Make an egg carton lobster

If you have some egg cartons in your recycling box, turn them into a wonderful art project! This egg carton lobster can be part of an ocean-themed set of sea creatures for imaginative play or for display. Degree of difficulty: medium.

What you need:

• egg carton that held 10 or 12 eggs
• 3 red pipe cleaners
• red paint
• a hole punch
• scissors or a craft knife
• glue
• a kitchen skewer (for small holes)
• 2 x small googly craft eyes

Number of players:
1

Activity:

Watch the step by step video below to find out how to make an egg carton lobster.

To make the body of your lobster, you will need four cups in a row. Trim them down so they have rounded edges.

Cut two more cups from the carton to make a tail and two claws.

Paint the whole lot red.

Cut one of the egg cups in half and trim the two halves so they resemble claws.

Then cut the remaining cup in half and trim it to make a tail.

Punch three holes in each side of the lobster's body. Punch two holes in his 'head' to thread the arm claws through.

Trim your pipe cleaners to a good 'leg length' and thread three of those through the leg holes in the body.

Now thread a pipe cleaner through the front head part.

Attach the claws by piercing a small hole in each one with a skewer. Then push the pipe cleaner through and bend it to keep it in place.

Glue the tail on to the end of your lobster's body.

Now for some eyes: You'll need two short pieces of pipe cleaner – about 3cm each. Use your skewer to pierce two holes into the top of his head. Push the pipe cleaner through, leave it to stick up about 2.5cm.  Turn the lobster over and bend the ends of the pipe cleaners to hold it in place underneath.

Now glue two googly craft eyes to his antennas.

That's it. You've made a rock lobster!

• Thanks to our sister company Kidspot Australia for creating the instructional video.