This colorful paper caterpillar is made from bright circles of the same size. Thanks to its clever design, it rocks from side to side when touched, making it a fun craft to play with after it’s finished.
Materials:
- Small pieces of paper in six different colors;
- Green cardstock;
- Googly eyes or paper eyes;
- A black marker, felt-tip pen, or pencil;
- Scissors;
- Glue.
How to Make a Wobbly Paper Caterpillar
Start by cutting a large circle from the green cardstock. This will be the base of your craft, and you’ll attach the caterpillar to it later. The sturdy circular base is what allows the caterpillar to wobble from side to side, so be sure to use cardstock rather than regular paper.
Next, cut several smaller circles from colored paper. Using six different colors creates the brightest result, but alternating just two or three colors works just as well.
Don’t forget the antennae! We made ours light green to match the caterpillar’s head, but you can choose any color you like—even black.
If you’re making paper eyes instead of using googly eyes, cut those out now as well.
Fold the large green circle in half. Stand it upright to make sure it can balance on its own.
Now glue the smaller colored circles onto the folded base. Overlap each circle slightly with the next one instead of placing them edge to edge. This overlap helps create the caterpillar’s body.
You can arrange the circles in a straight line or give the caterpillar a gentle curve. Glue the head slightly higher than the body so it stands out.
Next, attach the eyes and antennae. The antennae can point straight up or spread out to the sides—both look adorable.
If you’re using plastic googly eyes, they may make the caterpillar slightly heavier on one side. If that happens, glue a small weight, such as a button, to the back of the base to balance it.
Using a black marker, felt-tip pen, or pencil, draw the missing details: a smiling face and legs. Draw one leg extending from each circle. You can add two legs to the last circle if it suits the pose of your caterpillar.
Now decorate the green base. Think of it as a grassy meadow and glue on a few small colorful flowers to make the scene brighter and more cheerful.
You can also bend the antennae slightly forward to give the caterpillar a more playful look.
Finally, stand the craft upright instead of laying it flat on the table. The folded circular base keeps it balanced. Give it a gentle tap, and your caterpillar will happily wobble from side to side.
This wobbly paper caterpillar is just as fun to play with as it is to make. It’s an easy craft for children of all ages and a wonderful project for young crafters who enjoy creating interactive paper toys.
Take a look at another fun idea for making a paper circle caterpillar.
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