make a paper dinosaur

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How to Make a Paper Dinosaur

Last Updated: March 14, 2022 Tested

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff . Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 53,972 times. Learn more...

With the right supplies and a bit of time, you can make your very own paper dinosaur that stands or moves. If you'd like a bigger craft project, you could even attempt a paper mache dinosaur or an origami dinosaur ! Depending on the colors that you use, you can make your dinosaur look realistic or cartoonish.

Creating a Cartoon Puppet Dino

• The thin cardboard from cereal and snack boxes works great for this!
• If you don’t have thin cardboard or construction paper, try green cardstock instead. You can also use poster paper, but you’ll need to paint it.
• A long stem with an oval-shaped head, like a brontosaurus or apatosaurus
• A long, tapering tail, like a skinny triangle
• 2 rectangular legs
• A mound- or lump- shaped body, like a semicircle but with rounded bottom corners.
• Use a different color of paint or paper for this. Orange is a great choice, but a lighter or darker shade of green will also work.
• You can also make smaller rectangles for nails.
• You’ll need holes in the following areas: base of the neck, base of the tail, and the top of each leg.
• Don’t use a hole punch. The hole will be too big and the brad will fall through.
• If you're a child, ask an adult to help you with this step, especially if you're using a nail.
• Don’t poke the neck and tail holes too close to the top; make them closer to the bottom so that your dinosaur has a humped back.
• Don’t place the legs too close together. Keep them closer to the bottom corners of the body.
• Repeat this step for the tail and both legs. Always add the limbs to the back of the body, not the front.
• Make sure that the limbs are facing up as well, otherwise your dinosaur won’t match!
• Brad prongs can hurt if they get under your nail. Consider using a butter knife to pry them apart.
• If you made nails for the dino, glue them to the bottom of each leg.
• White school glue and glue sticks will work just fine for this. Hot glue is not recommended because it's too bulky.
• Give your dinosaur more character by adding eyebrows or eyelashes.

Making a Long-Necked 3D Dino

• Set aside 1 of the paper plate halves; this will make the body.
• Make the spikes about 1 in (2.5 cm) tall and wide.
• Make the tail about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) wide at the base, and about 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the paper plate.
• If you don't know how to draw a dinosaur head, tail, or spikes, look at pictures of cartoon dinosaurs online or in coloring books.
• Use the brim to make the neck, if desired. Cut it off first so that you get a C-shape, then cut it in half. Use 1 of these halves to make the neck.
• If you're using an empty paper towel roll, cut 2 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) segments from it.
• Slide the legs apart until they are on opposite sides of the plate.
• You can take the dinosaur's body off of its feet in order to paint it. Do the front first, let it dry, then do the back.
• Don't forget to paint the eyes and mouth! Alternatively, you can glue on some googly eyes after the paint has dried.

Building a Papier-Mâché Dino

• The most popular papier-mâché paste is just 1 part water and 1 part PVA glue (white school glue).
• Start with just 1 or 2 sheets of newspaper; you can always make more strips.
• Don't cut the strips, or the edges will be too sharp and create creases. Tearing them will give you a smoother finish.
• Overlap the strips a little, such as by 1 ⁄ 4 to 1 ⁄ 2  in (0.64 to 1.27 cm).
• Keep the balloon in a cup or bowl so that it doesn't roll around. You may have to let 1 side of the balloon dry first before doing the other.
• Leave a coin-sized space at one end of the balloon exposed so that you can pop the balloon later.
• Consider using white tissue paper for as a fourth and final layer. This will give you a smoother base and help the paint show up better.
• If you choose to use tissue paper, then make sure that you tear it into 3 by 1 in (7.6 by 2.5 cm) strips as well.

• This completes your dinosaur's body.
• Don't worry about the hole left by the balloon. You'll end up covering it with the dinosaur's head or tail.
• Don't use clear tape; it won't stick to the papier-mâché.
• You can also just cut 2 empty toilet paper rolls in half and use those instead.
• Triceratops: cut a round, scalloped shape out of cardboard for the fan. Use foil to make the horns.
• Stegosaurus: cut triangles out of cardboard for the fins.
• Apatosaurus/brontosaurus: use a paper towel tube to make the neck.
• Triceratops: tape the fan to the balloon first, then add the head (you may have to use hot glue to secure it). Finish by sticking the horns to the head.
• Stegosaurus: tape or hot glue the head to 1 side of the body and the tail to the other. Use strips of tape to add the fins down the back and tail.
• Apatosaurus/brontosaurus: tape the head to the long neck first, then tape the head to the body. Add the tail to the other side of the body.
• You may have to tear more strips of newspaper and prepare more papier-mâché paste for this.
• Consider making some smaller strips for sharp curves and tight corners.
• If the hole from when you removed the balloon is still visible, cover it up with more papier-mâché.

• For a nicer finish, paint the dinosaur white first, then let the paint dry. This will give you a clean "canvas" to work on.
• Don't forget to add eyes and a mouth. You can paint the eyes, or glue googly eyes on instead.
• How long it will take for the paint to dry will depend on what type of paint you're using. Plan to wait about 15 to 20 minutes, however.

Community Q&A

• Your dinosaur doesn't have to look realistic at all. You can even make it pink and blue! Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
• Look up pictures of cartoon dinosaurs. They have simpler shapes, which are easier to copy to your paper. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1

Things You'll Need

• Green construction paper
• Orange construction paper
• Thin cardboard
• Pen or nail
• White school glue (optional)
• Googly eye (optional)
• White paper plate
• Empty toilet paper roll
• Green acrylic paint or poster paint
• Glue stick or white school glue
• White school glue
• Aluminum foil
• Empty toilet paper rolls
• Masking tape
• Acrylic paint or poster paint

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://craftsbyamanda.com/movable-dinosaur-craft/
• ↑ https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/things-to-do/how-to-make-a-paper-dinosaur-107682
• ↑ https://www.redtedart.com/kids-crafts-paper-mache-dino-bank/
• ↑ https://www.persil.com/uk/dirt-is-good/arts-crafts/how-to-make-paper-mache-dinosaurs-step-by-step.html

About This Article

To make a paper dinosaur, start by gluing a green piece of construction paper to a piece of cardboard. Then, draw and cut out the body, head, tail, and leg shapes for the kind of dinosaur you want to make. Next, poke a hole at the base of the head and tail, at the top of each leg, and at the base of the body where each leg will attach to it. Finally, insert brads into the holes to connect all of the parts of your dinosaur together. To learn how to make a papier mache dinosaur, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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You can create this origami T. rex by following the instructions below. It even has those famous tiny arms. © CICO BOOKS 

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How to make a T. rex origami dinosaur

Here's how to make your own charming origami Tyrannosaurus rex .

