This little plastic cup owl craft is so adorable! Truly, it’s just one of those cute ideas that I love. Perfect for kids to make, it’s a great choice for letting them get creative with paints, feathers, and personalizing their own owl.
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Plastic Owl Cup
Painted cups are such a great tool in your craft supply Truly, who knew something in your kitchen could turn into such a cute little owl? My kids have always loved painting things, and this is one craft that I have fallen in love with. Since owls are one of my favorite creatures, I knew this was going to become a new favorite project. I wasn’t at all disappointed.
This project is great for all ages. I especially like that it is ideal for starting a conversation with your kids about owls and how important they are. Since I’m such a fan of owls, I’ve been known to read books about them while my kids made projects like this one.
Check out this adorable little upcycled CD owl wall messenger. Isn’t it adorable? If you like owls as much as I do, then I know you’ll love adding it to your home as well. Of course, no craft day can go without snacks, so why not add this fun owl spongecake to the mix? Super yummy and adorable!
What Paint Works Best on Plastic Cups?
I find basic acrylic craft paint is the best go-to option for painting plastic cups. I’ve used spray paint in the past, but it doesn’t provide good coverage, and really just doesn’t adhere nicely. In fact, it tends to streak way too easily for my taste. So, a classic Appel Barrel or DecoArt craft paint is typically where I reach when making anything using a plastic cup.
Tip: You can also simply buy the cups the color you want your owl to be. With so many options available at the Dollar Tree these days, you could make owls in every color imaginable.
If you want more fun and colorful ideas to create with your kids, make sure you check out this fun painted paper roll butterfly. Such a pretty color and so easy to personalize. Your kids might also enjoy helping you make these painted fruit themed drinking jars. So pretty and fun for parties.
Variations for Kids to Use
Even though I personally find this super cute as it is, my kids sometimes think differently. So, when I set out supplies for a craft project, I like to have multiple options on hand for them to use. This gives them a chance to add their own spin on things. For me, it’s always important to encourage my kids to really stretch their imagination and make their projects their own.
- Have multiple colors and sizes of feathers to choose from.
- Let them paint the cup any color they want.
- Buy different types of googly eyes in various sizes and colors to give your bird a personality.
- Use mini wire glasses from the craft store to make the owl look wise.
- Paint in Harry Potter house colors to be similar to the famous owls in the books.
- Glitter is always a great idea for any craft project. For this, use glitter glue to make the mess easier to manage.
Add some of these painted rock garden markers and my adorable painted rock ladybugs to your list of fun paint crafts to make with your kids. They are sure to please.
Supplies Needed
How to Make a Plastic Cup Owl
Begin by painting the outside of a plastic cup your preferred color. I chose pink.
Once the outside has been painted, use the tip of your paintbrush to remove paint in pattern along the bottom as shown.
While the cup is drying, trace and cut out two rounded diamond/wing shapes from scrapbook paper.
When the cup is dry, attach one wing on each side.
Glue a feather onto each of the wings.
Add the googly eyes to the top part of the cup by the wings.
Glue a small piece of orange paper as a beak just below the eyes.
Now you can display your owl.
Crafter’s Tip:
Buy your cups from the Dollar Tree in bulk and different colors so you can skip the painting portion of this tutorial.
Yield: 1
Turn an ordinary plastic cup into this adorable colorful owl with just a few supplies and some paint!
Active Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $1
Notes
Feel free to add sparkles of flitter, more feathers, or even tiny glasses to make your owl unique.
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