Bringing imagination to life

You will need

Fizzy pop bottle

Newspaper

Masking tape

PVA glue

Sandpaper

Scissors

Paint

Black pen

Small beads

Foam paper in two colours, for the scales

Wool for hair

Magicalmermaids

Explore folklore and unleash children’s creativity with this aquatic companion.

1

Cut the top off a bottle a third of the way down to make the mermaid’s body. Fill it with scrunchedup newspaper, and tape across the hole at the bottom to keep it inside. 2

Make a ball by scrunching up a handful of newspaper. Wrap another sheet around it and scrunch. Repeat a couple of times until it’s the size you want for the mermaid’s head. Tape around the ball with masking tape to hold it secure, then glue it to the top of the bottle.

3 and wrap masking tape around the whole thing to make it secure.

For the tail, fold over a few sheets of newspaper and scrunch together to make a sausage shape. Then wrap another couple of sheets around the outside, shape it to taper at one end and use sticky tape to secure.

5

Glue the bottom of your bottle body at 90 degrees to the top of the tail, and cover in masking tape to secure it all in place.

6

Roll up some newspaper into a tight tube and cut in two. Attach with tape to either side of the body to make the mermaid’s arms.

7

Mix up a solution of PVA glue and water. Shred some tissue and paste small pieces over the doll until covered with a strengthening layer you can paint on. Leave to dry.

9 Start gluing the scales to the fin first, using the smallest circles. Overlap each row slightly with the previous row and alternate the colours. Use the bigger circles the higher up the tail you go.

Top tip

If you want to make your model smooth before painting, rub all over with some light sandpaper once the tissue paper layer has dried

8

Your mermaid is now ready to paint. When the glue has dried, you can draw on her face and start adding the scales to her tail. To do this, cut out lots of small circles from your two different-coloured foam paper sheets. Cut into three different sizes, and sort out into three even piles.

10

Cut thin strips of foam paper to make the mermaid’s clothes and glue them to the top half of her body. Finish off the edge of her top with some of the scales and glue more around her wrists.

11

Cut some strands of wool, and glue them all over the head to create the hair.

12

Finally, using some small beads, you could add some extra little touches: perhaps giving her a necklace or headband.

Fairydoors

Create a little magic with your crafting by making some fantastical fairy doors for your setting.

1 Paint or colour your sticks if you want your fairy door to be bright. Alternatively, leave the sticks as they are for a more natural look.

3 Glue two smaller sticks across the top and bottom of the door – you may have to cut them a little smaller. A third stick can be glued diagonally across the door in between the two horizontal sticks, if needed.

Top tip

Use sizeddifferentsticks to create a variety of door and designsshapes

5 When the glue is dry, why not decorate your door with a number or a name by writing it on with a pen?

4 For the doorknob, glue a button, bead or pebble in place.

6 Place your fairy door against a tree trunk or wall, ready for some magical visitors.

You will need

Ice lolly/craft sticks

Glue

Scissors

Paint or felt-tip pens

Buttons, beads or pebbles