This Cat in the Hat-inspired art project can be a wonderful way to get your kid involved in an interesting and useful experience. You could get your kid to work on this on Dr. Seuss Day or just on those days when you want to keep him busy for a while without you needing to supervise.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Iconic Character Fun: Kids get to recreate one of the most beloved book characters in a totally hands-on way.
- Perfect for Classroom Displays: Makes adorable wall art for Dr. Seuss week or reading celebrations at school.
- Great for Fine Motor Skills: Cutting, gluing, and coloring help kids practice coordination while having a blast.
How to Prep for This Cat in the Hat Art Project
This activity makes use of some simple, items that you might already have at home. Plus, there's also a free template for you to use so that you don't have to put in any extra effort. It is one of those art projects that will help your kid learn and explore through play!
🎨 Supplies Needed
🖌️ How To Make This Cat in the Hat Art Project
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- Step 1: Download the cat in the hat template. Cover your surface in newspaper or something to protect the surface from paint messes. Use a paintbrush to cover the bubble wrap (bubbles side up) with red paint. Gently put the bubble wrap (painted side down) onto a piece of white cardstock.
- Step 2: Gently press the bubble wrap onto the paper. Don’t press too hard or you’ll have a giant smudge instead of little red circles. Lift the bubble wrap up off the cardstock and allow the paint to dry completely. This step is especially important because you will be running this paper through your printer and you do not want to cause any damage. Repeat this step with two times.
- Step 3: Open the cat in the hat template. Print the hat and the bow onto the painted paper you created. Print the hat once more onto white paper, print the head and the chest onto white paper as well. Cut all the pieces out.
- Step 4: Assemble the pieces and glue them onto a bright coloured paper.
- Step 5: This craft is a bit large so you’ll need to glue onto a sheet of paper onto the back of the first paper to allow room for the hat. Your cat in the hat craft is now ready to display!
💡 Pro Tip: Punch a small hole at the top and add ribbon to hang your artwork anywhere. Whether it’s a classroom wall or a bedroom door, this little step turns your project into delightful, display-worthy décor.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Outline With Light Pencil: Sketch the basic shapes lightly with pencil before painting or coloring, helping kids stay inside lines while still keeping the design playful.
- Double Layer the Hat: Cut two identical hats and glue them together for a firmer shape that won’t sag, making the finished artwork more durable for display.
- Blend Crayon and Paint: Let kids color sections with crayon first and then paint over them lightly for a textured "resist" effect that looks lively and colorful.
- Highlight with White Gel Pen: After coloring, use a white gel pen to add small highlights on the hat, bow, or whiskers for a cartoon-like, polished finish.
- Create Mini Bookmarks: Have kids replicate a small version of their Cat in the Hat drawing on cardstock to turn it into a personal bookmark after the main project.
- Add a Funny Speech Bubble: Cut out a paper speech bubble and let the Cat "say" something fun or silly — adding humor makes the craft feel even more personal.
💭 FAQs
Using bubble wrap to create patterns introduces children to basic printmaking techniques, demonstrating how textures can transfer designs onto paper.
The repetitive red and white stripes of the hat help children understand visual rhythm, showing how patterns can create movement in art.
Arranging the Cat in the Hat's features requires kids to consider spacing and alignment, enhancing their spatial reasoning and layout skills.
Creating the Cat in the Hat allows children to explore character traits, prompting discussions about personality and behavior through artistic interpretation.
🖌️ Related Crafts
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Cat in the Hat Art Project for Kids
Materials
- Cardstock
- Chalk Markers optional for detail
- Red Paint
- Paint Brush
- Bubble Wrap
- Newspaper or something else to cover your surface
- Glue
- Scissors
Instructions
- Download the cat in the hat template.
- Cover your surface in newspaper or something to protect the surface from paint messes. Use a paintbrush to cover the bubble wrap (bubbles side up) with red paint.
- Gently put the bubble wrap (painted side down) onto a piece of white cardstock. Gently press the bubble wrap onto the paper. Don’t press too hard or you’ll have a giant smudge instead of little red circles.
- Lift the bubble wrap up off the cardstock and allow the paint to dry completely. This step is especially important because you will be running this paper through your printer and you do not want to cause any damage. Repeat this step with two times.
- Open the cat in the hat template. Print the hat and the bow onto the painted paper you created.
- Print the hat once more onto white paper, print the head and the chest onto white paper as well.
- Cut all the pieces out.
- Assemble the pieces and glue them onto a bright colored paper.
- This craft is a bit large so you’ll need to glue onto sheet of paper onto the back of the first paper to allow room for the hat.
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