One very simple and easy way to build a caterpillar is to use spun cotton balls. It’s actually so simple that it almost feels like spun cotton balls were invented for the purpose of making caterpillars.
Materials:
- Spun cotton balls: 5 medium size balls for the body and 10 smaller size balls for the legs. I used 30mm diameter balls for the body and 15mm diameter balls for the legs.
- One spun cotton bell shape for the caterpillar’s head. I used a 38mm tall bell shape.
- Paint: blue and white + a paint brush. I like acrylic paint because it dries very fast.
- A black marker.
- A glue gun.
- Bamboo Wood sticks (to help during the painting and drying process).
Directions:
- Step 1: Paint all the balls and the bell with the blue paint. To make painting easier, insert a wood stick into each paper shape. Use the wood sticks as a handle. You can then rest the sticks in a container while the paint dries.
- Step 2: Prepare a small batch of light blue paint by mixing the white paint and the blue paint together. Paint the face and the bellies.
- Step 3: When the paint is dry, draw the mouth and the eyes using the black marker.
- Step 4: Glue all the spun cotton shapes together with the glue gun.
A few words about spun cotton balls.
Spun cotton balls are wonderful eco-friendly alternatives to polystyrene balls. They are made of paper which gives them great qualities:
- They don’t crumble. They are sturdy and feel strong to the touch.
- They take paint beautifully. Paint is dry in a matter of minutes.
- They are food safe, they do not contain any chemicals.
- They are glue gun compatible, they don’t melt.
This is all there is to it. I hope you enjoyed this page and found some inspiration for your next projects. As usual, do not hesitate to send me your questions or leave a comment below. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you. Happy crafting!