DIY Fun Party Animal Picks

I love little plastic animals! I used to have a small collection of them when I was little. There have been so many toy animal craft projects circulating around the internet that look like a total blast to make! Here is another one of mine 🙂 Today I am going to show you how to make these little party animals. You can get these little animals at any craft or toy store for a few dollars, you can even get them in a tube.

Here’s What You Need:

*Plastic Animals ( I bought mine at AC Moore)

*Drill and Small Drill Bits (or a drill press)

*Measuring calipers

*Skewers and Toothpicks

*Hot Glue and Glue Gun

*Various Trims for the skirting

*Bead End Caps

*Small Beads including seed beads or beads 6-8mm round

Instructions:

The first thing you need to do is drill the holes in your animals. Mark the back of the animal where you want to insert the toothpick or skewer and mark a dot with a pencil. Measure your toothpick with your calipers, and then find a drill bit with the same measurement. If you don’t care if your toothpick fits perfectly you can just eyeball the size you need. Drill into the back of the animals back where marked about a 1/2″ or so straight down into it. Once you have the holes drilled in your animals you are ready to decorate them. Warm up your glue gun. Place a dab of glue on the underside of one end of a trim piece. Glue the trim onto the animals belly with the top of the trim closest to the chest side and the bottom closest to the legs so it looks like a skirt. Wrap the trim around the back of the animal and to the belly. Cut the trim where it will meet on the underside and glue down the end to the belly where it meets the first end you glued. Now your animal has a little skirt. To give your party animal a hat or crown, you can use beads or fashion one from paper by making a cone shape. Place a dab of glue onto the head of the animal. Glue down a bead cap with the open part facing up. Glue a bead into the inside of the bead cap. Your animal is nicely decorated now. To finish off glue preprinted signs or paper to the top of your picks. Then insert the picks into the backs of your animals.

Aren’t they just a hoot! I absolutely had a blast making these little darlings! I love how easy they are, and they are so fast to whip up. They are super cheery and can add a little extra fun to your party decorations. Or you could make one or two to hold up your favorite postcards or pictures and display them on a shelf  to add a bit of whimsy to your favorite space. Anyways I hope some of you will give this one a try! You’ll love them!

Happy Crafting!