Paper Bowl Jellyfish Craft for Kids

We are so excited to share with you this adorable paper bowl jellyfish craft for kids. Jellyfish have always been one of our favorite ocean creatures. There is just something so magical about watching them float and drift through the water with their long, wiggly tentacles.

This jellyfish craft is packed with lots of hands-on fun and comes with a free printable template. Kids will have a blast painting the paper bowl, making colorful paper chains, curling paper strips, cutting, threading, and putting all the pieces together to create their very own hanging jellyfish craft.

It is the perfect ocean animal craft for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary school kids. Whether you are exploring an under-the-sea theme, looking for a fun summer craft, or planning activities for a library, classroom, childcare center, or story time, this jellyfish craft is sure to be a hit.

If you are looking for more ocean-themed activities, be sure to explore our easy ocean animal crafts for kids.

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Supplies You Need to Make a Paper Bowl Jellyfish craft

1. Paper bowl
2. Paper bowl jellyfish printable template(Enter your details in the form within the instructions below to access the template)
3. Scissors
4. Water color
5. Paper glue
6. Hot glue (to be used by grown-ups only)
7. Three sheets of colored construction paper (US Letter size) for printing the template
8. One medium-sized bead
9. Transparent jewelry cord or string
10. Craft knife (grown ups only)
11. Pencil
12. Googly eyes
13. Three or four cupcake liners

Steps to make a paper bowl jellyfish craft

Making this jellyfish is so much fun and combines several creative activities in one project. It is a wonderful way for children to stay engaged while developing their fine motor skills and creativity.

Let’s take a look at the step-by-step instructions for making this colorful paper bowl jellyfish.

Step 1

Start by carefully making a small hole in the center of the paper bowl using a craft knife (grown-ups can help with this step). We will use the hole later to thread the twine through and hang the jellyfish.

Step 2

Let’s start by painting the paper bowl. We used watercolors for our jellyfish because they blend beautifully and make it easy to create soft color transitions. You could also use acrylic paint, but watercolors work especially well if you would like a softer, more delicate look.

We started with a dark blue shade around the edge of the bowl. Next, we added a lighter blue, slightly overlapping the dark blue so the colors blended together. We then continued with green and finally a light green shade, creating a beautiful gradient effect across the bowl.

Don’t worry if the watercolor flows from the top to the bottom of the bowl. The colors will blend together beautifully and create lovely watercolor effects as they dry. After all, our goal is not perfection but creativity, and having fun while crafting. 🙂

Step 3

Once the first coat has dried, apply a second coat of watercolor using the same shades to make the colors more vibrant. Then set the bowl aside and allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 4

Download and print the Paper Bowl Jellyfish template on colored construction paper. We printed the horizontal paper strip template on blue and green construction paper, while the template with the vertical strips (used for the curled tentacles) was printed on yellow construction paper.

To access the free printable template, simply enter your details in the form below and join our newsletter.

Step 5

Cut out all the template pieces. You may not need all of the paper strips for one jellyfish craft. Save the extra strips to make a second jellyfish or use them to extend the length of your paper chains for longer tentacles.

Step 6

Let’s make the paper chains now. For this step, we are going to use only the shorter paper strips. Save the longer strips for later, as we will use them to create additional jellyfish tentacles.

Apply a small amount of glue to one end of a paper strip and join the ends together to form a loop. Take a second strip, thread it through the first loop, and glue the ends together to create another link in the chain.

Continue adding more strips until you have a paper chain with your desired length.

Step 7

We created three paper chains using blue and green paper strips. You can make more paper chains if you like, but keep in mind that it may become difficult to fit them all underneath the paper bowl unless you are using a larger bowl.

For our jellyfish, we used six paper strips for the first chain and five paper strips each for the second and third chains. Feel free to adjust the length of the chains to create your own unique jellyfish.

Step 8

Take 3 to 4 cupcake liners and cut each one in half. Then cut each half in half again so that each cupcake liner is divided into 4 pieces. Then trim the bottom edge of each piece into a small V shape.

Now, using scissors, carefully round off the two top corners of each piece to create a curved shape.

Step 10

Stick the cupcake liner pieces around the edge of the paper bowl, placing them close to each other as you go. This will create a beautiful ruffled effect that resembles the frilly tissue found underneath the jellyfish.

Step 11

Now, take a piece of transparent jewelry cord or string that is long enough to hang your jellyfish as a decoration. Thread a bead onto the cord and secure it in place by tying several knots underneath and around the bead.

