Cupcake Wrapper Caterpillar Craft for Kids

There’s something about simple bug crafts that kids never seem to get tired of, and this cupcake wrapper caterpillar craft ended up being one of those projects we kept coming back to. I originally made this on a day when I needed a super low-prep activity that still looked colorful and cute when it was finished. After testing a couple different versions, the mini cupcake wrappers were definitely the winner because they layered together perfectly without taking over the whole page.

If you’re looking for an easy caterpillar craft for preschoolers or younger kids, this one comes together quickly with basic craft supplies and very little mess. The bright colors, googly eyes, and fluffy pom-pom antenna make it extra fun for little kids, and the finished caterpillar is cute enough to hang on the fridge afterward.

What I liked most about this version is that it actually stayed easy. Some cupcake liner crafts end up wrinkling or falling apart once glue gets involved, but this is the one that finally worked well without frustration.

This craft is such a colorful and sweet spring craft to make with the kids. I love it when we finally emerge out of winter crafts into bright and cheery crafts like this one, these water bottle flowers, flower photo craft with printable, and these tissue paper flowers.

Why You’ll Love This Cupcake Wrapper Caterpillar Craft

• Uses inexpensive craft supplies
• Great for preschool and kindergarten
• Low-mess and easy to prep
• Helps practice fine motor skills
• Bright colors make it extra engaging
• Perfect for spring, bug, or insect themes

Supplies Needed for This Cupcake Wrapper Caterpillar Craft

• Mini cupcake wrappers
• White cardstock
• Googly eyes
• Black pipe cleaner
• Pink pom-poms
• Pink glitter paper
• Hole punch
• Black Sharpie
• Glue stick
• Scissors

Why a Glue Stick Works Best for Cupcake Wrapper Crafts

I tried regular liquid school glue first, and honestly… it made the cupcake wrappers wrinkle too much and slide around while the kids were trying to place them. A glue stick worked MUCH better because the wrappers stayed flatter and dried faster.

If you’re making this with a classroom, daycare group, or multiple kids at home, I definitely recommend glue sticks over bottled glue for this project.

How to Make a Cupcake Wrapper Caterpillar Craft

Step 1: Arrange the Mini Cupcake Wrappers

Start by flattening the mini cupcake wrappers and laying them out in a slightly overlapping row on the cardstock. We used a green wrapper for the head and mixed bright colors for the body.

Before gluing, let kids play around with the color order a little. That will end up being half the fun.

Step 2: Glue the Caterpillar Body to the Cardstock

Once the wrappers are arranged, glue them onto the cardstock using a glue stick. Overlap each wrapper slightly so the caterpillar looks connected from head to tail.

This is also where I realized mini cupcake wrappers work better than regular-sized liners because they fit nicely on standard cardstock without running out of room.

Instead of gluing the cupcake wrappers completely flat, we only glued the center areas down and left some of the outer edges slightly lifted. That gave the caterpillar a little extra dimension and made the finished craft look more playful.

Step 3: Draw the Caterpillar Legs

Use a black Sharpie to draw simple little legs underneath each cupcake wrapper section.

This part is so fun because each caterpillar ended up with its own personality depending on how the legs and smile looked.

Step 4: Add the Googly Eyes and Face

Glue googly eyes onto the green wrapper head. Then use a black Sharpie to draw a smile.

For the cheeks, punch small circles from pink glitter paper using a hole punch and glue them underneath the smile.

Step 5: Make the Caterpillar Antenna

Cut two short pieces of black pipe cleaner and glue them behind the caterpillar’s head to create antennae.

Add pink pom-poms to the ends for a bright finishing touch.

Tip for Getting Cupcake Wrappers to Stay Flat

If one side of the cupcake wrapper keeps popping up or won’t stay glued down, try cutting a small curved “C” shape out of one side of the wrapper first. That little cut helps release the tension in the paper so it lays flatter on the cardstock and is much easier for kids to glue down.

This especially helped with some of the lighter wrappers that wanted to spring back into shape.

Real-Life Tip for Making This Caterpillar Craft with Preschoolers

I found it worked best to flatten all of the cupcake wrappers ahead of time before handing supplies to younger kids. Trying to flatten them during the craft slowed things down a lot and frustrated some little hands.

Pre-cutting the pipe cleaner pieces also made the activity move much faster.

How to Make Cupcake Wrapper Crafts Look More Dimensional

One thing that made this caterpillar craft turn out especially cute was leaving the backs and edges of the cupcake wrappers slightly flipped up instead of pressing them totally flat. It gave the caterpillar more texture and helped the colors stand out better on the cardstock.

I actually liked this look much better than the completely flattened version we tried first.

Ways to Use This Caterpillar Craft

This easy caterpillar craft works well for:

• Spring themes
• Bug or insect units
• Eric Carle activities
• Preschool craft time
• Rainy day activities
• Fine motor practice
• Bulletin board displays

More Bug Crafts Kids Will Love

You might also enjoy:

• Paper Plate Snail Craft
• Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft
• Egg Carton Caterpillar Craft

Frequently Asked Questions About Cupcake Wrapper Caterpillar Crafts

What glue works best for cupcake wrapper crafts?

A glue stick worked best for us because it kept the cupcake wrappers flat instead of wrinkled.

Can toddlers make this caterpillar craft?

Yes, with a little help. Younger toddlers may need assistance placing the wrappers and attaching the antennae.

Do I need mini cupcake wrappers?

Mini cupcake wrappers worked best because they fit nicely on cardstock and were easier for little hands to handle.

Can I make this caterpillar craft in a classroom?

Definitely. This is a great low-prep classroom craft because the supplies are inexpensive and the setup is simple.

More Easy Kids Crafts You’ll Love

If your kids enjoyed this cupcake wrapper caterpillar craft, you might also like these easy preschool crafts and bug-themed activities for kids.