Do your kids enjoy visiting the beach? We do and searching for crabs is one of our all time favourite things to do when we get there! Whether your kids are lucky enough to meet a crab in the flesh or whether they just enjoy reading about them in books this Paper Weaving Crab Craft is a must for Summer! To make it nice and easy we’ve got a Free Printable Crab Template you can download too.
Paper weaving crafts are a really fun way to introduce kids to simple weaving techniques and are a super way to strengthen fine motor and scissor skills. We’ve mounted our woven crab on to a background made from bubble wrap printing. It’s such fun to do and just perfect for an underwater theme!
This paper weaving crab craft is one of our three part paper weave seaside series. First we had gorgeous Paper Weave Fish and coming soon is an adorable Paper Weave Seahorse, so remember to check back to get your free printable template for that one too.
Why not make the most of this paper weaving crab craft by teaming it up with some other beach themed craft ideas too? Amongst our favourites for Summer are super fun Chomping Shark Puppets, Swishing Tailed Mermaids, Embossed Fish Puppets and Pirates Through The Porthole!
Click on the text or photos below to go to the posts and scroll down to see how to make your woven crabs and grab your free template.
Paper Weaving Crab Craft Tutorial
Supplies To Make Woven Crabs
- Crab Template (Get yours at the end of this post.)
- Coloured Cardstock: White, Black, Light Pink, Dark Pink
- Glue
- Scissors
- Sharpie
- Optional: Paper Cutter
For the background:
- Bubble Wrap
- Paint
- Brush
- Paper
How To Make Cute Woven Crabs
1 – If you are making a bubble wrap printed background for your crab craft then cut a piece of bubble wrap the same size as your paper. Paint the bubble side of the plastic in your chosen colours.
2 – Make a print of the bubbles onto your paper. Your can either push the paper onto the bubble wrap or vice versa. Leave it to dry while you enjoy paper weaving your crab.
3 – Print out your free crab template. (Available at the bottom of this post.) and cut out the body and the round shape from the middle.
4 – Trace around the crab template onto your dark pink cardstock and trace around the circle onto white card to make two large crab eyes. Cut out two smaller circles from your black card.
5 – Fold the crab in half and carefully cut slits into the middle of the crab. Leave at least a half of an inch all the way around to avoid tearing the paper.
6 – Cut strips of light pink card using scissors or a paper cutter and weave them under and over the strips you cut into the crab.
7 – Trim off and excess lengths and glue the woven ends down.
8 – Stick on your white crab’s eyes and their black pupils and use your Sharpie to draw on a cheeky crab smile!
9 – Mount your paper weave crabs onto your bubble wrap printing for a wonderful seaside display!
Isn’t this paper weaving project fun? why not make a selection of crabs in different colours?
Click here to download your free printable crab template.
More Fun Summer Crafts For Kids: