It has been a crazy year. I am currently prepping for the release of my collaborative project with Casey Renee Kiser, 433 Lighted Way, which has been such a fun experience. Between developing my poetry writing and getting back into doodles and artwork, I have had an amazing time. However, I’ve had less time to write up crafting tutorials and I apologize for that. Crafting has been happening, but the write-ups not so much.

Here are two nice, easy projects that are perfect for sea-themed fun. I did both of them with the kids I babysit and they had a great time.

  1. Bubble Wrap Sea-Creatures

Supplies:

  • A few sheets of bubble wrap
  • Paint and paintbrushes (finger paint works fine)
  • Permanent marker
  • Scissors
  • Construction paper
  • White glue
  • Optional: decorations (gems, tissue paper, whatever fun stuff you’ve got)
Using the permanent marker, draw some sea creatures on the bubble wrap. Then cut then out and get creative painting them. I made sharks, fish, and sea stars for the kiddos I babysit.
The older one also wanted some bubble wrap coral, making this a fun way to get kids thinking about various things found in the ocean.
Once the bubble wrap is completely (or mostly depending on the artists’ patience levels) dry, use the white glue to adhere them to the construction paper. Add any last-minute details or decorations.
Quick Dry Method: If waiting for painted bubble wrap to dry isn’t going to fit into your art time, you can also paint the construction paper then glue sea creature shapes over the painted areas to give the texture of scales (yes, I know sharks don’t have scales, but some elementary kids are insistent on including sharks in their art and I have no complaints).

2. Impromptu Squids/Jellyfish

This second one was a surprise project after a water balloon fight. The kids I babysit have a bunch of those water balloon straw sets that attach to the hose and fill all the balloons for you. When we were done, the older one picked up the used straw adapters to throw away, but always thinking about waste and such, I suggested maybe we could make some fun creatures out of them first.

Supplies:

  • Used balloon-filling straws (clearly the scientific term)
  • Construction paper
  • Markers/crayons
  • Scissors
  • Tape
Let the straw attachment dry. Cut a head-shape out of the construction paper and decorate. Use tape to adhere to the base of the straw attachment when dry.
This is a super simple craft, but the kids really enjoyed creating the faces and had a blast running around the house with their squids/jellyfish/octopuses (I wasn’t going to get too picky on the tentacle ratios).