Tip: Fold a firm crease at the model's foot (step 18) so it stands up well.

You will need:

Two sheets of 15cm (6in) square paper

We have provided PDFs of the patterned paper featured in the images for you to print and cut out, but you can also use plain paper and decorate it at the end.

© CICO BOOKS

Patterned paper to download:

Paper with eyes PDF (79KB)

Paper with feet PDF (72KB)

Begin step one with the paper with the eyes pattern-side down © CICO BOOKS

1. Fold the paper with the eyes from corner to corner down the middle of the design, then open out and fold from side to side. Open again and fold the right-hand point across to the second crease line, making a new crease straight up to the top point.

2. Fold over the left-hand side so that the two edges align, then fold the left-hand side over again, using the line where the two edges meet as the fold line.

3. Fold the top point down so that it sits on top of the bottom point, making a horizontal fold.

4. Fold the top flap up to the right so that the left-hand edge runs across the top of the piece, then turn the point down so that the top edge now runs down the central crease.

5. Open out the two folds and repeat the previous step, but start by folding the bottom point up to the left.

6. Open up the top flap, then fold the short diagonal edges in to meet along the central crease. Lift the right-hand flap, open it up and reverse the diagonal crease, pushing the fold of paper underneath the top flap.

7. Fold down the top point so that the tip sits on the crossing diagonal creases, then turn the tip back up to align with the top of the model.

8. Fold the model in half along its central crease.

9. Lift up the model and open it out, then reverse the diagonal creases at the right-hand end and carefully refold to create an angled neck. Pull down the end point and flatten at an angle to create the T. rex 's mouth.

Did you know?

If humans had been alive at the same time as T. rex , it could have gobbled us up in just two mouthfuls. The dinosaur's powerful jaw and saw-edged teeth were ideal for crushing bone and piercing flesh.

10. Fold the loose paper at the other end inside the opposite flap to hold the body together.

Now use the paper with the feet pattern. Start with the paper pattern-side up. © CICO BOOKS

11. Take the second sheet of paper and fold it in half both ways, then open it out and fold the bottom up to the central crease. Fold this flap in half by turning it back down to the bottom crease.

12. Turn the paper over and fold the bottom back up to the central crease, then fold the upper flap at the bottom of the paper over the central crease.

13. Fold in the sides so that they meet in the middle and then turn up the bottom corners of these new flaps, making diagonal creases with the bottom edges now running up the sides of the model.

14. Lift the main flap on each side opening out the smaller triangular flaps. Refold the main flaps, reversing the diagonal creases so the smaller flaps now point out over the sides of the model.

15. Fold down the top two corners so that the top edges now align down the center of the model to make two diagonal creases.

16. Lift the top corners of the model and push them inside, reversing the direction of the creases and refold so that the top of the model is now a single, central point.

17. Turn over the paper and fold down the upper flap from the top of the model. Next turn up the bottom edge so that it runs along the widest horizontal edge. Turn over the outside points using concertina folds.

18. Fold over the two flaps at the top of the model so that the vertical edges run horizontally. Fold over the outside diagonal edges of these new triangles so that they also run horizontally.

19. Lift the last flaps and open them out, then refold into the same shape while reversing the direction of the creases so that the flaps are on the outside. Turn these flaps up to the vertical.

T. rex had only two fingers on each hand.

20. Fold the opened-out second sheet around the body of the dinosaur and tuck the front corners of the second sheet up inside the body to hold the two pieces of paper together.

These origami instructions are from the book How to Make Paper Dinosaurs and are reproduced with kind permission of the authors Mari Ono and Hiroaki Takai and the publisher CICO BOOKS .

Enjoy more dinosaur facts, quizzes and crafts.

Tyrannosaurus

An infamous meat-eating predator. Look at the evidence as to whether Tyrannosaurus hunted in packs or alone.

Dinosaur footprint cookies recipe

These unusual biscuits make it look like dinosaurs stomped through your kitchen.

When did dinosaurs live?

Explore the age of the dinosaurs, from the time they first appeared to the mass extinction 66 million years ago.

Why are birds the only surviving dinosaurs?

Watch our animation to find out.

What's wrong with these dinosaurs?

These popular dinosaur reconstructions from the 1960s are no longer scientifically accurate. Can you spot the errors?

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Browse our top five or explore more than 300 dinosaurs by name, shape or when and where they lived.

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• Experiments

How To Make An Easy Origami Paper Dinosaur

• Paper Art Videos

The origami bird base opens up a whole collection of great models to you. The bird base gets its name from the traditional crane, but let’s use it to create a very modern design, a great little paper dinosaur. If you’re a dinosaur fan, this is probably more of an origami velociraptor .

Instructions

P.S. Please subscribe to Papernautic on YouTube to keep track of the latest videos and tutorials.

Simply Full of Delight

Practical Help For Parents

Easy Paper Dinosaur Craft for Kids (Free Template!)

Looking for a fun Preschool Dinosaur printable? This Easy Paper Dinosaur Craft for kids is so simple with the free template.

Kids will enjoy creating their very own dinosaurs with moveable head and tail! It’s a fun and easy craft with the free printable dinosaur template.

I’ve been wanting to do a preschool dinosaur theme for a while now! After we did this Dinosaur Sensory Bin , my kids have been fascinated by dinosaurs.

