Okay, let’s be honest. You’re here because you, or a tiny human you love, has fallen head-over-heels for elephants. And why wouldn’t you? They’re majestic, gentle, and have the best ears in the animal kingdom. But staring at pictures isn’t enough anymore. You need to make something. Maybe you’re a parent staring down a rainy afternoon, a teacher planning a zoo unit, or just someone who needs a creative break. Well, you’ve hit the jackpot. I’ve rounded up 23 elephant crafts that range from “my toddler can do this” to “this will look stunning on my shelf.” No fluff, just fantastic ideas. Ready to get those creative trunks swinging?
1. The Classic Paper Plate Elephant
We’re starting with a legend for a reason. This craft is the peanut in the elephant craft world: simple, satisfying, and universally loved. All you need is a paper plate, some gray paint (or construction paper), and a bit of imagination for the trunk and ears.
Cut the plate in half—one half is the body, the other you can cut into the iconic floppy ear and a curvy trunk. Let the kids go wild with paint and googly eyes. It’s a perfect preschool project that delivers maximum cuteness with minimal cleanup. Who knew your lunchware could be so charming?
2. Toilet Paper Roll Trumpeter
Don’t toss that cardboard tube! With a quick coat of paint, it transforms into the perfect elephant body. Flatten one end and curve it to create a 3D trunk that actually looks like it’s about to trumpet.
Cut out ears from construction paper or felt and glue them on. This project is fantastic for teaching kids about recycling while they craft. Make a whole herd! It’s a staple for a reason in the world of 23 elephant craft ideas.
3. Coffee Filter Watercolor Elephant
This one is pure magic for little artists. Give a kid a white coffee filter, some watercolor paints, and watch the colors bloom. Once it dries, you simply cut it into the beautiful, rounded shape of an elephant.
The translucent, blended colors give the elephant a soft, almost ethereal quality. Glue it onto a contrasting piece of cardstock, and you have instant wall art. It’s less about perfect lines and more about beautiful, messy creativity.
4. “Handprint” Elephant Keepsake
Warning: This craft might make you emotional. Paint your child’s hand gray (palm and fingers). Press it firmly onto paper with the fingers pointing down. The palm becomes the head, and the four fingers become the sturdy legs.
Add an ear, a tail, and an eye, and you’ve captured a moment in time. Date it. Frame it. This isn’t just a craft; it’s a memory you’ll keep forever. It’s a standout in any elephant craft collection for its sentimental value.
5. Elephant Corner Bookmark
For the bookworms and older crafters! This functional craft starts with a simple origami corner bookmark base. Then, using gray paper, you add the ears, a long trunk, and a cute tusk.
It peeks over the page of your book, looking utterly adorable. It’s a quick, satisfying project that makes reading even more fun. Make a few as gifts—they’re always a hit.
6. Rocking Paper Elephant
This elephant has moves! By cutting a circular shape with a curved base, you create an elephant that actually rocks back and forth. Kids adore making things that *do* something.
Decorate both sides so it looks cute from every angle. It’s a fantastic lesson in basic physics and balance, disguised as pure play. See? Crafting can be educational 😉.
7. Popsicle Stick Elephant Frame
Glue four popsicle sticks into a square. Paint it gray. Now, the fun part: create an elephant face on the top stick with ears that flair out to the sides. The square becomes a darling little frame.
Slip a photo behind it, or let your child draw a tiny picture. It’s a wonderful way to display their own art or a favorite snapshot. Functional crafts are always a win.
8. Balloon & Newspaper Papier-Mâché
Alright, this is for the dedicated crafter ready for a multi-day, gloriously messy adventure. Blow up a balloon for the body and shape a trunk and ears with cardboard or more paper. Layer on the newspaper strips and paste.
Once it’s dry and hard, pop the balloon, paint it, and behold your 3D masterpiece. It’s messy, it’s time-consuming, and the result is incredibly rewarding. The ultimate show-stopping elephant craft.
9. Elephant Leaf Painting
Take the craft outdoors! Find a large, sturdy leaf with a good stem—the stem becomes the trunk. Paint the leaf gray and press it onto paper. The veins create beautiful, textured elephant skin.
Add an eye and maybe a little tusk. It’s a beautiful way to combine nature and art, and every print is uniquely imperfect. Perfect for a unit on animals or plants.
10. Clothespin & Felt Elephants
These are almost too cute. Use a wooden clothespin as the body. Cut simple elephant shapes from gray felt and glue them onto either side of the pin.
Not only are they adorable, but the clothespin also works! Use them to clip artwork to a string, close a bag of snacks, or as a quirky bookmark. Small, simple, and seriously clever.
11. Elephant Sun Catcher
Brighten up any window. Cut an elephant shape from the center of a piece of black construction paper to create a frame. Tape clear contact paper over the hole on one side.
