How to Make a Cute and Easy Mermaid Craft

As you can imagine, I come across a LOT of cute crafts.

(After all, I am the Kind of Crafty Mom. 😉)

Lots of the crafts I see fall into the category of “ooh, that might be fun… some day.”

But when I saw this super cute mermaid footprint (and handprint) craft pop up on Facebook recently, I knew we HAD to try it. 

I love a good handprint or footprint craft, and we love mermaids in our house.  So a handprint AND footprint mermaid?  Yes, please!

These mermaids were fun and easy to make, and you only need a few supplies to make some today!

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Supplies we used:

11”x14” Canvas (Ella is 5 years old and this size was perfect – if you’re creating mermaids with a smaller child, you might be able to use something smaller.  Click here to check out some different sized canvases!)

Washable tempera paints (this set has all the colors you’ll need at a great price)

Paint brushes

Googly eyes

Creating your mermaids:

1. Choose a paint color for the first mermaid’s tail and paint the bottom of one of your child’s feet.  Carefully stamp your child’s foot on the blank canvas.  Make sure to stamp close to the bottom of the canvas, to leave plenty of room for the top half of your mermaid!
2. Use the same paint color to freehand fins at the bottom of your mermaid’s tail.
3. If you are making more than one mermaid, go ahead and paint/stamp your other mermaids’ tails now.

4. Next, use your skin color paint to freehand your mermaids’ necks, arms, and bodies.  (This was the most nerve-wracking part for me because freehand painting is not my strong suit.  Just do your best!)

5. To create each mermaid’s head and hair, paint your child’s palm with your skin colored paint, and paint their fingers with whatever color you’d like the mermaid’s hair to be.  Carefully stamp their hand in place.

6. Use red paint to give each mermaid a smile.

7. Glue googly eyes on each mermaid.

8. Optional: Feel free to paint details such as water droplets, bubbles, or seaweed next to your mermaids!

And there you have it!  These mermaids make the cutest decor for your mermaid lover’s room, or anywhere else you decide to display them!

Looking to extend the mermaid-themed fun?  You’ll love these books!:

• How to Catch a Mermaid by Adam Wallace
• Emma and the Mermaid Club by A.M. Luzzader
• Mermaid School by Joanne Stewart Wetzel 
• Where Do Mermaids Go on Vacation? By Kim Ann
• Lola: The Bracelet of Courage by Sarah Cullen
• Purrmaids #1: The Scaredy Cat by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

And check out some more ocean-themed crafts and activities here!:

• Easy and Fun Paper Plate Ocean Craft
• Seashell Watercolor Painting
• The Easiest (and Best) Shark Craft for Kids
• Feed the Shark Shape Matching Activity

Will you try this adorable and easy mermaid craft? If you do, I would LOVE to hear about it! Comment below or tag me on Instagram to tell me about it!