When kids naturally interested in a topic, it’s a great time to lean into that particular interest to build that life long love of learning! According to Education Corner, kids learn best when they choose what to learn.

So, yes, we are reading tons of dinosaur books, doing dinosaur math, dinosaur sensory play, and of course doing some fun dinosaur crafts like these cute dinosaurs!

This easy preschool dinosaur craft is a fun way for kids to practice cutting skills and of course, fine motor skills. Coloring is a fun way to build hand strength and practice pencil grip too! Plus it works great as a D is for Dinosaur craft!

You might even use it as a fun activity at a dinosaur themed birthday party. This easy dinosaur craft is perfect for a rainy day or any time you need a simple craft!

My kids enjoy many different dinosaurs, but of course Tyrannosaurus Rex tops the list of their favorite dinosaurs. This easy dinosaur craft template is a friendly version of the T Rex, making it a fun craft for even young kids who might be scared of dinosaurs.

Let’s dive into this cute little dinosaur paper craft for kids!

** Disclaimer: As an Amazon.com Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases made by readers clicking my affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

Supplies for Easy Dinosaur Paper Craft

For this cute dinosaur craft, you will need the following items:

• Free Dinosaur Template PDF printed on white paper (You can access it in the free  Resource Library , available to all of my email subscribers. Need to join my email list? There’s a form at the end of this article!)
• Crayons  (Crayola really are the BEST!)
• Brads (otherwise known as paper fasteners) – You’ll need 2 – one for the head and one for the tail!
• Child safe Scissors  – Fiskars brand are the best!
• Optional:  Cardstock  – You might like to print this project on white cardstock to make it more durable.
• Also optional: glue stick – if you wish, instead of a moveable dinosaur, you can skip the brads and just glue the different pieces of the dinosaur together. It won’t move, but it’s still a great craft for your dinosaur fan.

Let’s get started on this fun dinosaur craft!

How to Make a Preschool Paper Dinosaur Craft

First, print out the dinosaur craft template from the  Resource Library  (free to my email subscribers! If you haven’t joined yet my email list yet, there’s a blue and gray box to join below!)

You can print the dinosaur shape template onto regular copy paper or you can use card stock to make it more durable.

Now it’s time to color! Give your child crayons. It’s always fun to see what color kids decide the dinosaur should be! Encourage them to use different colors for the stripes and body.

Next, it’s time to cut. Give your kids blunt tip child safe scissors and have them cut out all 3 pieces of the dinosaur including the head, body, and tail.

You might encourage little ones to cut straight across on the claws on the body of the dinosaur as they are a little more difficult to cut around.

Once they have cut out all 3 pieces, help them attach the dinosaur’s head to the neck of the dinosaur’s body with a brad. Then take the 2nd brad and use it to attach the tail to dinosaur’s body.

Note: For the head, the first stripe is meant to overlap with the first stripe on the body. This will give your dino some extra paper buffer so that the head doesn’t tear as easily. You may want to trim a little off of the long neck if it seems too long.

And…. you’re finished! Such a easy peasy fun craft! I hope this adorable dinosaur craft makes a great addition to your fun dinosaur activity unit.

Grab the Free Dinosaur Paper Craft Template

Want to make this craft? You can grab the free paper dinosaur craft template PDF in the free  Resource Library  which is available to my email subscribers. To Join my email list, simply type your email in the blue and gray box directly below.

You will get instant access to all the free printables in my Resource Library including this easy Preschool Dinosaur Craft!

Grab the Printables!

  Join my email list HERE to unlock the free 

   printables in  the Resource Library!

You’re on the list!  Check your inbox for the password to open the Free Resource Library!

More Preschool Activities

Looking for more dinosaur preschool crafts for younger kids to go along with these paper dinosaurs? You can find a Dinosaur Sensory Bin here.

You can find some amazingly Free Printable Dinosaur Coloring Pages here. Perfect for your dino loving kids!

Also, here’s a huge list of Dinosaur Activities for Preschoolers including paper plate dinosaurs, construction paper dinos, and dinosaur fun for kids of all ages!

There’s some cool dinosaur eggs here on Amazon, that are super fun for older kids. Little ones can unearth different types of dinosaurs by chiseling away as though they were searching for dinosaur fossils.

They might also enjoy these Take Apart Dinosaur toys . Kids can put on the dinosaur head, tail, legs and other moveable parts with the construction drill. What a perfect gift for little boys and girls who love dinos!

Looking for a great Dinosaur Book for kids? This Book of Dinosaurs is a filled with all kinds of interesting facts for your dino loving kids! Plus the book makes sounds of each dinosaur, AND you get 12 large dinosaur figures as well! So much learning fun to be had!

Did your young children love the moveable parts on this dinosaur craft? Here’s 3 more similar paper crafts with moving parts: There’s a Paper Ladybug , a fun little Paper Squirrel , and a cute little Paper Bee Craft as well. So much fun for little ones and a great way to practice scissor skills.

Want to save this dinosaur paper craft idea for later? Pin the image below to your Preschool Dinosaur ideas board on Pinterest!

Great resource. Thanks for posting this! It will come in handy on days I have my grandson .

Absolutely! Hope he enjoys it! My kids love dinosaur crafts!

I would like to download please

You can grab the download by entering your email in the orange/blue box in the article above. Thanks!

Love these dinosaurs!

thanks so much!

Could I have access to your resource Library please?

You can sign up for my email list in the box within the article. You will receive instant access to the library!

I am a new Homeschooling momma your crafts and more look amazing!

Thanks so much for the encouraging words!

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Origami Dinosaur

Introduction: Origami Dinosaur

These instructions will guide you through the steps necessary to construct an origami T-Rex. Origami is used by many to develop hand-eye coordination, patience, attention to detail, relieve stress and many other things. When folding in origami you want to make sure that the folds are crisp and clean. We found that around an hour is usually enough time to complete an origami dinosaur. The great thing about this is if you get stuck or frustrated you can step away from the project to run some errands. When you come back, the step will most likely appear easier, as your mind has had time to subconsciously figure out the fold while away from the project. When you complete the T-Rex you will have a great sense of accomplishment knowing that you created a paper dinosaur without the use of scissors, glue, or tape but only using your hands and a square piece of paper.

