DIY: Cotton Wool Owl | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Cotton Wool Owl

Artistic Adventures

Ages: 3-5

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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In autumn, pine cones mature and fall to the ground. Have you collected a small mountain of pine cones at home? This is a seasonal craft activity perfect for young children, using pine cones and cotton wool to create a lifelike owl whilst experiencing the joy of creating with natural materials.

Materials Needed

Felt (black, yellow, white)
Pine cone
Double-sided tape
Cotton wool
Wiggle eyes
Marker pen
Pencil
Scissors

An overhead flatlay image displays various craft supplies arranged on a light wood grain surface. A sheet of off-white paper with a vertical bright yellow stripe along one edge sits on the left. To its right, a brown pine cone lies next to a small clump of white crafting clay or cotton. A roll of clear tape is positioned below the pine cone. To the right, two small googly eyes, a white marker, a brown pencil, and a pair of black scissors are arranged in a line. The items suggest preparation for a nature-themed craft project.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Ask your little ones to help tear the cotton wool into small balls and stuff them into the pine cone.

Two hands are working on a craft project against a soft, textured background of white and pastel colors. One hand holds a pine cone, while the other hand applies fluffy white cotton wool between the cone's scales. The process appears to be creating a snowy or winter-themed decoration using the pine cone as a base.

Step 2

Fold the white felt in half and draw a wing shape with a pencil, then cut along the outline. This will give you two wings.

Two hands hold a rectangular piece of thin, off-white paper or fabric against a textured background of a similar, slightly darker shade. The paper appears slightly curved, and the background has a subtle pattern of faint, lighter circles. The focus is on the texture and plainness of the material being held. A dried leaf and part of a pine cone are visible in the top right corner, suggesting a crafting context.

Step 3

Flip one felt wing over and place it symmetrically with the other. Use the marker pen to draw feather patterns on both wings.

On a textured, off-white surface, two wing-shaped pieces of thin white material lie slightly apart. A hand holding a white marker is drawing wavy lines onto one of the wing shapes, creating the appearance of feathers. The other wing shape has similar lines already drawn on it. The scene suggests a craft project involving creating decorative wings.

Step 4

Take the black felt and cut out a small triangle - this will be the owl's beak.

A pair of hands uses black scissors to cut a piece of black paper or fabric. The scissors are making a cut from one edge of the material, which is positioned against a textured off-white background with faint lighter circles. The focus is on the action of cutting the dark material.

Step 5

Fold the yellow felt in half, place the wiggle eyes on top, and use a pencil to draw circles around them.

Two hands are working on a piece of bright yellow felt or fabric against a textured off-white background. A googly eye is stuck to the yellow material, and a hand holding a pencil is drawing a circle around it. The background has a subtle pattern of faint, lighter circles. The image suggests a craft activity, likely involving making a character or animal with the googly eye.

Step 6

Cut out the drawn circles with scissors.

Hands are using black scissors to cut a piece of bright yellow felt or fabric. A circle is drawn on the material, and the scissors are cutting along the line of the circle. The felt is placed on a textured, off-white background with a subtle pattern of faint, lighter circles. The image suggests a craft project in progress.

Step 7

Stick the wiggle eyes onto the cut-out circles.

Two hands hold small craft supplies against a textured, off-white background with faint lighter circles. One hand holds two small, bright yellow circles of felt or fabric. The other hand holds a googly eye. The arrangement of the materials suggests the next step in a craft project, likely attaching the eye to the yellow circles.

Step 8

Using double-sided tape, attach the owl's eyes, beak, and wings to the pine cone. Your cotton wool owl is complete! Try making different styles of owls using various sizes of pine cones.

A charming handmade owl craft is displayed on a textured, light blue and white background. The owl's body is a pine cone, covered with fluffy white cotton. It has large, yellow felt circles for eyes, each with a smaller black googly eye glued to the center. Two white, wing-shaped pieces of material, decorated with wavy lines resembling feathers, are attached to the sides of the pine cone. Small craft supplies like other pine cones and dried leaves are scattered around the owl.

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