10 Sassy Snake Crafts for Kids: Slithery DIY Fun Using Everyday Items

These Sassy Snake Crafts for Kids prove that you can make snakes out of pretty much anything! From paper plates and cardboard tubes to egg cartons and even old socks, there is no limit to how you can transform simple household materials into a vibrant, slithery friend.

You would think that humans, with our high intellect and opposable thumbs, could handle most situations with ease. Yet, even a “grand human” will often run at the mere mention of a snake, let alone the sight of one! Yes, snakes—those limbless, scaly creatures—can give even the bravest person a run for their money. However, they are an essential part of our wildlife and ecosystem. Beyond the fear of venom, snakes serve as nature’s built-in pest control system, helping to keep rodent populations in check.¹

To help kids (and maybe adults!) move past their fears and appreciate these fascinating reptiles, World Snake Day is celebrated every year on July 16th.² It’s the perfect time to learn about biodiversity through some “sssimple” and “sssuper-fun” snake crafts.

The Benefits of Snake-Themed Crafting

Crafting snakes is more than just a way to pass the time; it’s a powerful educational experience. Because of their unique shapes and movements, snake crafts offer specific developmental perks:

• Fine Motor Precision: Cutting a spiral out of a paper plate or threading beads onto a string hones a child’s pincer grasp and hand-eye coordination.³
• Understanding Movement: Creating articulated or accordion-style snakes teaches kids about mechanical movement and how joints (or lack thereof) work.
• Scientific Curiosity: As kids choose colors and patterns, it’s the perfect time to talk about camouflage, warning colors, and different snake habitats.⁴

1. The Moving Accordion Paper Snake

The accordion paper snake is a classic project that is perfect for kids who have some craft practice but want a bit of a challenge.⁵ This craft uses a “weaving” or “folding” technique that results in a snake that can actually stretch and bounce!

• How to make it: Cut two long strips of colored paper.⁶ Glue the ends together at a 90-degree angle to form an “L” shape.⁷ Alternate folding the bottom strip over the top strip repeatedly until you reach the end.⁸ Secure with glue, and add a paper head, googly eyes, and a long forked tongue!
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2. Rainbow Perler Bead Snakes

With Perler beads (fuse beads), you can make your snake as colorful and “sassy” as you want! This craft is excellent for helping kids stay focused on a single task while developing their fine motor skills.⁹

• The Sassy Factor: Kids can create intricate patterns—dots, stripes, or even “glow-in-the-dark” scales.¹⁰ Once the beads are ironed together, the result is a sturdy, flat snake that makes a great backpack charm or coaster.

3. Chic Egg Carton Slitherer

A snake from egg cartons? It might not seem likely, but the rounded “cups” of a cardboard egg carton are the perfect shape for a segmented snake body.¹¹

• Style Tip: You can paint the cups in muted, chic tones like olive green and gold for a realistic look, or go full “rainbow” for a younger audience.
• Assembly: Punch a hole through the center of each cup and thread them together with a piece of yarn or a pipe cleaner.¹² This allows the snake to wiggle and “slither” when pulled across the floor.¹³
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4. Articulated Jointed Toy Snakes

“Articulated” simply means having joints! These snakes are designed to be played with again and again. By using cardstock and brass fasteners (brads), you can create a snake that twists and turns just like a real one.

• Why kids love it: The movement is incredibly satisfying. Kids can experiment with how many segments to add—the more segments, the more “bendy” the snake becomes.

5. The Paper Plate “Whirligig” Snake

This is a budget-friendly favorite! Take a standard white paper plate and let the kids paint it with wild patterns. Once dry, cut the plate in a continuous spiral starting from the outside and working toward the center.¹⁴

• The Result: When you lift the center (the head), the rest of the body hangs down in a long, bouncy coil. These look amazing hanging from the ceiling near a window where they can catch the breeze!

6. Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes

Don’t throw away those toilet paper or paper towel rolls! Paint the tubes inside and out. Once the paint is dry, cut the tube in a spiral fashion.

• Coiling Tip: Wrap the cut cardboard around a thick marker or your finger to give it a tight, “coiled” shape.¹⁵ This gives the appearance of a snake ready to spring into action!

7. The No-Sew Sock Snake

If you have a stray sock whose partner has disappeared in the laundry, turn it into a snake! Stuff the sock with cotton batting, leftover fabric scraps, or even dried beans to make a “weighted” sensory toy.

• The Tongue: Tie a ribbon around the “neck” to define the head, and glue a piece of red felt to the toe end for a flicking tongue.

8. Pasta Noodle Snake

Dry pasta (like Penne or Rigatoni) makes for excellent “scales.” Kids can paint the dry pasta tubes and then thread them onto a long piece of yarn.

• Educational Twist: Use this as a patterning activity. Ask your child to thread the noodles in a “Red-Green-Red-Green” sequence to practice basic math skills.

9. Bubble Wrap Printed Snakes

Snakes have beautiful, textured skin.¹⁶ You can mimic this by using bubble wrap as a stamp! Paint a piece of bubble wrap, press a paper snake cutout onto it, and lift it up to reveal a perfect “scaly” pattern.

10. Finger-Knit Yarn Snake

For older kids, finger knitting a long “rope” of yarn is a great way to make a soft, cuddly snake friend. It takes a bit of patience, but the resulting texture is incredibly “sassy” and unique.

Snake Craft Comparison Table

Conclusion: Celebrating Our Scaly Friends

Whether they are made of paper or beads, these snakes are a great way to introduce children to the wonders of the animal kingdom. By taking the “scary” out of the snake and replacing it with a “sassy” craft, we encourage the next generation to respect and protect our planet’s biodiversity.