25 Easy Turtle Crafts for Kids

Turtles! These captivating creatures with their slow and steady pace, wise old eyes, and protective shells have captured the imaginations of children for generations.

Crafting time is the perfect opportunity to turn that fascination into something fun and engaging.

This list offers 25 easy turtle crafts for kids, suitable for a range of ages and skill levels. From toddlers exploring textures to older children creating detailed masterpieces, there’s a turtle craft waiting to be made!

Many of these crafts use common household materials, making them perfect for a rainy day or a quick after-school activity.

So, gather your little Picassos, Michelangelos, and Da Vincis, and let’s dive into the world of turtle crafts!

Paper Plate Delights (Preschool Friendly):

Paper Plate Sea Turtle:

Transform a paper plate into a vibrant sea turtle. Paint the plate green or blue, then cut out construction paper flippers, a head, and a tail. Glue them on and add wiggly eyes for a touch of personality.

Confetti Shell Surprise:

Paint a paper plate green and let it dry. While it dries, have your child punch out colorful circles from construction paper or tissue paper. Once dry, spread glue on the paper plate (leave the center circle blank) and sprinkle on the confetti. Let it dry completely, then glue on a construction paper head, legs, and tail.

Melty Crayon Magic:

This vibrant craft is a fun twist on the classic suncatcher. Cover a paper plate with clear contact paper. On a separate sheet of paper, have your child color pictures using crayons. Carefully cut out the pictures and arrange them on the sticky side of the contact paper. Place the plate outside in direct sunlight for a while. The crayons will melt, creating a beautiful stained-glass effect. Cut out a turtle shape from construction paper and glue it onto the melted crayon art for a stunning turtle suncatcher.

Cup Crafts that Don’t Leak (Preschool Friendly):

Paper Cup Party Turtle:

This adorable craft is perfect for a turtle-themed party. Paint a paper cup green and let it dry. Cut out construction paper circles for the eyes and glue them on. Use colorful markers to draw a friendly smile and nostrils. Cut out construction paper flippers and a tail, and glue them onto the cup.

Recycled Cup Sea Turtle:

Upcycle plastic cups into a swimming sensation! Cut a plastic cup in half. Paint the bottom half green or blue and the top half brown. Glue googly eyes onto the brown section. Cut out flippers and a tail from construction paper and glue them onto the green/blue section. Poke a hole in the top (adult supervision advised) and string some yarn or ribbon to create a hanging sea turtle decoration.

Adorable and Edible (Supervised Activity):

Apple Turtle Snacks:

A healthy and fun snack that’s perfect for a classroom party or after-school treat! Cut an apple into slices. Spread peanut butter or cream cheese on top. Use grapes or raisins for the eyes and a slice of banana for the mouth. Cut out pretzel sticks for the legs and use a single pretzel for the tail. Get creative with different fruits and veggies for endless variations!

Nature’s Inspiration (All Ages):

Leaf Shell Turtle:

Take a nature walk and collect some interesting leaves. Use a large leaf as the base for the turtle’s body and smaller leaves or flower petals for the head, legs, and tail. Glue everything together and add googly eyes for a touch of whimsy.

Pebble Power Turtle:

Find a smooth, flat pebble and paint it green or brown. Use smaller pebbles or buttons to create a patterned shell design. Glue on googly eyes and draw a smile with a marker.

Cardboard Creations (All Ages):

Cardboard Box Turtle:

This is a great project for a larger-than-life turtle creation. Cut out a large oval from a cardboard box to be the turtle’s body. Paint it green or brown and let it dry. Cut out smaller ovals for the head, legs, and tail. Decorate the shell with paint, markers, or construction paper cutouts. Poke holes (with adult supervision) and string yarn to create a giant hanging turtle mobile.

Toilet Paper Roll Turtle:

Cardboard tubes get a new lease on life as adorable turtles! Cut a toilet paper roll in half. Paint one half green or brown for the shell and the other half yellow or orange for the belly. Glue the two halves together. Cut out construction paper flippers, a head, and a tail, and glue them onto the toilet paper roll. Decorate the shell with markers or paint

Pom-Pom Pals (All Ages):

Pipe Cleaner and Pom-Pom Turtle:

This fluffy friend is a joy to create! Wrap a pipe cleaner around a pom-pom to create the head and body. Twist the pipe cleaner ends to form legs and a tail. Cut another pipe cleaner in half and bend the ends to create flippers. Attach the flippers and googly eyes to the pom-pom body.

Yarn and Pom-Pom Shell:

Craft a fuzzy and textured turtle shell. Make a small pom-pom and glue it onto a piece of cardboard. Wrap colorful yarn around the pom-pom and cardboard base, securing the yarn ends with glue. Cut out construction paper for the head, legs, and tail, and glue them onto the cardboard.