Thread the cord from underneath the paper bowl and pass it through the hole you made earlier in the center. Pull the cord through until the bead sits snugly against the inside of the bowl. Secure the bead in place with hot glue to close the hole and ensure the hanging cord stays firmly attached.

Step 12

Now, let’s attach the paper chains. Use paper glue or hot glue to stick the first paper chain to the inside of the paper bowl, positioning it a short distance away from the bead in the center. If you are using paper glue, allow it to dry completely before turning the paper bowl over.

Step 13

Similarly, attach the remaining paper chains around the inside of the paper bowl, spacing them evenly apart.

Step 14

Now, take the longer paper strips and wrap one end of each strip around a pencil. Hold it in place for a few seconds, then gently release it to create a curled end.

We used only three of these paper strips, but you can make more if you would like your jellyfish to have extra tentacles.

Once you have created the curled ends, fold a small tab at the opposite end of each paper strip. Apply glue to the tab and stick it to the inside of the paper bowl, positioning it between the paper chains.

Once all the glue has dried completely, gently turn the jellyfish over. You will now be able to see the paper chains and curled tentacles hanging down underneath the jellyfish.

Step 15

Now for the final step. Use hot glue to attach two googly eyes to the front of the jellyfish.

Once the glue has set, your adorable hanging paper bowl jellyfish craft is ready to display.

How pretty is this jellyfish craft with all the colorful paper chains hanging down? We absolutely love how vibrant and playful it looks, making it a wonderful decor for any ocean-themed space.

More Jellyfish Crafts for Kids

Printable Jellyfish Cutting Activity Craft:

This Jellyfish Cutting Activity Craft is a fun and engaging way for kids to practice scissor skills while creating a colorful ocean animal. Children can cut along straight, zigzag, and curved lines to make the jellyfish tentacles, helping develop fine motor skills through play.

Paper Jellyfish Craft for Kids:

This Paper Chain Jellyfish Craft is a fun ocean-themed activity for kids. Using the printable template, children can cut, glue, and assemble colorful paper chains to create a cute jellyfish with wiggly tentacles. It is a great way to practice fine motor and scissor skills while enjoying a creative summer craft.

Heart Jellyfish Craft:

This Heart Jellyfish Craft is a cute ocean-themed Valentine’s Day activity for kids. Using the printable template, children can paint, cut out, and assemble their own jellyfish while decorating it with colorful paper hearts. Add a loop of yarn to turn it into a hanging decoration for schools, libraries, childcare centers, or home.

J is for Jellyfish Coloring Page

This J is for Jellyfish Coloring Page is a fun way for kids to explore the letter J while getting creative. Perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners, this printable helps children learn both uppercase and lowercase J, color a cute jellyfish, and practice handwriting by tracing the word “jellyfish.”

Jellyfish-Themed Books for Kids

Pair this amazing jellyfish craft with these fun jellyfish-themed books for an engaging ocean learning activity kids will love!

A Day in the Life: Sea Animals | Jellyfish:

Discover the fascinating world of jellyfish in this informative book. Kids will learn about their unique physical features, how they move through the ocean, where they live, and their feeding and sleeping habits. While some jellyfish can be dangerous, many species are completely harmless.

The Nature Kid’s Guide to Jellyfish:

Packed with amazing facts, this book introduces kids to the fascinating world of jellyfish. Young readers will discover how these ancient creatures survive without brains or bones, learn about glowing deep-sea jellyfish, the immortal jellyfish, and other incredible species.

The Jellyfish Who Lost Its Glow:

Join Little Jellyfish on a charming underwater adventure as it searches for its missing glow. Along the way, young readers will meet helpful ocean friends and learn valuable lessons about problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance. This sweet story is perfect for young children and pairs wonderfully with a jellyfish craft activity.

More Fun Craft Ideas for Kids

Make an adorable paper bowl turtle craft using a paper bowl, recycled toilet paper rolls, and colorful felt paper. This fun ocean animal craft encourages creativity while helping kids practice painting, cutting, gluing, and decorating. Perfect for ocean themes, summer activities, and sea life lessons.

This paper starfish craft is a fun and easy ocean-themed activity for kids. Using our printable template, children can color, cut, and assemble their own starfish while practicing fine motor skills and creativity. With just a few simple supplies, it’s a great craft for ocean units, summer activities, classrooms, or a fun afternoon at home.

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