Ingredients
- 1 white paper bowl, 7 inches wide and about 2 inches deep
- 2 fluid ounces acrylic craft paint in your favorite color
- 1 fluid ounce white acrylic craft paint for the eyes, optional
- 1 fluid ounce black acrylic craft paint for the pupils and mouth, optional
- 6 pieces of medium-weight yarn, each 24 inches long
- 1 piece of medium-weight yarn, 12 inches long for hanging
- 1 sheet of white cardstock, 8.5 by 11 inches, for optional eye shapes
- 1 pair of scissors, small and sharp enough for yarn and cardstock
- 1 handheld hole punch, 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch opening
- 1 medium paintbrush, about 1/2 inch wide
- 1 small detail paintbrush, about 1/8 inch wide
- 1 small cup containing 4 fluid ounces of water for rinsing brushes
- 1 paper plate or scrap of cardboard for a paint palette
- 1 drop cloth or sheet of newspaper, large enough to cover the work surface
- 1 roll of painter's tape, optional for holding the bowl steady
- 1 bottle of tacky craft glue, 2 fluid ounces
- 1 clean dry cloth or 2 paper towels for small spills
Instructions
- Cover your table with the drop cloth or newspaper before you open the paint.
- Turn the paper bowl upside down so the rounded outside faces you. Place a short loop of painter's tape beneath the center if the bowl rocks.
- Brush on a thin, even coat of your main paint color.
- Let the first coat dry for 30 to 45 minutes, or until it no longer feels cool and tacky.
- Add a second thin coat if the paper shows through.
- While the bowl dries, prepare the yarn. Cut six pieces at 24 inches each.
- Fold each piece in half and pinch the fold between your fingers, creating six equal pairs with a loop at one end and two loose tails at the other.
- Use the hole punch to make six small holes around the underside of the bowl, spacing them about 1 inch apart near the rim.
- Make one additional hole in the center for the hanging loop.
- Push the folded loop of one yarn pair through a hole from the inside of the bowl toward the outside.
- Bring the two loose ends through the loop and pull gently until the yarn forms a lark's head knot.
- Repeat with the other five pairs.
- Trim the tentacles to different lengths, leaving some close to 10 inches and others around 16 inches.
- Thread the 12-inch hanging yarn through the center hole and tie a knot on the inside of the bowl.
- Add a small dot of tacky craft glue over the knot if it shifts. Let the glue sit.
- Paint two white oval eyes near the front center of the bowl with the small detail brush.
- After the white paint dries, add small black pupils and a tiny curved mouth.
- Check each yarn knot and gently tug the tentacles one at a time.
- Place the jellyfish flat with the bowl facing upward and let the paint and glue dry for 1 to 2 hours before hanging it.
- Rinse the brushes while the paint remains wet, wipe the work surface, and peel away any painter's tape.
- Allow the finished jellyfish to rest overnight before placing it in a busy area.
Notes
This project is suitable for children ages 6 and up with close adult supervision. Keep the finished decoration out of reach of young children.
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
