Summer is officially here, and that means long sunny days, trips to the beach, and plenty of time for creative fun. If you are looking for an easy, budget-friendly activity to keep little hands busy, you have come to the right place. We are bringing the beach right to your kitchen table with this adorable torn paper and fingerprint starfish craft.
This engaging summer project is much more than just a way to pass the time. It is a fantastic opportunity for kids to practice essential developmental skills while having a blast.
By combining torn paper and fingerprinting, children get to explore different textures and engage in hands-on sensory play. Plus, the end result is a cheerful, textured piece of art that looks wonderful on the fridge.
UPDATE FOR 2026 – To reduce storage costs and download fees, we recently made some changes to our website. The password for all our files this year is GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS2026. Our printables are still free to you. Please see our FAQ page for more info on downloading our free files.
Click Here To Grab The Free Printable From Us!
PASSWORD FOR FILE – GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS2026
To complete this craft, grab the free starfish wishes file and print it onto a sturdy sheet of white paper or cardstock.
Next up, let kids go to town on tearing up their yellow construction paper into small pieces. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Some kids prefer large chunks, while others will tear the paper into tiny confetti-like squares.
Now it is time to fill in the starfish. Have your child apply liquid glue inside the black outline of the starfish. You can either have them squeeze small dots of glue directly onto the cardstock, or you can spread a thin layer of glue across the whole shape using a paintbrush.
Once the glue is down, they can start placing their torn yellow paper pieces inside the lines. Encourage them to fill as much of the white space as possible. It is perfectly fine if some pieces overlap or stick out past the lines – that just adds character to their craft!
Once the starfish is filled with yellow paper, it is time to add some texture and color. Pour a small amount of orange washable paint onto your paper plate.
Have your child dip their index finger into the orange paint and gently press it down on top of the yellow torn paper. They can add dots all along the arms of the starfish, creating a textured look that mimics a real starfish. This step is usually a favorite because kids love getting a little messy with paint.
Then once your child is done decorating their unique starfish, allow it to dry completely before displaying proudly for all to see!
This torn paper and fingerprint starfish craft is the ultimate low-stress, high-fun activity for the summer season. It gives children a wonderful opportunity to express their creativity while secretly working on vital motor skills. Plus, the cheerful combination of bright yellow paper and orange paint is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face!
We highly encourage you to gather your supplies and try this activity with your little ones this week. Set up a crafting station, embrace a little bit of a mess, and enjoy creating some beautiful summer memories together.
When you finish your wonderful ocean creations, we would love to see them! Share photos of your child’s completed starfish craft online and inspire other parents to get creative this summer. Happy crafting!