Fold and unfold the square along the diagonal from the top right to the bottom left corner of the square.

Fold and unfold the square along the diagonal from the top left to the bottom right corner of the square.

Turn the paper over.

Fold and unfold the square in half so that the top meets the bottom edge of the paper.

Fold the top left corner down to the crease you made in the previous step so that the corner meets the crease and the bottom left corner becomes a sharp point.

Take the far right edge of the flap and fold it so that it lines up with the left edge of the paper.

Fold the right side over to line up with the left edge.

Fold the left edge of the flap you just created to line up with the lower right edge, making the paper symmetric.

Completely unfold the flap on the right and the top part of the flap on the left.

Crease along the marked orange line to form a triangle that you will fold down so that the tip of the triangle is pointed towards the bottom right.

Flatten the point of the flap down to the right/bottom.

Unfold the flap you just created so that it forms a triangle.

Continue the crease you last created to make a new flap with a pointed corner at the top right of the paper.

Fold the right edge of the flap to line up with the left edge of the paper.

Fold the right edge of the paper to line up with the left edge of the paper.

Fold the left edge of the flap you just created to line up with the right edge. The paper should look symmetric.

Unfold everything.

Turn the paper so that the bottom left corner points towards you.

Create a fold along the dotted line pointing left, pinching and flattening it on top of the upper fold.

Flip the paper and create folds along the dotted lines by pinching the small flaps created in the previous step.

Push inward flatten the new flaps upward as shown.

Flatten the flaps towards the bottom of the paper. These will become the legs.

Fold those flaps down at a slight angle so that a triangle is created between them. (See picture for reference)

Fold and unfold the top corners of the middle flaps down to create sharp points. The inner points of these new flaps meet crease lines that are already there.

With both flaps completely unfolded, open the edge of leg and fold the paper in along the creases you created in the previous step.

Fold the bottom point of the paper to meet the middle corners of the flaps in the middle of the paper, unfold.

Fold the top point of the paper down to meet the crease created in Step 26.

Fold the point that meets the crease created in Step 27 (this is the same point used in the previous step) up so it meets the top of the paper.

Unfold Step 28.

Fold the paper in half vertically, to the rear, so that the middle flaps remain on the outside of the fold.

Hold the paper with the middle flaps pointing towards the left.

Push the top edge of the paper down so that a curve is created. Then pinch the outside edges of the paper so that there is a triangle pointing towards the left. This will become the head.

Unfold the top and bottoms fold of the paper where the head will be, so that there is only one layer.

Crease the paper along the pink dotted lines so that a valley is created. Be sure to crease the edges of the outer two segments of the head. Pinch the inner valley that you created and push the outer two segments of the head down to create a shape similar to a kite

Opening the center fold of the paper, fold the head down along the pink dotted line and then fold the paper back up a little higher up the neck towards the head.

Push up the corners of the upper section in and flatten them, making small triangles as shown in the picture.

Holding the neck, fold the tip of the nose about halfway and push it inside of the head flap. Pinch to flatten. The head is complete.

Turn the paper so that the head and legs of the dinosaur point down towards you.

Unfold the flap made in Step 25 on the side of the paper that is facing you

Fold the bottom points of the legs upwards into a small triangle.

Fold the bottom edge of the triangles forward. These will be the feet.

Remake the crease unfolded in step 39.

Repeat step 42 on the other leg.

Open the paper so that the legs/feet are facing upward towards you.

Fold a joint into the tail by folding the bottom point of the paper down about three-fourths of the way from the tail, and then folding it up a little further down the tail. This step is similar to the joint made in the neck in Step 35.

Repeat the previous step further down on the tail. (the third photo is from the inside of the dinosaur)

Fold the dinosaur in half, as in step 30.

You're finished!

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4 years ago

ba ba baaa, ba ba baaa, bA BuUuH Ba-Ba dAaAh, Da-dA-Da dAaA, DaA, bA BuUuH Ba-Ba dAaAh

7 years ago

This looks fun :)

How to make a paper dinosaur

Cute, sleepy or scary - how will you make yours look?

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If you've got some dino fans in your house then we think learning how to make a paper plate dinosaur just might go down a treat.

Quick and easy to make this papercraft is perfect to make with little ones from around 3 years old and up - just remember the plastic table cloth!

The kids will love getting messy painting their own paper dinosaur and designing its face. What do you think they'll opt for? Cheeky, sleepy or maybe scary? You'll have to have a go at making some to find out we guess...

Here's everything you need to know.

You will need

• Large paper plate
• Toilet roll
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Wiggle eyes

How to make a paper plate dinosaur

Fold a large paper plate in half, and cut into 2 to create the 'shell' of your dinosaur.

Take one half of the plate and draw and cut a head, a tail and triangular spikes in whatever shapes you fancy. Glue these to the second half of the plate to start to create the template for your dinosaur.

To make the feet, measure and cut a toilet roll into 3. Take 2 pieces and cut slits in the top on opposite sides. Insert the dinosaur's body onto the feet so it's stable and can stand.

Paint the dinosaur with your chosen colour of acrylic paint and leave to dry - this could take a few hours.

Add a wiggle eye to the dinosaur's head to give yours some character and a face with personality. Now all that's left to do is to name your new pet!

Have you made our papercraft dinosaur? Let us know in our comments below or send us a picture on our  Facebook page . We love to see the crafty things you lovely lot have been up to.

Craft by: Suzie Attaway

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Rosie is an experienced food and drinks journalist who has spent over a decade writing about restaurants, cookery, and foodie products. Previously Content Editor at Goodto.com and Digital Food Editor on Woman&Home, Rosie is well used to covering everything from food news through to taste tests. Now, as well as heading up the team at SquareMeal - the UK's leading guide to restaurants and bars - she also runs a wedding floristry business in Scotland called Lavender and Rose.

