Ocean-themed crafts have a special magic that captivates kids’ imaginations like few other projects can.
For the 8+ crowd, these easy sea animal crafts hit that perfect balance—challenging enough to engage but simple enough to complete without frustration.
These projects transform everyday household items into underwater wonders while providing screen-free entertainment and sneaking in some marine education along the way.
For Upper Elementary (Ages 8-10)
These projects involve more detailed work, planning, and creative decision-making:
1. Clothespin Shark
Materials:
- Wooden clothespins
- Gray or blue paint
- Paintbrush
- Construction paper (gray or blue)
- White paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Scissors
- Markers
Instructions:
- Paint the clothespin gray or blue and let dry.
- Cut a triangle from matching construction paper for the dorsal fin.
- Cut smaller triangles for the pectoral fins.
- Cut a tail fin shape.
- Glue all fins to the appropriate spots on the clothespin.
- Cut small triangles from white paper for teeth.
- Glue teeth inside the “mouth” of the clothespin.
- Attach googly eyes.
- Draw gills with marker.
Sharks have lived in our oceans for over 400 million years and are a crucial species for sustaining healthy marine ecosystems. This craft teaches about shark anatomy while making a working toy that will “bite”.
2. Clay Starfish
Materials:
- Air-dry clay or salt dough
- Orange or red paint
- Paintbrush
- Toothpick
- Optional: clear glaze or Mod Podge
- Optional: glitter
Instructions:
- Roll clay into a ball.
- Flatten the ball into a circle.
- Use a toothpick to draw five points on the circle.
- Cut out the five-pointed star shape.
- Use a toothpick to create texture by making small indentations all over.
- Allow to dry completely (following clay instructions).
- Paint the starfish orange or red.
- Once dry, add a clear glaze for a wet look.
- Optional: While the glaze is wet, you can also add glitter to create a sparkle effect.
Starfish (or sea stars) are, without a doubt, one of the most fascinating creatures; they can regenerate lost arms and feed with their stomachs suspended outside their bodies. The clay craft introduces children to echinoderms’ all-so-special five-point radial symmetry.
3. Paper Chain Sea Serpent
Materials:
- Construction paper in various colors
- Scissors
- Glue or stapler
- Googly eyes
- Markers
- Optional: craft foam
Instructions:
- Cut strips of construction paper (about 1″ x 6″).
- Create paper chains by gluing or stapling the strips into interlocking circles.
- Make the chain as long as desired for your sea serpent.
- Create a head from construction paper or craft foam.
- Add googly eyes to the head.
- Draw details like mouth, nostrils, and scales with markers.
- Attach the head to one end of the paper chain.
- Add fins or spikes along the body if desired.
Sea serpents have always been a source of fascination for human beings, appearing in the mythical lore of many cultures. In this craft, children will create their own legendary sea creature and further their fine motor skills by making paper chains.
4. Tissue Paper Sea Anemone
Materials:
- Cardboard tube (toilet paper or paper towel roll)
- Tissue paper in various colors
- Scissors
- Glue
- Paint (blue or purple)
- Paintbrush
- Optional: small plastic fish
Instructions:
- Cut one end of the cardboard tube into fringe, making cuts about 1″ deep.
- Bend the fringe outward to create the base of the anemone.
- Paint the tube blue or purple and let dry.
- Cut tissue paper into strips about 4″ long.
- Glue the strips to the inside of the unfringed end of the tube.
- Allow some tissue paper to hang down inside the tube and some to flow outward.
- Optional: Add small plastic fish among the “tentacles.”
Sea anemones are predacious animals that employ colorful tentacles to catch prey and defend themselves.
5. Egg Carton Lobster
Materials:
- Egg carton
- Red paint
- Paintbrush
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- Glue
- Black marker
Instructions:
- Cut a row of three cups from an egg carton for the body.
- Cut two individual cups for claws.
- Paint all pieces red and let dry.
- Twist red pipe cleaners to create antennae and legs.
- Attach legs to the sides of the body with glue.
- Attach the claw cups to the front of the body.
- Glue googly eyes to the front cup of the body.
- Draw details with black marker.
Due perhaps to their blue blood and an unmatched longevity in the wild of more than 100 years, lobsters are undoubtedly among the most recognizable marine species that boast distinctly shaped claws and hard exoskeletons.
6. Coffee Filter Coral Reef
Materials:
- Coffee filters
- Washable markers (bright colors)
- Spray bottle with water
- Blue construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Optional: glitter, sequins
Instructions:
- Flatten coffee filters on a protected surface.
- Color the filters with bright markers in patterns resembling coral.
