Paper Mouse Craft (with a Sweater Vest) • In the Bag Kids' Crafts

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There are lots of easy mouse craft ideas out there if you just take a few minutes to Google. But how many of them wear little sweater vests and play a ukulele? I guarantee this is the only one. And the entire time I was making this completely adorable paper mouse craft I was smiling…and even giggling out loud at times.

If you change up the tail color to pink, this can also be a rat craft instead. Frankly, I’m a fan of both. I even had a pet rat in college (who absolutely refused to press a little lever, the sweet thing.) Her name was Shay, and she was awesome.

Save this paper mouse craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…

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SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG

Construction paper (gray and other assorted colors)
Scissors
Glue stick
2 Small googly eyes (self-adhesive work best)
Markers
Pencil
Optional: Small pink pompom
Hole punch (if making cheese accessory)
Mouse Craft Template

It doesn’t take much to make imaginative, fun and totally adorable crafts. This craft is mostly paper. And every time we make a craft here at inthebagkidscrafts.com, we use supplies that come from the same master list of basic items that fit into one bag. Once you fill your bag, you are ready to craft along…no more prep than that. It makes crafting with your kids actually doable, even when life is hectic. Because creating together is invaluable. You will never be sorry that you took the time to fill up your bag so that you can make things with your kids…trust me.

Step 1: Cut a Large Triangle

Cut a tall triangle from the gray construction paper. Make it as tall and as wide as you can with the paper in a portrait position.
Now cut a strip of paper about 6-inches wide from any other color of your choice. This will be the base for your mouse’s sweater vest.

Step 2: Make the Sweater Vest

Take the piece that you cut for the mouse’s sweater vest and cut strips bout 1/2″ wide, starting at the top and then stopping about 1/4″ from the bottom.
Then cut strips of paper, again in colors of your choice, each about 1/2″ wide and long enough to go across the sweater.

Weave the strips of paper with the sweater until you have filled up the space.
When you get to the top, glue on one last strip and cut a curve for the sweater vest top.
Last, trim away the excess on both sides of the sweater vest and glue down the ends to secure each piece of the weave in place.

*To make this a mouse craft for preschoolers, you can skip the sweater vest step all together. And choose a prop that is a basic shape.

Step 3: Cut Out the Paper Mouse Craft Parts

Print the mouse craft template to make all of the parts of your mouse.
All of the pieces will be from gray construction paper, except the center of your mouse’s ears, which will be pink.

Step 4: Put Your Mouse Craft Together

Glue your paper mouse craft sweater vest in place with the glue stick.
Now fold down the top of the triangle to make the mouse’s face.
Next, glue the feet, ears, arms and tail in place.
Last, fold the feet up and then curl the tail. I used the glue stick to curl the tail.

Step 5: Add the Mouse Face

Cut 3 tiny little strips of black paper and glue them onto the point of the mouse’s nose. These are his whiskers.
For the nose, you can glue on a tiny pink pompom with some Elmer’s glue or cut a small pink circle and glue it in place with the glue stick. I prefer the paper version because it does not require any time for the glue to dry, and the weight of the pompom sometimes makes it difficult for the paper mouse craft to stand up.
Finally, put the mouse’s eyes in place.

Step 6: Give Your Mouse a Prop

Our mouse is together, and he’s wearing his cut little sweater vest. Now, let’s give him a prop.
There is a printable for this, or you can make your own.
Cut our your prop and decorate it. If you choose the wedge of cheese, use a single hole punch to put holes in your cheese. It is such a cute look.

Then glue it into the hands of your paper mouse with the glue stick. *You may want to place the arms higher or lower depending on what prop you choose for your mouse to hold. For example, if you choose the triple scoop ice cream cone, you will want to put the arms a little lower since the cone is tall.

Now you know how to make a mouse with paper. A craft like this, that takes so little but leaves so much room for imagination, is one of the best kinds of crafts. And yours should not look like mine. Make it your own. Choose your own colors, pick a prop or make your own. Your paper mouse craft does not even have to be gray. Maybe your mouse is pink or orange or purple. Seriously, there are no rules here. Make this craft your own and put your personality into it.

*I was able to get my mouse to stand up on his own, which makes it so much more fun to play with. But if yours is not standing up without help, just tape a small paint bottle or glue stick to his back. This will add some stability and weight and make him stand on his own.