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Origami Way

Origami dinosaur instructions.

Kids who love dinosaurs would definitely love to make this one! Let the little ones enjoy folding paper as they create their own wonderful origami dinosaur and show their creativity on a skillful and cheerful level. Have them another core memory of uniqueness and creativity about dinosaurs!

How to Make Origami Dinosaur

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How to make an Easy Origami Dinosaur with Free Flip Book

This origami tutorial will show you how to make an Origami Dinosaur in minutes! Origami is a fun and easy hobby to get into. It’s great for all ages, and it helps you think outside the box!

If you’re looking for a new way to express your creativity or just want something fun to do during down time , then try origami. This dinosaur design is perfect for beginners. So, let’s get started!

Supplies Needed for the Dinosaur Origami

• Free Origami Dinosaur Flip Book
• Coloring Paper
• Crayola Markers
• or Colored Pencils

1. Free Downloadable Dinosaur Instructions

2. Origami Paper

3. Crayola Markers

3. Colored Pencils

Origami Dinosaur Tutorial Video

Check out our Dinosaur Origami Video below!

If you love Origami, then click the links below!

• What Is Origami?
• What Does Origami Mean?
• The Wonderful History Of Origami Drawing
• Origami Easy for Kids
• Fun Easy Origami
• Birthday Origami Ideas
• 30 Origami Animals
• 25 Cool Origami

How to make an Origami Dinosaur Step by Step

If you’re looking for a fun origami project , why not try making a Dinosaur? This classic origami shape is perfect for beginners. Follow this step-by-step tutorial and you’ll be folding origami Dinosaurs in no time !

1. Grab the paper.

Start with construction paper to begin your origami . You will need scissors.

2. Fold Downwards.

Begin folding the paper downwards like so. Then use the scissors to cut the excess paper.

3. Bend the paper.

Open the paper up then bend the paper in half. Make sure to create nice creases in the paper.

4. Fold sections.

Begin folding each section. Repeat the process until you have folded each section like in the picture below.

5. Overlap the sections.

Take the top part of the paper and fold in. Then do exactly the same with the back. Next fold the bottom tip.

6. Double over.

Open the inside then double over each section.

7. Create the Head.

Bend over the ends of the dinosaur just like this. Then fold up and then over.

8. Now the legs.

Crease the inside portion to make the arms. Then bend downwards for the front leg and then do the same for the back leg.

9. Create the Dinosaur Feet.

Begin by folding a portion of the leg backwards. Lastly, bend them forward.

That’s It! You just created a Paper Dinosaur.

Congratulations! Easy Peazy Leamon Squeezy!

Free Paper Dinosaur Instructions

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Wrapping up How to Make a Fun Dinosaur Craft

We hope you enjoyed making this fun dinosaur craft with us! We hope that by following our craft’s tutorial , you were able to make a fun, creative gift for someone you love.

If you would like to make more crafts like this, we recommend checking out our printables for more fun ideas. Please be on the lookout for our next craft post coming out soon! If you have any concerns or comments, feel free to reach out to us

If you like this article about Origami Dinosaur for Kids, please comment below.

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How to Make a Paper Mache Dinosaur

Want to show your kids how to make a paper mache dinosaur? With a little planning, this is an easy dinosaur art project to make with kids.

We will be showing you a step by step tutorial on how to make a paper mache stegosaurus, but you can go with any other dino. Ready to enter the world of papier-mâché? Let’s go!

Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? We sure do!

Be sure to check these dinosaur coloring pages – your kids can first color them and once done and forgotten, they can be used as a material for making paper mache sculptures.

How to Make Paper Mache Dinosaur (Stegosaur)

What you need:

• paper mache glue (we have collected the best paper mache glue recipes )
• newspaper or other old papers
• tape (masking tape, duct tape, sellotape – anything goes)
• paints and paintbrushes
• toilet paper rolls (5 pieces)
• balloons (one large balloon and one water balloon)

Step by Step Tutorial

If not using store-bought, the first thing to do is to make paper mache glue .

Plan the dinosaur’s body shape

Have the kids think about what type of dinosaur they want to make and think about the materials that will help them achieve the desired shape.

For any type of paper mache dinosaur, a large balloon is a great starting point for making a body. Four-legged dinosaurs like stegosaurus, triceratops, or diplodocus are easier to make as the four legs will support them, while T-rex is a little bit trickier and you will also need to consider weighing down its legs (glue some pebbles in for example) to have the dino keep its balance on two feet.

For our stegosaurus, we will be using one large balloon for the body, and four toilet paper rolls for legs to start things off.

You can cut the shaper rolls to make them fit more closely to the balloon, but this isn’t a necessary step.

Make the body shape

Secure the legs to the balloon using tape – you don’t need to make it super secure as you will secure them with newspaper strips dipped in paper mache.

If you are making this project with younger kids, it’s best to go a little bit wild with taping the legs to the body as it will make it easier for them.

Add the first layer of paper

Start adding the first layer of paper. For this project, it’s best to start with longer strips of paper dipped in paper mache glue and apply it in a way that one strip of paper covers both the leg and the ballon. This way, once the glue dries, the leg will be attached to the body.

Slowly work your way around the dinosaur.

Flip the dinosaur

Allow the glue to dry a little, it doesn’t have to be completely dry, and flip the dinosaur. You can use a bowl as a stand to keep the dinosaur from wobbling left and right.

Work on covering the belly as well as finishing up the legs. It’s best to use a combination of longer paper strips as well as small torn pieces of newspaper.

Slowly work on each leg.

Once done you can let your first layer dry.

Making the plates and tail

While the body dries, make the plates for your stegosaur and tail.

Take a piece of old cardboard and draw outlines for the tail and the plates.

Cut them all out. The plates will be good as they are but the tail will need some extra work.

Take a sheet of paper (newspaper, flyers…) and crumple it into a ball. Measure it next to the tail and press it to shape it to fit the tail.