- Lightly spray with water and watch the colors blend and spread.
- Allow to dry completely.
- Cut the coffee filters into coral shapes.
- Glue onto blue construction paper to create an underwater scene.
- Add other sea creatures if desired (drawn or cut from paper).
- Optional: For extra sparkle, add glitter or sequins.
Coral reefs are marine ecosystems that hold approximately 25% of all sea creatures, while only less than 1% of the entire ocean seafloor. This colorful craft is a way to introduce children to the life found in coral reefs.
For Preteens (Ages 11-12)
These crafts involve more complex techniques, patience, and attention to detail:
1. Seashell Creatures
Materials:
- Various seashells (collected from beach or purchased)
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Googly eyes
- Pipe cleaners
- Felt
- Glue
- Scissors
- Markers
Instructions:
- Clean and dry seashells thoroughly.
- Based on each shell’s shape, decide what creature it could become.
- Paint the shells in appropriate colors.
- Once dry, add details with markers.
- Glue on googly eyes.
- Cut small pieces from felt for fins, tails, or tentacles.
- Use pipe cleaners for antennae or appendages.
- Create a display area using a shoebox lid filled with sand or blue paper.
Seashells refer to the protective, hard, external covering of marine mollusks. By allowing kids to reuse these genuine shells, the project will thereby connect them directly with saltwater material while furthering their knowledge of ocean ecosystems and mollusks.
2. Puffy Paint Seahorse
Materials:
- Heavy cardstock or cardboard
- Homemade puffy paint (equal parts flour, salt, and water with food coloring)
- Squeeze bottles or plastic bags with corner cut
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Pencil
Instructions:
- Draw a seahorse outline on cardstock.
- Mix puffy paint ingredients and separate into different containers.
- Add food coloring to create different colors.
- Transfer paint to squeeze bottles or plastic bags with a small corner cut off.
- Trace the seahorse outline with puffy paint.
- Fill in the seahorse with designs and patterns.
- While still wet, attach googly eyes.
- Dry overnight (it will puff while drying).
These cute little guys swim upright and are the only fish with the odd attribute of male pregnancy. Seahorse is shaped distinctly, and they can also change their colors, making it all the more interesting for this textured art project.
3. Paper Plate Crab
Materials:
- Paper plate
- Red or orange paint
- Paintbrush
- Construction paper (matching color)
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- Glue
- Stapler (optional)
Instructions:
- Paint the paper plate red or orange and allow to dry.
- Cut the plate in half.
- Use one half for the crab’s body.
- Cut two large claws from construction paper.
- Cut six small strips from construction paper for legs.
- Glue or staple the claws and legs to the back of the plate.
- Bend pipe cleaners to create antennae and attach to the front.
- Glue googly eyes to the front of the crab.
- Draw a mouth with marker.
Crabs walk sideways and communicate through a variety of behaviors, including claw waving. This craft invites children to the world of these quirky crustaceans and their unusual walking styles.
Group and Family Projects (Mixed Ages)
These projects work well when children of different ages collaborate, with older kids helping younger ones:
- Coffee Filter Coral Reef (as a group mural)
- Younger kids can color filters
- Older kids can cut shapes and arrange the reef
- Creates a beautiful classroom or family display
- Seashell Creatures Collection
- Different age groups can create creatures of varying complexity
- Can be displayed together as an ocean habitat
- Encourages sharing of materials and ideas
- Bottle Cap Fish School
- Younger kids can paint caps
- Older kids can add details and create the display
- Teaches cooperation and environmental awareness
As you and your kids dive into these sea creature crafts, remember that the real magic happens in the making. Those moments of concentration as they fold paper tentacles or paint cardboard coral reefs are building more than just ocean creatures—they’re building confidence, creativity, and fond memories.
Don’t stress about perfection. Some of the most beloved crafts in our house are the wonky-eyed fish and the octopuses with mismatched tentacles. They have character!
And if your kids are between 2 and 8 years old, explore these other sea animal crafts tailored to their age.
Want more easy and fun craft ideas for kids? Check these out:
- Animal Paper Crafts for Kids: Creative Fun with Simple Materials
- Animal Fun Crafts for Kids: Creative Projects By Age
- 15 Summer Animal Crafts for Kids: Learning Through Art
- 12 Summer Animal Crafts For Kids
- Egg Carton Crafts for Kids
- Butterfly Crafts for Kids: Make Their Imagination Soar
- Bee Crafts for Kids: Buzzing with Creativity
- Dog Crafts for Kids: A Complete Guide to Canine-Inspired Creativity
- 18 Easy Cat Crafts for Kids
