20 Simple and Cute Pet Crafts for Kids

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If your kids love animals, they’ll have a blast making these pet crafts for kids! Whether they’re dog lovers, cat fans, or into more unique pets like turtles and birds, there’s a project here for every little animal enthusiast.

These easy animal crafts use simple supplies you likely already have at home and are perfect for encouraging creativity and fine motor skills. They’re great for classroom themes, rainy days, or just a fun weekend activity. Scroll through and find your child’s new favorite furry (or feathered) friend to craft!

Collage of colorful pet-themed kids' crafts featuring animals like cats, dogs, turtles, rabbits, and hermit crabs made from paper and household materials.

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Preschool Pet Theme Craft Ideas

Toilet Paper Roll Dog

In this activity, a recycled toilet paper roll becomes the body of a cute puppy, complete with floppy paper ears and a wagging tail. Little ones will enjoy painting or coloring the tube and adding the provided paper pieces to bring their dog to life.

After the glue dries, they can play with a fun puppy friend, using their imagination for endless pet adventures.

kidscraftroom.com

Paper Mouse

With just some cutting and folding, kids can turn a piece of paper into a tiny mouse that stands on its own. They cut out the mouse's parts from a free template, roll the body into a cone shape, and attach big round ears, whiskers, and a curly paper tail.

Children love that their finished paper mice can perch upright on the table, ready for pretend play or to join a make-believe pet family.

Related: Mouse Handprint Craft

barleyandbirch.com

Colorful Chameleon

A clever painting technique using bubble wrap helps kids create a vibrantly patterned chameleon. They start by cutting out a chameleon shape (with a provided template) and then dabbing different paint colors onto bubble wrap, pressing it onto the paper to make rainbow-colored "scales" on the chameleon's body.

Not only do children get to experiment with colors and textures, but they also end up with a bright lizard friend covered in one-of-a-kind spots.

Turtle Headband

Kids create a wearable turtle headband using simple paper cutouts and a strip of paper that fits around their head. They can color a friendly turtle face and shell, then glue those pieces onto the band to create a cute turtle hat.

Once they finish making it, children will love wearing their new headband and pretending to be turtles, making the project as playful as it is creative.

www.artycraftykids.com

3D Turtle Paper

Kids make adorable 3D turtles by cutting out shells and body parts from a printable template and assembling them to look like the little turtle is popping off the page.

There's a fun twist: the turtle's head is attached with a folded paper spring, bobbing and moving when you touch it. Children love this interactive surprise and will giggle when their paper turtle nods its head as if it's alive.

Also try: Turtle Handprint Craft

www.craftplaylearn.com

Clownfish Art

Kids can create a cheerful clownfish with orange and white paper, like the one in their favorite ocean cartoon. They cut out a fish shape and glued on bold white stripes, a tail, and fins to give it that classic clownfish look.

Making this ocean friend is quick and easy, and children adore the bright colors and the chance to make their own "Nemo" to play with.

Related: Clownfish Craft

Paper Bag Cat

This project lets kids transform a plain paper lunch bag into a cute cat puppet. Kids decorate the bag by adding a cat's face, pointy ears, and even little paws, using a printable template to help cut out all the features.

Once finished, they can slip their hand inside and meow away, bringing their paper cat to life for endless pretend play.

www.thecrafttrain.com

3D Hermit Crab

Kids create a cute hermit crab with a 3D paper shell that pops off the page. They color the shell with fun patterns or favorite colors, cut it out, and then give it a slight curl or fold to look like a real, rounded shell.

Finally, they tuck the paper crab (complete with googly eyes and claws) under the shell, bringing the little creature to life in a way kids find just adorable.

Also try: Torn Paper Crab Craft

www.pinkstripeysocks.com

Woven Paper Cats in Sweaters

These paper cats are extra cozy because kids give them little woven paper sweaters to wear. Children first cut out a cat shape (using a template for guidance) and then weave strips of colored paper through slits in its body to create a patterned sweater.

The weaving process is an engaging, hands-on challenge, resulting in an adorable kitty dressed in a bright homemade sweater that kids will be proud of.