Secure it with tape. Rinse and repeat (on both sides of the cardboard tail) until you are happy with your dinosaur tail shape.

Tape the tail to the body just like you did with the legs.

Neck and head (and plates)

The first layer of paper mache should be dry before moving to this step, it doesn’t have to be 100% dry, but close to it.

Tape one toilet paper roll on the body of the dinosaur to make the neck.

Tape a small water-balloon to the end of the toilet paper roll to make the head.

This part might be a little tricky for younger kids so they might need assistance.

Tape each of the plates to the dinosaur’s back (you can also do next and tail but we recommend you do another layer of paper mache dipped newspaper first).

A new layer of paper or two

Start adding another layer of paper, focusing on plates, neck, head as well as tail. Smaller pieces of newspaper will work best when working around plates.

Once the layer dries, add another (and another depending on the paper you are using).

Note: if you are unlucky as we were, the balloon might pop, so it’s best to not wait too long between adding new layers. However, accidents can sometimes be a good thing – when we were making this dinosaur, the water balloon popped after the first layer was added and it made a great-looking shape for the dinosaur’s mouth.

Drying and coloring

Once you have all your layers, let the paper mache dinosaur dry off completely. With this last step, it is super important for the glue to really dry so it’s best to leave it dry for a day or two.

Acrylic paints are great as they will add some waterproofness to your kid’s creations but other paints are great for this project as well.

Take your time painting the dinosaur. Make one coat of paint or more. One coat will usually let some of the newspaper be seen through, which can add extra charm to your paper mache dinosaur.

While the plates are fairly secure at this stage, it’s best to be a little bit cautious when painting them.

Paint on the eyes. Make a white circle, and let it dry. Add other details (you can use acrylic paint markers which are great for drawing on finer details).

Also, paint on some toes on the feet of your paper mache dinosaur.

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Kids Art & Craft

How to make a paper dinosaur – step by step instructions.

Paper Crafts

If your kids are dino fans then we think this tutorial on how to make a paper dinosaur craft just might go down as a treat for your kids.

Today in this tutorial we are going to make some anime dinosaur figures with our craft skill, children should be encouraged to do such activities on a regular basis, this will increase their part of knowledge which they will gather while doing hands-on, also their co-curricular skills will be enhanced and such processes of doing hands-on can also be implemented while teaching them this will make their interest grow on a particular topic and they will experience a fun learning process. So without any further delay let us begin without today’s craft that is making a paper dinosaur.

How to Make Paper Dinosaur – Step by Step Instructions

We will be requiring some basic materials such as:

• Green color paper
• Red color paper
• White color paper
• A pair of scissors
• A glue-stick
• Eye shaped beads

Step 1:  Paper Selection

• Take a green sheet of paper according to the dimension of which you want your dinosaur to be.
• You can choose any shade of green or any other color according to your own preference.

Step 2: Pre-definition

• Using a marker get an idea of the top and bottom ends of your figure, this will help you to get an exact figure without error.
• Make sure that the figure fits beforehand otherwise you will need to re-do the whole thing

Step 3: Making The Sketch

• Use a pencil to draw an anime dinosaur figure on the green figure.
• Make sure to use the pencil lightly so that if you commit a mistake you can use an eraser with no bold marks remaining back.
• Practice the figure beforehand in rough to get a perfect figure in the final go.

Step 4: Cut

• Using a pair of scissors cut out the figure along the outlines drawn previously.

Step 5: The Cutout

• Make sure that the cut-out is even, if not so work on the edges to make it even using a pair of scissors.

Step 6: Designing The Back

• Measure and cut out a red triangle to detail the back of the dinosaur.
• This will add a ferocious element to your anime dinosaur character.

Step 7: Cut Out More Such Triangles

• Cut out more such triangles using the same red color paper.
• Make sure that the triangles are of equal size.

Step 8: Paste The Triangles

• Paste the triangle cutouts in an orderly manner just as shown.
• You can definitely use some other shade of red or any other contrasting color paper to do this very detailing according to your own preference.

Step 9: Pasting The Eye

• With the help of a glue-stick paste an eye-shaped bead, which is readily available in the appropriate space.

Step 10: Drawing And Cutting The Teeth

• On a white sheet of paper draw the structure of teeth and cut it out using a pair of scissors.

Step 11: Paste The Teeth

• Now using a glue-stick paste the teeth were drawn and cut previously in the space below the mouth of the dinosaur.

Step 12: Your Paper Dinosaur Is Ready!!

Some more dinosaur craft tutorial, make a dinosaur animal craft with a toilet paper roll for children.

Image Source/Tutorial: Kids Art & Craft

This fun craft project is perfect for kids! Make a cute dinosaur animal craft with a toilet paper roll. It’s a great way to get creative and have fun with your little ones. They’ll love the end result and the satisfaction of making something with their own hands.

Art Projects For Kids To Create Dinosaur Craft Using Leaves

This fun art project for kids is a great way to let them explore their creativity. With just a few leaves and some glue, kids can create a unique dinosaur craft. It’s an easy and fun way to bring out their inner artist.

Interesting Facts About Dinosaurs

• Dinosaurs are the extinct species of animals that ruled Earth before the existence of human beings. They used to be huge in size and were extremely ferocious.
• Archeological surveys found out about the existence of these creatures and they even found out suppressed skeletons and fossils which confirms their existence.
• Dinosaurs lived on earth millions of years ago and some of them even could blow out fire from their mouth.
• According to the animal kingdom classification they are placed in the category of reptiles.
• Talking about their body structure, they used to have four legs and giant tails, some of them even possessed the ability to fly.
• Belonging from the reptile family they could reside both in water as well as inland.
• According to paleontologists, these animals had various abilities and some of them reproduced as mammals by giving birth to young once whereas some laid eggs.
• These mammoth creatures ruled our mother earth for about 165 million years and finally couldn’t withstand the extreme change in weather and climate that took place, thus their adaptations started becoming weak and soon this dangerously interesting species of the animal go extinct.
• There has been an entire series named Jurassic park which is based on the theme of dinosaurs which has a grand fanbase among children.
• Children find a lot of interest in knowing details about these creatures also there has been a lot of studies to date and paleontologists along with archeologists are still on with their studies to discover more amazing facts about dinosaurs.

