This week we’ve been reading Six Little Chicks by Jez Alborough. It is a fantastic story to read in the Spring or around Easter. The illustrations of the chicks in the story are fantastic and we wanted to make our own cute chicks. Throughout the story the Mother Hen is waiting for her last egg to hatch so we thought we would recreate this little chick, finally hatching out of its egg!
To make the Six Little Chicks Hatching Chick Craft you will need:
- Two 1 litre plastic milk cartons
- Scissors
- Acrylic paint (yellow and brown or white for the egg)
- Paint brush
- Black permanent marker pen
- Orange card for beak
- White stickers for eyes or white card and double-sided sticky tape
We thoroughly cleaned two 1 litre plastic milk cartons. You could also use a large milk carton to make a Hen but we thought this size was perfect for a little chick.
If you have older children you can supervise them cutting the milk cartons but in our case I cut each milk carton into two halves. You will need two ‘bottom pieces’ for the egg and one ‘top piece’ for the chick.
Then we got painting. We chose a really bright yellow for the chick and I love how the acrylic spreads thickly and easily to quickly cover the milk carton. Once we had covered the chick in yellow we mixed brown with white to create an ‘egg colour’ and Burt painted the two bottom pieces from the milk cartons.
Then we left them to dry completely.
Once the acrylic was fully dried we stuck two eyes and a beak to the chick. Then I took one of the egg pieces and drew a jagged edge with a permanent marker pen. Then I cut along the jagged edge and added some extra cracks with the pen for effect. The edges can be sharp so if you are very concerned you could round off the corners or cover them with tape.
I placed the second egg piece inside the first and used the jagged edge as a template so that the two will match up. Then I pulled the two pieces apart again and cut along the second jagged edge.
Once I had two egg pieces, both with jagged edges cut, I carefully slid the chick inside the two egg pieces to create the Hatching Chick. When you slide the top piece away you reveal the chick inside. You can also hide treats under the chick if you wanted to use this craft for an Easter gift or surprise. When we read Six Little Chicks by Jez Alborough we now have to reveal our own little chick inside its home-made egg!
The Hatching Chick was such a hit that we have since made more and Burt has been experimenting with a few different colours. I quite like his red and yellow chick, so let your children’s imaginations run wild and let them create their own chicks in whatever colours they choose.
You can read more about the story that inspired us Six Little Chicks by Jez Alborough or discover some more crafts and activities linked to the book.
Have you been inspired by a book to craft, go on an outing or do an activity this week?
I’m linking my Hatching Chick Craft up to this month’s #GetYourCraftOn challenge. This month’s theme is “Chicks and Eggs’ and you have until midnight on Friday 28th March to link up! Also linking up with Tuesday Tutorials over at In The Playroom.
well that is just gorgoeus
Becky recently posted…I did my Sports Relief 10k in my bedroom!
What a fabulous craft idea! I love that you could use these as homemade Easter gifts too with little treats inside. I’ve pinned for future reference!
Mummy of Two recently posted…My Samsung is more than just a phone #Shop
Adorable Kirsty! We never do too much for Easter, but I know that T will have a blast doing this craft x
What a brilliant idea! I love crafts inspired by books, a great way to encourage children to interact with the book as they act it out.
Jennifer recently posted…Hama bead and paper plate Easter decorations
Thank you Jennifer. We now hatch out milk carton chick at the same time as the chick hatches at the end of the book and it really adds to the experience!
Talk about adorable! My plan for later today is to plan some Easter crafts to do with LMC. These might have to be on the list!
Penny Carr recently posted…Challenging myself - to hopefully help others
Oh, cute, sounds like good fun! Love the pics too!
Ahh these are adorable!! We love six little chicks x
Rachel recently posted…Top That Publishing Children’s Books
What a brilliant craft! I love it! My favourite is the expression on the chicks faces - they look shocked to be out in the world!! MY little ones would love to make this.
Aww this is SO lovely Kirsty! Great recycling and such an adorable craft.
Thank you for linking up to #Getyourcrafton too x
Liz Burton recently posted…Win a gorgeous kid’s jumper from Picaloulou
What a fabulous idea! Easy and a cute decoration too. I bet your kids really enjoyed making these
suzanne3childrenandit recently posted…Overcoming Hurdles
Awwww that is super cute!!! Fabulous
be sure to add it to Liz’s #GetYourCraftOn linky this month!!!
I absolutely love this cute idea! So clever
x
Kirsty - Hijacked by Twins recently posted…How Does Your Garden Grow? Week 13 2014
I adore this, it is soooooo cool
Jen aka The Mad House recently posted…Homemade Mothers Day Cards for kids to make
This is fantastic! What a brilliant way to reuse milk cartons. A very clever idea indeed!
Sam recently posted…My Mother’s Day plants
This is a brilliant idea - it looks like lots of fun to make and to play with.
Mums do travel recently posted…5 inspirational adventurer mothers
This is fab! Such a well laid out tutorial and it looks great x
Ha! Love it! What a super idea. Both of my two will have lots of fun with this.
This is UTTER genius!!
Please would you share it at #Pintorials? http://hodgepodgecraft.com/2014/03/diy-mothers-day-gifts-tuesday-tutorials/
x
Gude recently posted…How to make egg chicks for Easter
Awww, Kirsty, that is just gorgeous!
Emma recently posted…How to Catch a Star - Oliver Jeffers
I love this! What a fantastic use of old cartons! x
Wow! This is amazing! Love it!
These are brilliant - going to have to revert back to milk cartons for a couple of weeks
Kara recently posted…The Gallery - Swimming
What a brilliant idea! love it! x
Fritha Strickland recently posted…1995
Utter genius … AGAIN! I love your craft posts
Oh wow Kirsty this is flipping awesome. You are amazing with your craft skilz you really are. I love these, just perfect for Easter
Kirsty I am just loving your blog so much lately. This is an amazing idea
Pinkoddy recently posted…Lego Egg Decorating – Eggett (Emmett) and Superman #MotivationalMonday
Thanks so much Joy, we are having lots of fun so I’m glad you are enjoying it too x
That’s adorable, have pinned!
Jenny recently posted…Painting with recycled cardboard flowers
Thank you I’m glad you like it and thank you for the pin x
Great fun and all the better for using receycled materials. #pintorials
Cheryl recently posted…Dear Daughter. About Homework.
Love these, a genius idea a worthy of a special mention