Recycled Crafts with Heart (All Ages):

Egg Carton Turtle:

Upcycle an egg carton into a team of tiny turtles! Cut out individual egg cups from the carton. Paint them green or brown and let them dry. Decorate the shells with markers or paint. Cut out construction paper for the head, legs, and tail, and glue them onto the egg cup.

Cereal Box Ocean Friends:

Cardboard cereal boxes are transformed into a swimming sea turtle! Cut out a turtle shape from the cardboard box. Paint it green or blue and let it dry. Decorate the shell with markers, paint, or cut-out construction paper shapes. Cut out flippers, a head, and a tail from construction paper and glue them onto the turtle body.

Sock Puppet Shenanigans (All Ages):

Sock Puppet Turtle:

Breathe life into a lonely sock with this fun craft! Cut off the toe section of a green or brown sock. Sew or glue on felt circles for eyes and a felt triangle for the mouth. Decorate the sock with fabric scraps or markers to create a shell design. Stuff the sock with cotton balls or fabric scraps and add a popsicle stick for a handle. Now you have a playful turtle puppet ready to tell stories!

For the Little Picassos (All Ages):

Fingerprint Shell Turtle:

This craft is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Paint your child’s finger green or brown and let them make “shell prints” on a piece of paper. Once dry, draw a turtle body around the fingerprints and add googly eyes and a smile.

Stained Glass Turtle:

This craft allows for beautiful creativity. Cut out a turtle shape from construction paper. Cover it with clear contact paper. On a separate sheet of paper, have your child color pictures using tissue paper. Carefully cut out the tissue paper pieces and arrange them on the sticky side of the contact paper on the turtle shape.

Sew Crafty! (Elementary and Up):

Felt Turtle:

Let’s get stitching! Cut out two turtle shapes from green felt and one from yellow felt for the belly (optional). Sew the two green felt pieces together, leaving a small opening for stuffing. Stuff with cotton balls or fabric scraps and then sew the opening closed. Sew on yellow felt for the belly (optional), googly eyes, and buttons for the shell design.

Button Bonanza (All Ages):

Button Shell Turtle:

Raid your button jar for a unique turtle creation! Glue a large button onto a piece of cardboard for the turtle’s body. Arrange smaller buttons around the large button to create a patterned shell design. Glue on googly eyes and draw a smile with a marker.

Let’s Get Sticky (All Ages):

Washi Tape Turtle:

Washi tape comes in a variety of vibrant colors and patterns, making it perfect for this craft. Cut out a turtle shape from cardboard. Cover the cardboard with colorful washi tape patterns. Cut out construction paper for the head, legs, and tail, and glue them onto the washi tape covered cardboard.

Nature’s Canvas (All Ages):

Painted Rock Turtle:

Find a smooth, flat rock and paint it green or brown. Use a paintbrush or a small marker to create a detailed shell design. Glue on googly eyes and paint a small smile. These painted rock turtles can be used to decorate a garden or hidden for a fun nature scavenger hunt.

Playful Paper Crafts (All Ages):

Origami Turtle:

This traditional Japanese art form creates a beautiful origami turtle. Origami paper comes in a variety of colors and patterns, allowing for endless variations. There are many online tutorials available to guide you through the folding process.

Paper Chain Turtle:

Cut out a series of green or brown construction paper circles Connect the circles using glue or brads to create a long paper chain. Fold the chain into a loop to form the turtle’s body. Decorate the top circle with a drawn head and googly eyes.

Accordion Shell Turtle:

Cut a large rectangle from green or brown construction paper. Fold the rectangle back and forth repeatedly to create an accordion effect. Cut out a small circle for the head from construction paper and glue it to one end of the accordion. Decorate the accordion with markers or paint to create a shell design. Spread the accordion open slightly to create a charming 3D turtle.

Thinking Outside the Box:

Playdough Turtle Paradise:

Create a vibrant underwater world with playdough! Mold green or brown playdough into a turtle shape. Use other colors of playdough to create seaweed, coral reefs, and even other sea creatures. This is a great sensory activity that encourages creativity and storytelling.

Bonus: Let’s Get Messy!

For a truly unforgettable experience, consider incorporating some messy fun into your turtle crafting session.

• Finger Painting Shells: Use washable finger paints to create colorful and textured turtle shells.
• Shaving Cream Shell Art: Squirt shaving cream onto a tray and let your child swirl it with green and brown food coloring. Press construction paper cutouts of the turtle body onto the shaving cream to create a marbled shell design.
• Nature Collage Turtles: Gather leaves, twigs, and other natural materials on a nature walk. Use these elements to create a unique collage shell design on a cardboard turtle cutout.

Remember:

The most important ingredient in any craft project is to have fun! Be flexible, embrace creativity, and most importantly, enjoy the process of creating something special with your little one.