This was a fun and engaging papercraft that yields fantastic output, you can make a couple of these and exhibit them or use them to decorate your favorite scrapbook or any part of your room or table. You can even improvise on these by making more details in the body using paint or watercolor paints. Following the detailed elaborated steps, it makes it easier for even kids to perform this craft. So, what are you waiting for? go ahead and make your own paper dinosaur today!

FAQ on How to Make a Paper Dinosaur – Step by Step Instructions

1. what materials are needed to make a paper dinosaur.

Answer: You will need paper (regular or construction paper), scissors, glue, and crayons or markers.

2. What type of paper should I use?

Answer: You can use either regular paper or construction paper.

3. How do I draw the dinosaur shape?

Answer: You can either draw the dinosaur shape freehand or use a stencil or template to trace the shape.

4. How do I make the dinosaur’s legs?

Answer: Cut 4 strips of paper and roll each one into a tube shape. Glue them to the sides of the dinosaur body.

5. How do I make the dinosaur’s eyes?

Answer: Cut two circles from paper and glue them to the top of the dinosaur’s head.

6. How do I make the dinosaur’s tail?

Answer: Cut a long strip of paper and curl it into a spiral. Glue it to the back of the dinosaur’s body.

7. How do I make the dinosaur’s spikes?

Answer: Cut several short strips of paper and curl them into a spiral. Glue them to the back of the dinosaur’s body.

8. How do I make the dinosaur’s claws?

Answer: Cut four small triangles from paper and glue them to the end of the dinosaur’s legs.

9. How do I add color to the dinosaur?

Answer: You can use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to decorate the dinosaur.

10. How do I make the dinosaur stand up?

Answer: Glue a popsicle stick to the bottom of the dinosaur’s body to make it stand up.

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Make a Pattern for a Paper Mache Therizinosaurus …

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My Paper Mache Dinosaur Project…

Valerie asked me to make a paper mache dinosaur in a comment on YouTube, and I thought it was a fantastic idea. And even though I never finished making the dino, I still think it’s a great idea. 🙂

I’ve been reading about the Therizinosaurus lately in the book Dinosaurs – The Grand Tour , and I’m fascinated by how paleoartists imagine an entire 30-foot-long animal when all they have are a few ribs and three claws.

I’ve never made a dinosaur sculpture, but I’ve wanted to for a long time. This one isn’t actually finished yet, but it was fun creating the pattern.

But I admit my method for creating the pattern was strange, to say the least.

In fact, I almost didn’t show you this part of my project, because it might look just a tad unprofessional.

But you know what? The creative process can get messy, and we all know it. So why shouldn’t I just turn on the camera and let you see how I turned the kangaroo from my last video into a pattern for a Therizinosaurus ?

A bit of chopping, a bit of stretching, and now he’s ready for muscles, toes and claws. And a beak, of course.

Or watch this video if you’d like to make your own pattern for a paper mache dinosaur, and for instructions on how to use the grid method to make your pattern as large as you want.

In the next video I’ll start working on those feet, and I might add the claws, too. This creature has swords on the end of his fingers that are half as long as his arms – but he is supposed to be a herbivore, not the deadly dinosaur that he was first imagined to be.

Or a Dragon, Perhaps?

I’ve always thought dragons were invented to help people understand the existence of dinosaur bones. How else could they explain such huge creatures? And perhaps modern scientists weren’t the first people to discover that dinos had feathers.

The Therizinosaurus would work well as a dragon, with a few horns on his head, like the ones on Dracorex hogwartsia . He already has a dragon’s serpent-like neck, and those impossibly long claws that are half as long as his arms. All he’s missing are the wings. Maybe wings with three-foot claws? Shudder…

To learn more about this famous dinosaur , (the real one, not my made-up dragon idea) visit this page: http://dino.wikia.com/wiki/Therizinosaurus

You might like these posts, too:

• Museum-quality dinosaur sculptures made with paper mache clay
• How to make a dinosaur gift for a child
• How Cindy made her Chimera sculpture

25 thoughts on “Make a Pattern for a Paper Mache Therizinosaurus …”

After a disastrous day trying to make a giant paper mache egg (the balloon popped), I searched the Internet and found you. I’m obsessed and really love your work! Just wondering if you have an Instagram page?! If not, would you please consider getting an account for us Instagram peeps so we can follow and quickly see what you are working on? Thank you for all your inspiration and tutorials! <3

Hi Marsha. I’m sorry your balloon experience wasn’t pleasant. I hate using balloons with paper mache. Did you see my post about my Humpty Dumpty adventure ? I got it to work, but I cheated. 🙂

I know everyone in the world is on Instagram, but I don’t have a smart phone. I really don’t want a smart phone. I know there are work-arounds that let people post on Instagram without a smart phone, but it isn’t easy. However, a few minutes ago I added a push notification service to my blog. If you see the option to subscribe (it will pop up at the top of the page) go ahead do it. Then you’ll be notified on your screen when I post something new. The other options are to get notifications through email , or to subscribe to my YouTube channel . Pick one, and you’ll never be left out when something exciting shows up on the blog. 🙂

hi, i’ve worked on balloons earlier, biggest problem was stability, therefore i used a cooking pan for the balloon to rest in, then i started by adding just a single layer of kitchen role soaked with glue, left it to dry turned it upside down and did the second half on the balloon, left it to dry again and repeated the proces again, after 2 layers it was much easier to add a thin layer of paper clay without it sliding off the balloon. for applying the paper mache clay again i did 1 side at a time , left it to dry before turning it over and do the other side. preparing your balloon before inflating (stretch it a few times by hand) gives lesser chance that it may burst, also the first 2 layers make it less fragile. pictures of the finished result can be found on xentrium.com , hope this info helped for you.

