Bring a bit of the beach right into your home or classroom with this adorable Cupcake Liner and Handprint Hermit Crab craft. This simple project is perfect for keeping little hands busy and sparks plenty of imagination. We love how it uses basic supplies to create a wonderful, personalized keepsake. Let us walk you through how to make it!
Materials You Need
Gather these basic craft supplies before you begin:
- Red cardstock or construction paper
- Blue cardstock (for the ocean background)
- Brown or tan paper (for the sand)
- White cupcake liners
- Googly eyes
- Glue stick or school glue
- Child-safe scissors
- Markers, glitter string, or fun stickers to decorate
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Create the Beach Background
Start by making the scene for your crab. Tear a strip of brown paper to create a textured, natural-looking shoreline. Glue this brown piece to the bottom of your blue cardstock.
2. Make the Crab Body
Trace your child’s hand on the red cardstock and carefully cut it out. Glue the red handprint onto your background. Position it horizontally so the thumb points down into the sand and the fingers point sideways. These fingers will act as the crab’s legs.
3. Attach the Shell
Take a white cupcake liner and flatten it out with your hands. Glue the liner directly over the palm area of the red handprint. To make it look like a real shell, use a marker to draw a spiral design, or glue down a piece of sparkly string in a circle.
4. Add the Googly Eyes
Cut two small, thin strips of red paper to act as eye stalks. Glue these strips to the top of the handprint. Next, attach a googly eye to the very top of each stalk so your crab can look around.
5. Decorate the Scene
Now it is time to add some extra flair. Stick some colorful fish stickers into the blue ocean, or draw extra beach details on the sand.
RELATED —> Paper Plate Crab – Beach Craft Idea
We hope you have a fantastic time making these sweet little hermit crabs. Feel free to mix up the colors, try different patterned backgrounds, or use whatever leftover craft supplies you have lying around. Every single crab will turn out unique and full of personality. Happy crafting, my friends!!!
