With Easter approaching, I have been talking with my kids about the Easter story. While at church child care, the children did a fun donkey craft and this activity was inspired by that. I was so impressed with what could be done with a paper bag and some felt. Here are the simple steps - plus a free printable- so you can make these Paper Bag Donkeys at home. Kids can use them to reenact the Easter story or with pretend play. For more free Easter printables check out these 9 Easter Printables. You can also check out these 20 Bible Object Lessons for Kids to help teach kids in a fun way.
Paper Bag Donkeys
Supplies you will need:
- Paper lunch bag
- Felt
- Yarn cut in 1 inch pieces
- Googly eyes (not pictured)
- Glue
- Scissors
- Crayons
- Donkey head card stock cutout
To make the body for the donkey, take a small paper lunch bag and cut a few inches off the part that opens.
Then, open the bag and push the ends inside to make it about half its size.
This will be a little wrinkled, so you will want to straighten it out and make sure the corners are sharp.
You will then cut out 4 rectangles in the middle of each side of the bag. Once you cut them out you can see where the legs of the donkey will be.
The donkey will be wearing a felt blanket on its back. To make the blanket, measure some felt that can fit over the donkey's back and go down its sides a bit. The length will vary depending on how tall you made your donkey. After you cut out the felt, you will add some glue to the short ends of the felt. My kids were able to do this themselves. Then we used our pre-cut pieces of yarn to create some fringe. I just got some leftover yarn from my knitting bag and cut the pieces for the blanket. You can really customize the look of the donkey by what color felt and yarn you use.
After your child has added the fringe to the blanket, have them put some glue on the donkeys back and sides where the blanket will go. I like to pour some glue into a cup and let my kids brush it on with a small paintbrush.
Now it's time to put the blanket on the donkey. I helped with the initial placement just to make sure it was evenly covering the back. The girls were really good at patting down the glued blanket.
I have included a free printable below of the donkey head we used. Simply print on light colored cardstock and cut out. I added some details to the head by drawing a nose, mouth and some lines on the ears. The kids had fun coloring the donkey heads with crayons. They both went with rainbow colored heads because why not?
When the donkey face is colored, your child will glue on some googly eyes.
It's finally time to glue on the head!
Aren't they adorable? These paper bag donkeys are an easy Easter craft that your child can play with when they're done.
I almost forgot to tell you about the tails! To make some tails for these paper bag donkeys, just cut out a thin strip from your leftover paper bag, add some yarn, and glue to the back of the donkey. These animals look cute coming or going. The END!
GET THE DONKEY HEAD PRINTABLE BY CLICKING HERE.
If you loved the paper bag donkeys check out:
Free Easter Preschool Worksheets
If you are looking for more fun activities for kids, check out Green Kid Crafts, an earth friendly monthly craft subscription box for kids that sparks creativity while teaching kids a respect and love for the environment. These boxes are themed and each month will be filled with fun projects and creative activities than can be enjoyed by kids from ages 3-10.
Since Green Kid Crafts is an earth friendly company, they use sustainable, safe materials in all of their products. They also give a portion from each sale to environmental non-profits. Learn more about a monthly subscription of fun!
simona
These donkeys are just the cutest! Thanks for the tutorial!
Amber
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and commenting on the Tator Tot Casserole post. I hope you love it! Also, the donkeys are adorable! Love it!
Beth (www.livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com)
Vicky those are super cute! I would love for you to link this & other kid-friendly stuff at my TGIF Linky Party - http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties
Beth =-)
Wendy
My kids would love to make these! Super cute!
MiaB
These are so cute!!
The Iowa Farmer's Wife
these are so dang cute!
maggy, red ted art
Oh my! These are CUTE!!
Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
Veronique, the science geek
thanks, I think we'll do this for Palm Sunday with my 4-K class.
Art Mama
I changed these up to make them toddler friendly and we are doing them at story time at the library tomorrow. Thanks for the seeds of inspiration!
Debra Quintana
I LOVE this idea. Stealing it to use in Sunday School class. Keep those ideas coming.
Are you on twitter? or facebook?
PinkOddy
What a sweet donkey. I do love the tail.
Amanda Kristeen
This is adorable and so easy! Saw your link at HoH & love it!
Jodie Clarke
I just love your donkey's!! You have to smile when you look at them! Just wanted to let you know that i am featuring them on my Kid's Co-Op post this week...thanks for sharing with us!
The Mueller's
This is absolutely ADORABLE! I can't wait to share them with my SS kiddos! Thank you!
Pschooltoolbox
Vicky - this is a great activity for Easter! TY, again, for sharing via FB! Pinned and shared!
Pearl
Thanks for this neat craft idea. I'm going to use it with a group of K-3rd graders in Sunday school for our lesson about Balaam and his donkey. 😉
Jackie Crews
Thank you for this donkey. I have used it before on Palm Sunday and it is well received by all. with a group of 25 to 30 completing the craft. I lost the pattern, so this is very helpful!!!
Vicky
So happy to hear that Jackie!
ZyaireEvan
thank you so much for this astonishing web site me and my family precious this satisfied and perceptiveness
DarielChris
thank you so much for this astonishing website me and my kin loved this depicted object and perceptivity