Jonni Here’s a model of a Tyrannosaurus rex. The tail is massive so are the legs. https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/5-dinosaurs-that-called-canada-home In comparison, the kangaroo has a thin tail and legs. We used to see quite a lot of roos around but development and drought makes them scarce. The local uni has a small mob. One expects to see them with mortar boards and gowns.

I’ve attached a pic of a ramp walking roo. It’s a little drunk and has a tendency to fall head over tail.

Hi Barry. Thanks for the link. That Elasmosaurus was really amazing. And T-Rex is terrifying, of course. I think you’re right about the tail, so I thickened it at the base. But that brings up a question I’ve been pondering – maybe you know the answer. What would the dinosaurs use those big heavy tails for? Are they just for balance? Most animals with tails have skinny ones, just the vertebrae and enough muscles to hold them up. But the dinosaurs are always shown with the heavy tail straight out behind them, and it would take a lot of energy just to keep it in that position. So – what’s the deal with dino tails?

hi, you could use the tail to as a third leg to stabilize it

That would be helpful, but I never see artists’ renderings of a dinosaur with the tail dragging on the ground. That doesn’t mean they didn’t relax occasionally, of course. I hope to get started on his feet today, and they’ll be weighted, so we’ll see if that helps. If not, I may drop the tail as you suggest. Thanks for the idea!

Thank you Jonni. I thoroughly enjoy watching your videos and you are so talented. Thank you for all your tips as well cheers Jenny.

You’re welcome, Jenny. Happy sculpting!

Jonni, This isn’t exactly about the dinosaur but when making my sculptures I had used recycled plastic bags. I found this is not a good idea because I needed to drill my sculpture and you can not if you use plastic bags. The drill grabs them and you have no controll over what happens. If paper is used there is no problem. I thought I would mention this in case some have thought to use plastic bags.

That’s a good point, Kathleen. I have often considered using plastic bags inside of sculptures, but I’ve never actually tried it. Now I’m really curious, though – what kind of sculptures do you make? I’m trying to think of something that requires drilling on a regular basis, and I’m stumped. 🙂

Jonni, I like the tail weight and base ideas that have been suggested. Many taxidermy and museum models also use a vertical post, sometimes disguised as foliage or some other feature. The other thing to consider is rotating the legs under the body enough to achieve the balance you want. If this were a real creature, it would not need a lead toe or tail to balance; it would all be flesh and bone. So, I would just make the leg-body angle allow for natural balance.

That’s an interesting idea. I have seen some drawings of the dinosaur with legs spread very much like the kangaroo that I used for my original pattern. With large feet and that stance, it would certainly help. As soon as I can get back to I’ll give that a try. Thanks for the suggestions. 🙂

Jonni I’ve just Googled dinosaurs. The top of the tail is very thick and the legs connect so that the upper weight is close to the lower weight.

I’m mostly back to woodwork now but, curiously, I’ve just made a few walking kangaroos. Barry

Barry, I’d love to see your kangaroos. Do you have a photo you could share? And perhaps a link to an image that shows the way you describe the tail?

I agree with adding some weight to tail to help balance but here is another thought that might help. If you’ve ever noticed a chicken footprint, they have a smaller talon “toe” that comes out the “heel” part of the foot. The raptor dinosaurs also had this so it would be authentic. If you added the back talon with a little weight to it along with the tail weight it might just do the trick. 🙂

Excellent idea, Dorothy! I just looked to see if Therizinosaurus’s relatives’ feet bones that have been found, and the Erikosaurus does have chicken-like feet with the fourth toe pointing backwards. That will really help a lot! If I gave this beast some heavy legs, the way some artists have drawn him, I might be able to put the weights right in in the legs.

I’m having so much fun with all these suggestions and ideas that I want to get right back to work on him – I’ll try to carve out a little spare time tomorrow.

Hi, Jonni This would be a good piece to put on a base. You can incorporate thin bolts in his legs, drill a hole in the base, put the bolts through the holes and attach a washer and nut. Not only will it stabilize the dino. You won’t have to worry about hitting it’s claws or nose, or body on anything if you put it in a box to send it somewhere, or just stand it in your garden. Thank you for all the information you post. I’m learning a whole new way of doing things. Happy trails.

Hi Freda Mae – that is a good point. I tend to whack the nose and tail of my creatures against door jams when I move them from one room to another. I may have to reconsider the base.

Hi Jonni, I’ve done a number of paper mâché animals and have always added weight to them for good balance. However, I make my armature from chicken wire etc., so the first shape I have is hollow. I’ve used everything from an old head of an axe, to a bunch of rocks. Any way you can make a hollow space and fill with your choice of weight will work. Your creations are always amazing.

Thanks, Patricia. That’s a good idea. Maybe I could use hot glue to attach a few rocks to the base of the tail – if I can find some under three feet of snow! Rummaging around in the basement for something heavy might be a better idea. 🙂

So I’m not the only one who does this…lol…you are so funny….love that it’s a dinosaur…I wish you would video the whole process…I’ve started a rabbit and it’s so ugly that I can’t seem to finish it…thank you for sharing this with us…love it…

I will turn on the camera as I work to finish the dinosaur. This is a ‘just for fun’ project, and I do have other things I’m supposed to be working on – like a pattern for a faux deer trophy mount that is almost finished, and headdress masks for the full cast of the Lion King play, which I’ve only just started. But I’ll work on dino in my spare time. 🙂

I think I’ll use a colorful bird for inspiration for painting him. Any suggestions?

Hi Jonni. I do have a suggestion for helping your dinosaur stand up. We’ve often done pinewood derby and used weights to increase the car’s overall weight. Or drilled out because it’s supposed to be a certain weight. why couldn’t you take lead weights and attach them in the tail section, the rear to add more weight to balance out the sculpture? This could even be done later if a small section left open to fill till balanced.

Good idea, Julia. I think it would work. The balance will continue to change as I keep adding more padding, so maybe I’ll need to wait until the sculpture is almost finished. I could drill through the dried paper mache clay skin and add some weights. Thanks for the tip.

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