Now, let kids stick tissue paper squares onto the sticky contact paper. When finished, seal it with another layer. The light shines through the colorful tissue paper beautifully. It’s a stunning effect for a relatively easy craft.
12. “You’re Elephantastic” Card
Need a punchline for a fantastic homemade card? Fold a piece of cardstock in half. On the front, create a cute elephant face with a 3D curled paper trunk.
Inside, write “You’re ELEPHANTASTIC!” or “I hope you have a TUSK-tastic birthday!” It’s personal, punny, and guaranteed to make the recipient smile. Way better than a store-bought card, right?
13. Egg Carton Elephant Family
Those cardboard egg cartons are a crafting goldmine. Cut out the individual cups—each one is a perfect elephant body. Paint them gray, add pipe cleaner trunks, and paper ears.
Make a whole parade of them! You can even connect them with string to create a mobile. This project is a masterclass in seeing potential in everyday objects.
14. Elephant Origami
Challenge accepted? Origami requires patience and precision, but the result is a sleek, paper elephant formed from a single sheet. No scissors, no glue—just clever folds.
There are many tutorials online for different difficulty levels. Completing one gives you a real sense of accomplishment. It’s a meditative craft that results in a beautiful, geometric piece of art.
15. Sock Puppet Elephant
Give a lonely sock a new life! Slide it onto your hand, and use felt to glue on eyes, huge ears, and a long trunk. You can even add a little red felt tongue inside the “mouth.”
Suddenly, you have a character ready for a show. This craft sparks imaginative play long after the glue dries. Hours of entertainment, right there on your hand.
16. Clay or Play-Doh Sculpture
Sometimes, you just need to get hands-on. Whether it’s air-dry clay, modeling dough, or classic Play-Doh, sculpting an elephant is so satisfying.
Roll, pinch, and shape. Kids work on their fine motor skills and spatial reasoning, and you get a cute, three-dimensional figure. Bake or let air-dry if you want to keep it forever.
17. Elephant Footprint Art
A sibling to the handprint craft, this one is for the brave! Paint the bottom of a child’s foot gray and press it onto paper horizontally. The heel becomes the head, and the rest of the footprint makes a wonderfully bulky body.
Add details, and you have an elephant that’s literally made from your child. It’s a hilarious and memorable process with a fantastic result. Just have a wet cloth ready!
18. Paper Bag Elephant Puppet
The humble lunch bag becomes a puppet theater. The bottom flap of the bag is the perfect elephant face—glue on ears, draw on eyes, and attach a curled trunk.
Your hand slips inside to make the mouth move. It’s instant drama! Have kids put on a play about elephant herds or jungle adventures. Simple, effective, and full of potential.
19. Elephant String Art
This one’s for the teens and adults. Hammer small nails into a wooden board in the outline of an elephant. Then, wind colorful string or embroidery floss around the nails to fill in the shape.
The result is a gorgeous, textural piece of wall decor. It’s a bit more advanced but incredibly relaxing and the payoff is huge. A modern twist on the elephant craft theme.
20. Pinecone Elephant
Another nature-meets-craft gem. A large, roundish pinecone makes a wonderfully textured elephant body. Use felt for the ears, a pipe cleaner for the trunk, and add some googly eyes.
It feels rustic and organic. Great for an autumn craft session after a collecting walk in the park. It’s amazing how nature provides the best materials.
21. Elephant Mason Jar Lid
Upcycle those metal mason jar lids! Paint the flat side gray. Use the outer ring to help you cut gray felt into a circle that fits inside. Add felt ears and a trunk that overlaps the edge.
You now have a adorable lid that can top a jar of cookies, be used as a coaster, or even as a decorative magnet. Functional, cute, and eco-friendly.
22. Cereal Box Elephant Mask
Cut an elephant face from a flattened cereal box. Cut out eye holes, paint it, and attach a long strip of cardboard for the trunk. Use a string or a popsicle stick to hold it to the face.
Kids love masks because they allow them to become the character. This project encourages dramatic play and is another brilliant way to reuse household materials.
23. Elephant Dreamcatcher
We’re ending with a beautiful, symbolic craft. Create a small dreamcatcher hoop (or use an embroidery hoop). Instead of a web, create an elephant silhouette in the center using wire or tightly-wound string.
Decorate with beads and feathers in grays, blues, and silvers. Hang it in a bedroom to catch dreams and add a touch of whimsical, elephant-themed magic. A peaceful end to our creative journey.
And there you have it—23 elephant crafts to fill your days with creativity, laughter, and maybe a little glitter (but that’s your call). From the quick five-minute paper plate friend to the ambitious papier-mâché sculpture, there’s something here for every mood, age, and skill level.
The real magic isn’t in the perfect cut or the straightest line. It’s in the time spent creating, the stories you tell while you glue, and the proud smile on a child’s face (or your own!) when they hold up their finished masterpiece. So, grab some paper, raid the recycling bin, and let your imagination run wild. Your herd awaits.