The Little Cardboard Crocodile
Sometimes in kindergarten or at school, we're asked to make a costume for children using recyclable materials, and this would be a great idea. This time, for the paper and cardboard contest, I wanted to reuse some egg cartons I had at home. They have a very particular shape, and the first thing I thought of when I saw them was a crocodile, since these animals have that kind of texture. So, in this instructable, I decided to make a cute baby crocodile.
Although crocodiles look scary, this time I'll make him look really adorable.
Supplies
Materials
- Cardboard
- Egg carton
- Green crepe paper
- White paper
- Hook and loop tape
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Marker
- Glue stick
- Silicone
- Scissors
I chose some old boxes I had at home and took a strip of cardboard measuring approximately 72 cm high x 31 cm wide, since my son is 92 cm tall and 2 and a half years old.
Take the cardboard strip and draw the silhouette of a crocodile's tail. Draw some scales around it, as these are very characteristic of crocodiles.
Using a scalpel or cutter, cut out the silhouette of the crocodile's tail.
Roll the cardboard to give a texture of lines and to make the crocodile's tail more dynamic.
I chose a type of paper known in my country as crepe paper. It's a lightweight, porous, and wrinkled material used for crafts.
Take the crepe paper by the more textured side and glue it onto the crocodile's tail with a little glue stick. Cover each scale with the paper, making small cuts to form tabs that I then glued to the back of the cardboard.
Cut the egg cartons into strips using a scalpel or cutter.
Then cut each cone and trim off the excess, leaving the rounded base.
I cut about 30 cones or scales for the crocodile's back, then glued them together with silicone.
I adored this result because as soon as I finished it, it gave me the impression of a crocodile. The texture and shape of the egg crate cones are perfect.
For the front, measure the child's chest. In my case, the measurement was 20 cm wide x 30 cm high. At the bottom, make an oval cut on the sides to make the crocodile's belly.
Then cover it with mint green crepe paper.
Then, use pieces of egg carton to make small cuts of different sizes and glue them onto the crocodile's belly to give it a crocodile-skin texture.
Draw the shape of the crocodile's head on a 35 cm x 20 cm strip of recycled cardboard.
My idea was to make a fun and charming crocodile, one that would inspire tenderness in children.
Cut out the silhouette of the crocodile's head and cover it with crepe paper.
I drew the eyes on a piece of cardboard so they were raised and covered them with white paper.
I also made the brow and covered it with mint green crepe paper.
Then, using silicone, I glued the brow first and then the eye. I did this on each side of the crocodile. Then, with the help of a black marker, I drew the pupil.
I then drew the teeth on cardboard and then covered them with white paper. I added 8 teeth to the crocodile, 4 on each side.
Cut a strip of cardboard measuring 65 cm x 18 cm, and then rolled it up so it was manageable so I could glue it to the middle of the crocodile's two sides.
I covered the strip with mint green crepe paper, then made some small cardboard rectangles, which I will use as tabs to join the strip that will function as the central part. This will be glued along the entire edge of each side of the crocodile, thus forming the crocodile's head.
Finally, here we have an adorable crocodile made out of cardboard and paper.
I hope you like it.