Artist and Designer Aaron Christensen's Blog for Embellishments Studio.  Art, kids design, display, store design and pediatric office theme builder.
CATEGORIES

Categories

SEARCH
Published on
Reclaimed plastics turned into taxidermy wall decor.  A great crafting idea for kids.  You can create mounts using a variety of discarded recyclables.

Using simple recyclables you too can create faux taxidermy heads.

Take a long hard look in your recycling bin.  It's crawling with creatures great and small.  Hopefully, not real ones, but fun future faux ones.  With a little imagination, and some easy DIY instructions, you can create a zoo of animals out of common recyclables.

Welcome to my latest craft DIY brought to you by my friends at Rosenberry Rooms Very Rosenberry Blog.
Recyclables Crafts - Create Animal heads.  Great idea for kids crafting.

Common recyclables like laundry detergent bottles, toilet tissue rolls yogurt cups, styrofoam meat packing trays and cardboard are great components for your own faux taxidermy.

When I design kid's spaces, for my clients, I want them to be filled with personality and some of their child's own handy work.  Often, I'll lead them in a craft project to create something unique.  These friendly taxidermy mounts would be a great project for them and would make wonderful room decor.  They would also be fun school auction projects or a DIY craft for parties.  The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.  You can follow along to make your own deer, rhino or circus giraffe version or experiment with the items in your recycling bin to create your own.


Upcycled plastic and trash become a Giraffe taxidermy head mount.  Ideal idea for kids crafts.

Two folded sour cream container lids make perfect ears.

Kids can make faux taxidermy heads using recyclables.

A whimsical circus giraffe can be crafted by creating a hat from a disposable drinking cup, some chenille pipe cleaners and a few feathers.

Faux Crafter Rhino Head Mount Taxidermy perfect for kids

By cutting the handle off of a bleach bottle and taping it to the spout you have a fun filled rhino.

Getting started....

1)  Assemble your recyclables and decide upon the type of animal you want to create.  Remember, the materials can be cut, moved, folded and altered with tape, cardboard or things like bottle caps, straws and craft supplies.

2)  Using scissors or a blade knife, cut or trim your recyclables into the shapes and dimensions you need.  Also consider scoring and folding pieces to create new shapes. Always observe safety precautions when using tools.

3) Utilize masking tape and hot glue to assemble your creation.  Masking tape can be used to bridge voids, cover seams and close open ends.
Easy Craft Animal Taxidermy Heads using recyclables

Folding sour cream lids over and gluing them into a hole creates ears perfect for a deer. The handle of the bottle was covered with masking tape.

Plastic bottle, cardboard, tape and utensils become a taxidermied garaffe.

With plastic spoons for tufts and folded tissue rolls for ears, the circus giraffe takes shape.

Kids taxidermy craft rhino made from recyclables.  Super easy DIY.

The rhino's ears are corners off of a styrofoam meat packing tray. His horn is a cut and turned around handle from the bleach bottle.

4) Decide upon the type of mount you'd like to use.  Here I've provided three shapes to download.  You may have to adjust your printer settings to a size greater than 100% to create large ones.
Picture

Download the templates for the mount and cut them from cardboard.

 5)  Cut two copies of your mount out of cardboard.  Also cut enough inch or two inch strips to line the outside.  Pre-creasing or shaping the strips will make it easier to follow curves.
Crafts for kids.  Create Animal heads.

Drag cardboard across the edge of a table or counter to soften it into curves.

 5) 6) Using hot glue, attach the pre-creased shapes to follow the outside edge of your mount.  Let it cool.
Kids Craft Taxidermy Animals Background Mount

Hot Glue and Cardboard Trophy Mounts

Craft Taxidermy Using Recycleables perfect for kids crafts

Apply multiple layers of paper mache over your sculpture.

9)  Mix water, flour and a pinch of salt into a paste.  Dip scrap paper, newspaper or tissue into the paste and paper mache the outside of your animal shape.  The more layers you apply the stronger your piece will become.  Although the salt inhibits mold growth, you'll want to make sure your piece dries thoroughly before painting.
10)  Paint and decorate your piece.  Consider painting it in a solid fun color, decoupaging it with images and text or painting it like the original animal.

Your sculpture can be inspired by a jungle, farm, forest or sea.  There are unlimited animal combinations.  Or for something different you can consider making robots, friendly monsters or mythological creatures like unicorns and dragons.

Are there animals in your recycling bin?  You better find them before your trash service hauls away your craft supplies.      Create your own designs and send me a photo.  I'd love to share it on social media.  If you post it tag me with @aaronchristensenart.

Have fun!
Aaron


8 Comments
Paula - 9 years ago
Such a great idea and this is certainly not just for kids. Love, love, love it!
Robin Davis - 9 years ago
Aaron, these are fabulous! Dr. seus would totally love these. Keep up your great creative work!
AmbieC - 9 years ago
So Cute- we follow you on Facebook. So creative and fun- thanks!
Dawnzer - 9 years ago
Dawnzer....you're the winner! Can I have you email me your address and your choice from the three menagerie creations! Aaron(at)EmbellishmentsKids.com.

Have a great weekend,
Aaron
Gabbriel - 9 years ago
These are adorable, and you are so creative LOVE your work!
So Pickin' Cute - 9 years ago
I LOVE these! I follow on Pinterest.
Niki - 9 years ago
Fabu! I follow on FB. I should follow on Pinterest too.
Tute Bot - 9 years ago
What a great idea! I think it would also be fun to make up crazy animals that don't really exist.

I'm going to tweet about this (@tutebot). Thanks for sharing. :)