DIY: Dino Collage | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Dino Collage

Artistic Adventures

Ages: 3-5

30 minutes

Grownup needed

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A side view of a playful, handcrafted dinosaur made from cardboard stands on a light wood-grain surface. The dinosaur is primarily brown cardboard, decorated with colorful triangles of light green, bright green, yellow, and various shades of blue tissue paper or felt. These triangles are arranged along its back, sides, and legs. The dinosaur has a row of bright green triangular plates along its spine and a whimsical crest of short, vertical yellow and blue pieces, possibly straws or pipe cleaners, on its head. A googly eye adds to its character. Simple, hand-drawn swirls and lines decorate the cardboard base. The dinosaur's mouth is open, giving it a friendly, almost cartoonish appearance.

Combine children's love for collages and dinosaurs in this perfect activity. Create new toys using old cardboard from home while developing hand-eye coordination and creativity. These 3D collage dinosaurs are incredibly fun - they can be huge and stand up on their own! This excellent early STEAM education activity will have children excited about creating and playing with their own dinosaurs.

Materials Needed

60cm×40cm cardboard
50cm×40cm cardboard
Coloured felt (or coloured paper)
Straws
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Markers
Googly eyes
Glue (or double-sided tape)

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Draw a semicircle with a 10cm radius on the cardboard, with a triangle at the bottom centre. Repeat to create a second identical piece.

On a light wooden surface, a piece of brown cardboard has a partially drawn shape sketched onto it in pencil. The shape resembles a rounded arch with a small triangular point at the bottom center. A hand holding a blue pencil is in the process of drawing the right side of the arch. A vertical line with 10cm written next to it indicates the height of the arched shape. Two hands are visible, one holding the cardboard steady while the other draws. This image appears to show the first steps in creating a cardboard cutout.

Step 2

Cut out these shapes along the drawn lines using scissors.

Two hands are shown cutting a piece of brown cardboard on a light wood grain surface. One hand holds the cardboard while the other uses scissors to cut along a pre-drawn curved line. Part of the curved shape has already been cut away. The remaining portion of the cardboard still has visible pencil markings.

Step 3

Place the ruler vertically in the middle of each cardboard piece, measure 4 cm from the top, and mark with a pencil. Repeat for the second piece.

On a light wood-grain surface, two hands are shown working with a piece of brown cardboard shaped like a semi-circle with a triangular notch cut out at the bottom. A clear plastic ruler is placed vertically along the center of the notch, and one hand holds a blue pencil to mark a point on the cardboard at the 4cm mark on the ruler. The other hand holds the cardboard and ruler steady. A small vertical line next to the 4cm mark indicates the measurement being made. This image appears to depict a step in a crafting project involving precise measurements.

Step 4

Cut a 4 cm slot along the marked lines in both pieces of cardboard.

Two hands are shown cutting a piece of folded brown cardboard with scissors on a light wood-grain surface. The cardboard is folded in half, creating a curved shape on one side and an angled edge on the other. The scissors are cutting along the folded edge. One hand holds the cardboard while the other manipulates the scissors.

Step 5

Take the 60×40 cardboard and draw your favourite dinosaur shape, then cut it out.

On a light wooden surface, a rectangular piece of brown cardboard lies flat. A hand holding a blue pencil is drawing a curved, fish-like shape on the cardboard. Another hand is partially visible, holding the bottom left corner of the cardboard. The pencil sketch is still in progress, with only the outline of the fish being drawn.

Step 6

Slot the pieces with notches under the dinosaur body to create the base structure.

Step 7

Attach the googly eyes to the dinosaur's face.

Step 8

Cut various triangles from the felt - these will be the dinosaur's scales.

Two hands are shown working with pieces of felt on a light wood-grain surface. One hand holds a rectangular piece of light yellow felt, while the other hand uses black scissors to cut a small triangle from the corner of the felt. Several small, pre-cut green triangles are visible near the top left of the image.

Step 9

Use glue to attach the felt triangles to the dinosaur in your preferred pattern.

Step 10

Use markers and straws to add more decorations to your dinosaur. Your collage dinosaur is now complete!

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