. Sew or glue the pieces onto a background fabric for a beautiful wall hanging or decorative pillow.
Bonus Crafts:
Pinecone Eagles:
Nature lovers can create eagles using pinecones! Paint the pinecone brown and glue on felt or construction paper wings. Add a beak and eyes for a rustic and charming craft.
Leaf Eagles:
For a beautiful fall craft, collect colorful leaves in various shades of brown and white. Glue them onto cardboard or construction paper to create a stunning collage eagle.
Recycled Can Eagles:
Wash and dry a clean aluminum can. Paint it brown and add details like wings, a beak, and eyes using construction paper or paint. This eco-friendly craft is a great way to promote recycling and creativity.
Melted Crayon Eagles:
This vibrant craft offers a unique artistic expression. Melt colorful crayons onto a canvas or cardboard base, shaping them into an eagle design with a hairdryer.
Patriotic Wreath Eagles:
For a festive decoration, create a wreath using red, white, and blue yarn, ribbons, or fabric scraps. Attach a pre-made paper eagle or a cutout adorned with glitter and feathers for a stunning patriotic display.
Additional Tips:
- Get inspired! Search online for more American Eagle craft ideas and tutorials. Pinterest is a great resource for visual inspiration.
- Adapt and personalize! Don’t be afraid to change the materials or difficulty level to suit your crafting needs and preferences.
- Make it a learning experience! While crafting, discuss the symbolism of the American Eagle and its role in American history.
- Display your creations! Hang finished crafts on the fridge, create a gallery wall, or give them as handmade gifts.
With these 20 creative craft ideas, you can celebrate the American Eagle and have fun crafting with people of all ages. So gather your supplies, unleash your creativity, and get ready to soar with these magnificent birds!