Fish Handprint

A child's handprint becomes the main shape of this colorful fish art. Kids trace their hand on bright paper, cut it out, and then add details like a googly eye, a smile, and a little tail fin to transform the hand shape into a fish.

They love how personal this project is because the fish is made by their hand, creating a cute keepsake and a fun art project.

www.easypeasyandfun.com

Accordion Paper Snake

Kids can make a long, wiggly paper snake that stretches and bends using a simple accordion-fold technique. They fold paper strips back and forth (like making a paper spring) to create the snake's body, then glue on a head with googly eyes and a forked tongue.

The finished snake can coil and uncoil; children love making it slither like a real snake.

Related: Snake Headband Craft

www.redtedart.com

Paper Plate Horse

In this easy activity, a paper plate turns into a friendly horse. Kids paint or color the plate and then add cut-out pieces to make the horse's face, like a yarn or paper mane, pointy ears, and big googly eyes.

Little horse lovers will be thrilled to show off their creation, and they can even use the paper plate horse for pretend play, galloping around on imaginary adventures.

Also try: Horse Headband Craft

Bird Paper Bag Puppet

A simple paper bag becomes a colorful bird puppet ready to flap its wings. Kids glue on a bright paper beak, big googly eyes, and feathered wings to transform the bag into their pet bird.

After creating their bird, they can slip their hand inside and put on a little show, making it chirp and "fly" around for endless pretend play.

myboredtoddler.com

Newspaper Puppy Paper

A clever way to recycle old newspaper, this project lets kids make an adorable puppy dog out of paper scraps. Children tear (or cut) newspaper into pieces to form the puppy's body and face, then add colorful details like floppy paper ears, a big nose, and a pink tongue to bring it to life.

Little ones have a blast with all the ripping and gluing, and they love seeing how recycled materials can turn into their pet pup.

abcsofliteracy.com

Mouse Shape

Kids practice their shapes by making a mouse out of cut-out paper pieces. They use a big triangle as the mouse's body, then glue on two round ears, a little circle nose, and a long curly tail (plus a couple of whiskers and eyes) to complete the mouse.

By combining art with a bit of learning, kids create a shape puzzle–meets–art project and end up with an adorable little mouse they're proud of.

Related: Mouse Headband Craft

Hedgehog Paper

Kids can create an adorable hedgehog with lots of spiky quills with just a few pieces of paper. They cut out a basic hedgehog body shape and then attach a bunch of paper spikes or "quills" along its back (with the help of a template for the pieces) to give it that signature hedgehog look.

Children enjoy adding a cute face at the front, and the finished critter makes a little woodland friend to play with or display.

kidsactivitiesblog.com

Pipe Cleaner Snake

Kids create a colorful little toy snake using a pipe cleaner and beads. They string many bright beads onto the fuzzy wire and bend it into a slithery snake shape, adding googly eyes and a forked paper tongue at the end.

The finished snake can coil, wrap around, and "slither" playfully, so children love playing with their beaded creation as a pretend pet.

Also try: Snake Paper Bag Puppet Craft

thekindergartenconnection.com

Handprint Hermit Crab

Kids turn their handprint into a cute hermit crab carrying a big shell. They trace a hand on paper (often using red or orange for the crab), cut it out, and glue a paper seashell on top of the hand shape to look like it is peeking out.

Children can decorate the shell however they like, and they love that their hand becomes part of the art, making this ocean art extra special.

Related: Crab Name Craft

Horse Handprint

For this project, kids can trace their hands to create the shape of a little horse. The cut-out handprint forms the horse's body (with the fingers becoming the legs), and then kids add a paper head, a mane, and a flowing tail to bring their horse to life.

Kids get a kick from seeing their handprint turned into a galloping horse, and the finished art makes a sweet keepsake, too.

www.craftymorning.com

Paper Plate Bunny Rabbit

In this project, a plain paper plate becomes an adorable bunny face. Kids cover the plate with fluffy cotton balls, add two long paper ears, and glue on a pink nose, whiskers, and big googly eyes to give their bunny lots of character.

Little ones especially enjoy sticking on the soft cotton and making a funny bunny face, and they're always proud to show off their cuddly-looking creation.

Also try: Paper Bag Bunny Craft

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Sam

Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.

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