Egg Carton Caterpillars
A cut-and-painted egg carton strip becomes a bendy, bobble-eyed caterpillar in one sitting.
By WonderCraft Kids Editorial Team, Editorial team · Updated 12 September 2026
Cutting a row of cups from an egg carton gives a body shape that already looks like a caterpillar before any decoration goes on, which makes this a quick win for younger children who want a fast result. Painting each bump its own colour, then adding pipe-cleaner antennae and eyes, turns a piece of packaging into a small character that stands up on its own.
What you need
- 1 cardboard egg carton
- Scissors (adult use)
- Washable paint, several colours
- Paintbrushes
- 2 pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes and a glue stick
Step by step
- 1
Cut a strip of four to six connected cups from the egg carton to form the caterpillar's body.
- 2
Trim the edges so the strip sits flat and stable on a table.
- 3
Paint each cup a different colour, or paint the whole strip one colour and add spots once dry.
- 4
Leave to dry fully, which takes about thirty minutes for a thin coat.
- 5
Poke two small holes in the front cup and thread a pipe cleaner through for antennae, bending the ends into loops.
- 6
Glue on googly eyes and any extra features such as a smiling mouth.
- 7
Let the caterpillar dry flat before it goes on display or into play.
What kids learn
Colour and pattern choices
Deciding which colour goes in which cup gives children a small, low-pressure decision-making exercise.
Understanding minibeasts
Talking about real caterpillars while making one is a natural way to introduce basic facts about how they move and grow.
Fine motor skills
Threading a pipe cleaner through a small hole and bending it into shape builds hand strength and control.
Make it easier
Pre-cut the egg carton strip and let your child paint it in one single colour, adding pre-cut paper spots once dry instead of freehand detail.
Make it more challenging
Extend the caterpillar to a full ten-cup carton and ask your child to plan a repeating colour pattern along its length before painting.
Safety and supervision
- Adults should cut the egg carton, as the card edges can be surprisingly stiff and sharp.
- Supervise threading of pipe cleaners, which have blunt wire ends that can scratch.
- Check googly eyes and small decorations are out of reach of younger siblings who might mouth them.
Adult supervision is required for every activity on this site. Read our full child safety guidelines.
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wondercraftkids.com
Egg Carton Caterpillar Craft
Ages 2-6 · 25 min · some mess
Ages 2–6 · Some mess
Suggested pin description
Egg Carton Caterpillar Craft: A cut-and-painted egg carton strip becomes a bendy, bobble-eyed caterpillar in one sitting. Ages 2–6, 35 minutes total, some mess. Full step-by-step instructions and a materials list at WonderCraft Kids.
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Frequently asked questions
What paint works best on cardboard egg cartons?+
Washable poster or tempera paint covers the ridged surface well; a thin base coat first can help colours look more even.
How long does the paint take to dry on cardboard?+
Around thirty minutes for a light coat, though a thick coat on absorbent cardboard can take a couple of hours.
