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This paper roll owl craft is easy enough for kids of all ages and you can add your own creative flair with colour and pattern on their tummy feathers.
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Owls have been revered for centuries as knowledgeable birds filled with a quiet sort of wisdom. I like to imagine them like the owl in Winnie the Pooh stories, sitting in a warmly-lit hollow tree home with a library of books, ready to answer any questions.
Their wisdom, unfortunately, is a myth. Some birds are considered amongst the most intelligent of animals, like the crow for example, who can problem solve and figure out how to use a vending machine. Parrots, on the other hand, have been shown to outperform four-year-olds on intelligence tests, and even to match the performance of adults in memory tests.
Owls can’t do that. But, just because they’re not as wise as we think they are doesn’t make them any less amazing in their own way. They have the ability to fly silently (making sneaking up on prey easier), and possess some of the keenest vision and hearing in the animal kingdom.
Another cool owl fact is that they can turn their head up to 270 degrees. That’s three-quarters of the way around – take that crows!
Plus, they’re so beautiful with their fluffy feathers and big round eyes, I decided I needed to put them in a craft.
Surprisingly, after being a creative blogger for around 8 years, I haven’t thought to include any owl crafts up until now.
This is something I’m about to fix with this simple paper roll owl upcycling project.
Let’s make it …
How to make a paper roll owl
You will need:
- Paper towel roll (one roll makes two owls, plus you’ll need an extra scrap of it for the beak and wings)
- Scissors
- Paint (I’ve used only two colours – dark brown and white)
- Paintbrush
- Cotton ball
- Yellow construction paper
- Black Marker
- Glue
How to:
- Squash your paper towel roll flat
- Measure it and draw a line halfway, so you get two owls the same size.
- Cut the paper roll in half
- Gently indent the top two edges so the edges poke upwards like an owl’s pointy ears
- On an extra scrap of squashed paper roll, draw two wing shapes and cut them out. This will give you four wings, two for each owl.
- Paint the body shape in a solid colour, and the wings in a contrasting colour.
- Using a cotton ball, dab a section at the top of the roll for the face in the same contrasting colour as the wings.
- Paint a pattern on the body for the feathers. I’ve done wavy lines, little short lines and small curved lines – but be as creative as you like!
- Sketch and cut out a beak shape on another scrap of cardboard, and paint it grey.
- On a small scrap of construction paper draw two eyes in lead pencil first, then go over them in black marker when you’re happy with them. Cut them out.
- Glue on the eyes, beak and wings, and you’re done!
Use your finished owls to decorate your mantlepiece, or you could even add a loop of string to the top and turn them into a Christmas ornament.
Owl-themed books for kids
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