SHARK PAPER TUBE CRAFT

This shark craft is inspired by Shark Week which begins July 5th on the Discovery channel, but this under the sea creature is great summer fun in general. You’ll have a “chomping” good time making one of these guys!


I was also inspired by the following shark crafts from Pink Stripey Socks and Wife Mom Geek.




Shark Paper Tube Craft – Materials:


– Cardstock paper

– Toilet tube

– Scissors

– Tacky glue

– Stapler

– 7″ cake plate (for tracing)

– Spray glue

– Iridescent glitter

– Black acrylic paint

– Small paintbrush

Instructions:

Step 1. Cut a piece of cardstock paper at about 4 1/4″ X 6″, this will be the body of the shark. Cut out fin and tail shapes making sure to include a flap for gluing. Next, cut out a large circle by tracing a cake plate at about 7″ in diameter, cut the circle in half, you only need one half which will become the tail end of the shark.

Step 2. Wrap the paper around the tube and slide the tube out halfway, staple the paper closed being sure not to staple the paper to the tube. On the opposite end of the staple cut a triangle shape, similar to a “Pac-Man” mouth.

Step 3. Next we’ll make the cone. Grasp the corners of the half circle and bring them together at the middle, the center will become the point. Continue to shape your cone so that it will fit into the tube, staple it closed when you’re satisfied. Cut a slit into the point of the cone and slide the tail shape in, add glue to keep it in place.

Step 4. Cut the toilet tube in half and insert back into the body of the shark and staple together, the tube is great support and helps to keep the cylindrical shape.

Step 5. Cut a 1/2″ X 11″ strip of white paper then cut little triangular teeth along the side, cut the strip to size and glue to the inside of the mouth. Next, glue the arm fins to a paper circle cutout and then the circle to the belly of the shark. Glue on the back fin and the cone tail.

Step 6. Glue on wiggle eyes and add painted on gills if you wish. For a finishing glimmer, spray the shark lightly with spray glue and then gently add some iridescent glitter.

Alternate idea: You could also paint the tube and the extra pieces instead of wrapping it with cardstock.

It would be so fun to have these sharks “attack” small figurines and toys!

John Lavelle is an artist and art teacher who loves working with all things paper – cardstock, cardboard, foam board, tissue paper, and of course toilet paper tubes. John graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a Bachelors degree in cartooning and earned his Masters degree in Art Education.

Over the past few years, John has been working with young individuals who have ASD, which constantly keeps him on his toes and who are the inspiration behind the creative projects he prepares for their daily art classes. You can follow his latest projects on Instagram.