Animal Bean Bags
Create these adorable animal bean bags from craft foam and some hot glue. No stitching required. Bean bag templates are included for easy crafting.
Featured Crafts
Supplies Needed
- A4 or Letter size paper
- Craft foam
- Beans or rice
- Pompoms
- Cotton
- Wiggle eyes
- Scissors
- Pencil
- White glue
- Glue gun
STEPS
1Print out the template.
We have four animal bean bag templates—a bunny, a dog, a mouse, and a pig. Print out your chosen template on A4 or Letter size paper.
2Cut out the template.
Cut out the template pieces.
3Trace onto craft foam.
Using a pencil, trace around each template piece on craft foam. Follow the instructions on the template.
4Cut out the craft foam.
Cut out the craft foam pieces.
5Prepare the ears.
MOUSE - glue the inner ear on top of the ear. Align the two pieces at the base.
BUNNY - glue the inner ear on top of the ear. Align the two pieces at the center.
PIG - apply hot glue at the middle of each ear's base. Fold over a small section of the base over the glue. Hold for several seconds until the glue sets. This should make the pig's ears appear slightly cupped.
6Create slits for the ears.
Mark the position of the ears with a pair of lines on the top body piece. The line should be as long as the length of the ear's base. Cut slits following the lines.
7Place the ears.
Insert the ears through the slits.
8Fix the ears in place.
Flip the body over. Fix the ears in place with hot glue. Let the glue set completely.
9Add leg details.
Add some details on the legs if you like.
Bunny - draw a pair of lines on each paw.
Pig - glue a hoof on each leg.
10Glue the legs and tail.
Glue the legs and tail on the bottom body piece.
11Glue the top and bottom.
Apply hot glue around the edges of the bottom body piece except around the head area. This section should be left open for placing the beans inside the animal.
Place the top body piece over the bottom piece, aligning them at the edges. Press on the edges to glue them together. Watch out for any excess hot glue that may squeeze out.
12Create spots on the dog.
Cut some circles, ovals or irregular shapes out of brown or black craft foam. Glue them on the dog's body.
13Pour some beans.
Pour about 1½ to 2 cups of beans or rice through the opening on the animal's head.
14Seal the bean bag.
Seal the opening with hot glue.
More Ideas
Sewn bean bags.
Stitches make sturdier bean bags than hot-glued ones. Use a large needle and a length of yarn or embroidery floss. Sew the ears to the main body in Step 8.
Instead of gluing the top and bottom body pieces in Step 11, stitch them together around the edges. Similarly sew the opening shut after putting in the beans in Step 14.
The great thing about sewn bean bags is that you can use materials other than craft foam such as felt and fabric. They would make terrific handmade gifts for animal-loving friends and loved ones.
