Useless at arts/crafts need an idea for PANDA BEAR theme

[ZZZenAgain]

help help

Have to do some art/craft activities with 10 year old girls on panda bears. Haven't a clue how to do it but didn't like to refuse. (Related to endangered animals)

Things I found on the web - paper plate pandas and pompons I think too childish. Does anyone have a suggestion?

am looking at this, without ribbons I think. Cannot be too diff (for me) since I don't have the craft work gene:

pillow

What about baking round biscuits and decorating with white and black icing to make a panda face? You can buy ready made fondant icing that needs rolling out. All you need then is some different sized round cutters and a bit of glace icing to get things to stick.

Panda face felt purses? Balsa wood bookmarks with felt pandas on top (Lots of circles, semi circles and fat ovals precut from felt).

Decorate plain cotton bags with a panda motif. I used these bags recently with a mums and tots group and used fabric pens to draw mothers day pictures. Iron when finished to set the picture.

Also this site may have some more ideas for you.

Panda bear masks - white paper plate, cut out eye holes, decorate with black paper, tie elastic round the back, job did

I can only go by my own DD & kids we know, all who are very artsy crafty, but from that I would say the plates are way too childish for 10 yr olds

Funny though, as I was just about to suggest using the plates as a guide for them making a cushion & then spotted your link - so yes I think cushions are a great idea -

DD (8) recently made a pattern for a stuffed cat baby toy, based on circles & using plates & bowls to make it, she then cut it out & I sewed it up(she's scared of the machine) & she stuffed & trimmed it - so depending on how long you have, maybe getting the girls to make their own simple circle pattern, decorate & trim it - you could even use fabric pens to draw a panda design onto plain white cotton

good luck

Thanks, have to dive out now to a meeting but I'll come back and check the posts tonight

do you think 10 year olds would find this too childish. Also don't know if they can all sew tbh.

stuffed toy panda thing

or maybe get plain cloth shopping bags and just glue felt on to it to make a panda's face?

wrap some card around a plastic cup then add panda card face, embelish with bamboo

DD (who is 8 going on 18 ) reckons - yes -the stuffed panda thing is too childish

You haven't said how long you have for the project, is it a 1 off - hour or so thing?? in which case stick with something simple such as your bag idea -if its a longer project, over a few weeks or so, then look into something more like a pillow than a soft toy -

I've something similar in my photos, though its a more complicated embroidered version, so don't let that put you off, maybe just use the basic idea & simplify it by sticking to simple shapes - ie large plate to make pattern for main body, cups etc for other detail shapes & use fabric glue to attach etc, this is something you could spread out over a few weeks

Oh & use chopped up carrier bags as stuffing very eco friendly & free