Plastic Cup Jellyfish Craft

Have you ever had a craft turn out cuter than you pictured in your head? That’s exactly what happened with this one.

I have a soft spot for jellyfish crafts because they always end up feeling whimsical and a little magical when they’re finished. We already have a coffee filter jellyfish and a cupcake wrapper version on the site, but I wanted to make something that felt more three-dimensional and looked cute enough to actually hang up afterward instead of ending up in the recycle pile.

This plastic cup jellyfish craft surprised me in the best way. The clear cups gave them that floating jellyfish look that paper plates just can’t do, and once we added curly and straight pipe cleaner tentacles and hung them in the window, they almost looked like they were moving. We gave ours 8 tentacles to lean into the jellyfish feel while still keeping the project simple enough for kids.

What I especially loved was how customizable they became. Some tentacles were wrapped around pencils to create fun spirals while others stayed straighter with little bends at the ends. Every jellyfish looked completely different by the end. If you’re looking for another cute summer craft like a jellyfish craft for kids or an easy ocean craft for preschoolers that feels a little more special than a flat paper project, this one is worth trying.

Supplies for This Jellyfish Craft

• 9-ounce clear plastic cups
• 4 pipe cleaners (cut in half for 8 tentacles total)
• Large googly eyes
• Paper hole punch
• Beacon 3-in-1 Craft Glue
• Pencil (optional for curling tentacles)

Optional:
• Extra pipe cleaner colors for variety

How to Make a Jellyfish Craft

Step 1: Punch Holes Around the Plastic Cup

Using a paper hole punch, punch evenly spaced holes around the open rim of the cup.

We found adults should handle this part because the plastic can take a little pressure depending on the cup thickness.

Step 2: Create 8 Pipe Cleaner Tentacles

Cut 4 pipe cleaners in half to create 8 tentacles.

Wrap some around a pencil to create curls and leave others mostly straight with little bends at the ends.

Mixing textures made the finished jellyfish look playful and gave each one its own personality.

Step 3: Attach the Tentacles

Insert one end of each pipe cleaner into the punched holes and bend the end around itself to secure.

Continue until all 8 tentacles are attached.

Step 4: Add the Jellyfish Face

Glue on large googly eyes using Beacon 3-in-1 Craft Glue.

Allow the glue to dry completely before hanging.

Step 5: Add a Hanging Loop

Adults should punch two small holes in the closed end of the cup.

Thread a small piece of pipe cleaner through the holes and twist into a loop for hanging.

Why This Jellyfish Craft Works for Preschoolers

One of my favorite things about this jellyfish craft is that preschoolers can still do most of the fun parts without getting frustrated.

Adults can prep the hole punching ahead of time, and then kids can focus on choosing colors, deciding which tentacles should curl, and creating silly jellyfish personalities.

It’s also a lower-mess ocean craft compared to paint-heavy projects.

Tips for Making This Ocean Craft with Groups

• Punch holes before class begins
• Pre-cut pipe cleaners into halves
• Set out color stations
• Let kids choose curly vs straight tentacles
• Hang finished jellyfish together to create an ocean display

Extra Tip: We Also Tested a Glue Method

We experimented with attaching the tentacles using Beacon 3-in-1 Craft Glue instead of punching holes.

It does work — but after trying both versions, I’d only recommend the glue method for older kids who really enjoy crafting and have the patience to wait.

Kids had to hold each pipe cleaner in place for about 30 seconds until the glue became tacky enough to support it. Once attached, it stayed surprisingly well, but it definitely slowed the project down.

For preschoolers and groups, the hole punch method was much easier because kids could keep moving without waiting for glue to dry.

Adult Tip: My Favorite Tool for Making Hanging Holes

For the two small holes in the top of the cup (for the hanging loop), I actually preferred using an awl instead of a knife.

It felt easier to control and made cleaner holes without worrying about the plastic slipping while cutting.

I just pressed gently through the plastic where I wanted the hanging loop to go.

If you’re making several of these for a classroom or group, this speeds things up a lot.

(Adults only for this step.)

Ways to Customize This Jellyfish Craft

• Make a rainbow jellyfish
• Use pastel colors
• Add ribbon along with pipe cleaners
• Create a hanging ocean mobile
• Hang several at different heights in a window

More Ocean Crafts Kids Will Love

If your kids enjoyed this jellyfish craft, here are a few more ocean-themed ideas to try:

• Cupcake Wrapper Jellyfish Craft

• Coffee Filter Jellyfish Sun Catcher

• Shark Paper Bag Craft for Kids

• Paper Plate Fish Craft

•Fishing Game for Kids

Jellyfish Craft FAQ

NOTES
We also tested attaching tentacles using Beacon 3-in-1 Craft Glue instead of punching holes.

It worked well but required older kids to hold each pipe cleaner in place for about 30 seconds while the glue became tacky.

For preschoolers and groups, the hole punch method was much easier and kept kids moving through the project.

Mixing curly and straight tentacles gave each jellyfish more personality and movement.

KEYWORD
Plastic Cup Jellyfish Craft

CUISINE
Kids Crafts

COURSE
Crafts

METHOD
Assemble