Today we are onto our next paper weave ocean craft and we have a paper weave seahorse. I'm sure you will love it as much as I do. The project is simple and easy to make and the kids will have lots of fun with this Ocean themed craft idea.
Did you know that there are 40 different species of Seahorse and that Seahorses like to swim in pairs with their tails linked together?
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Easy to Follow, Fun to Make: This craft is a fun and simple way to introduce kids to the art of weaving!
- Boosts Fine Motor Skills: Kids will strengthen their hand-eye coordination, as well as their ability to focus and follow instructions.
- Great as Decorations or Gifts: Once finished, these seahorse crafts make adorable room decorations or can even be gifted to those who love the beach or ocean!
🎨 Supplies Needed
RELATED POST: 101 OCEAN CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOL KIDS
🖌️ How To Make This Seahorse Craft
- Step 1: Paint a large piece of bubble wrap with shades of blue paint.
- Step 2: Turn the bubble wrap over and place onto white paper.
- Step 3: Press firmly all over the bubble wrap.
- Step 4: Pull up the bubble wrap.
- Step 5: Allow the paint to dry completely.
Instructions for Making the Seahorse: Part Two
- Step 7: Download the seahorse template and print out.
- Step 8: Cut the template out. Trace the seahorse onto coloured cardstock and cut out. Cut a large white circle and a smaller black circle.
- Step 9: Fold the seahorse in half and cut slits into the middle of the seahorse. Leave at least a half of an inch all the way around to avoid tearing the paper.
- Step 10: Cut strips of coloured cardstock. (use a colour different from the seahorse. (try using bold prints or textured cardstock)
- Step 11: Weave the coloured cardstock strips in and out of the seahorse. Secure the ends with a bit of glue.
- Step 12: Use scissors to cut off any excess paper hanging over the sides.
- Step 13: Glue the eye together and then glue them onto the seahorse. Glue the back fins and side fin onto the seahorse. Use a black marker to add a smile to the fish and detail to the side fin. Glue the seahorse onto the bubble wrap print background. Your seahorse is finished!
💡 Pro Tip: Time the session right before storytime so children can unwind after crafting and let the finished piece flatten while they listen quietly.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Align Weaving Space First: Mark light pencil lines across the body before cutting slits to ensure that the weaving spaces are straight, evenly spaced, and manageable for kids.
- Pre-Cut Multiple Strip Widths: Offer strips in two or three different widths to allow kids to choose based on comfort and control, especially for fine motor variation.
- Tape Down the Base: Lightly tape the seahorse outline to the table before weaving begins to prevent slipping and make the process easier for small hands.
- Let Kids Choose the Flow: Encourage children to alternate direction or color per row, helping them engage with basic sequencing and visual organization.
- Use a Toothpick for Tucks: Provide toothpicks or craft sticks to gently guide paper strips into tight spaces when little fingers can’t reach the narrow gaps.
- Flatten with Books After: Place finished pieces under a heavy book for a few minutes to reduce any bulging caused by overlapping paper strips.
💭 FAQs
Following uneven borders like a seahorse shape forces kids to slow down and match edges, sharpening control over line precision and fill accuracy.
Managing overlap builds spatial stacking logic, helping children understand how surface relationships affect the look and structure of a craft.
Tight weaves call for firm, repeated pressure from fingertips, gradually building muscle control useful for writing and daily hand tasks.
Switching line directions while weaving helps kids shift focus smoothly between angles, reinforcing fast adaptation in directional tasks.
🖌️ Related Crafts
Love these crafts! Don't forget to pin them on Pinterest or leave a comment and let us know how you got on!
Fantastic Paper Weave Seahorse Craft
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- Cardstock
- Gluestick
- Paper Cutter
Instructions
- Paint a large piece of bubble wrap with shades of blue paint.
- Turn the bubble wrap over and place it onto white paper.
- Press firmly all over the bubble wrap.
- Pull up the bubble wrap.
- Allow the paint to dry completely.
- Download the seahorse template and print out.
- Cut the template out. Trace the seahorse onto coloured cardstock and cut out. Cut a large white circle and a smaller black circle.
- Fold the seahorse in half and cut slits into the middle of the seahorse.
- Leave at least a half of an inch all the way around to avoid tearing the paper.
- Cut strips of coloured cardstock. (use a colour different from the seahorse. (try using bold prints or textured cardstock)
- Weave the coloured cardstock strips in and out of the seahorse.
- Secure the ends with a bit of glue.
- Use scissors to cut off any excess paper hanging over the sides.
- Glue the eye together and then glue them onto the seahorse.
- Glue the back fins and side fins onto the seahorse.
- Use a black marker to add a smile to the fish and detail to the side fin.
- Glue the seahorse onto the bubble wrap print background.
- Your seahorse is finished!
Did you make this craft? Leave a review and comment below! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
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This seahorse craft looks so much fun! I will be trying with little man over the summer!
I make cards a lot and I've never used either of these techniques, so I think I will incorporate both the weave and the bubble wrap printing in the future. Thanks, Mich x