DIY Alphabet Caterpillar
LEARN HOW TO CREATE THIS ADORABLE ALPHABET CATERPILLAR FOR YOUR CHILD’S ROOM USING YOUR CRICUT!
My son is having a hard time with his alphabet. So, I decided I wanted to make something for his room to help with learning the alphabet. Something fun and enjoyable to him. He loves bugs, so I thought of this cute Alphabet Caterpillar.
Now, he is four. However, this whole pandemic has really put a stop to much learning. It is hard enough just getting through the day sometimes! Our daughter even struggles sometimes remembering what she learned while in Preschool.
With this project, he can look at the letters and sing the alphabet song. He got to color, pick out the kind of cardstock we used, and even how the caterpillar wiggles along his wall! So fun!
In this tutorial, I’ll give you my step by step instructions and tell you what materials I think work best when making this project.
TBH Crafters Club Members can download the SVG cut file for this project in the File Library.
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ALPHABET CATERPILLAR – MATERIALS LIST
- I am using the FABULOUS Cricut Maker. You could also use your Cricut Explore Air 2 !
- Cricut StandardGrip Cutting Mat (green)
- Cricut Cardstock
- Glue. I am using Art Glitter Glue.
- Crayons, Colored Pencils, or Markers for the kids to color the letters.
- Packing Tape, Masking Tape, or a way to adhere your caterpillar to the wall.
Fun and educational Alphabet Caterpillar
This tutorial will show you how to make an adorable alphabet caterpillar for your child's room. You can customize the size and, of course, the color of your caterpillar! The cute wall decoration will help your little one learn his or her ABC's!
Materials
- My FREE Alphabet Caterpillar SVG file (also available as a PDF printable)
- Cricut Cardstock
- Art Glitter Glue
- Crayons, Colored Pencils, or Markers for the kids to color the letters.
- Masking Tape, Packing Tape, or some way to adhere the caterpillar to the wall
Tools
- A way to cut your cardstock. I am using my FABULOUS Cricut Maker. This project will certainly work with the Cricut Explore Air 2!
- Cricut StandardGrip Cutting Mat (green)
- Cricut Pen. I am using the Black Pen for this tutorial.
Instructions
STEP 1 - DOWNLOAD THE SVG CUT FILE
Download the SVG Cut file for the Alphabet Caterpillar (#20) from The File Vault. Get access by joining the club.
STEP 2 - UPLOAD THE SVG FILE TO CRICUT DESIGN SPACE
If you aren't familiar with uploading SVG files into Design Space, take a look at my quick and easy tutorial here. Using your smartphone? Click here for my step-by-step guide on uploading SVG files with the Cricut App.
STEP 3 - UNGROUP CATERPILLAR LAYERS
The file will upload into Cricut Design Space grouped together. You will want to hit the UNGROUP button to separate the layers.
STEP 4 - PREPARE YOUR CATERPILLAR'S HEAD
Highlight all of the caterpillar's facial features (his eyes, nose, smile, and eyebrows).
Change those features to draw lines by changing the LINE TYPE from CUT to DRAW.
Attach the draw lines and the caterpillar head by highlighting the GROUP.
Select the ATTACH option in lower right hand corner.
Once that is complete, highlight the entire caterpillar head including antenna.
Change size as you wish. For this tutorial, I am changing my caterpillar's head to 8 inches.
STEP 5 - PREPARE YOUR ALPHABET SEGMENTS
Highlight all the letters in the alphabet. On a desktop, you can hold the SHIFT button down as you select each letter. If you are using the Cricut App, you will have to do this one by one.
After all letters have been selected, change them to draw lines by changing the LINE TYPE from CUT to DRAW.
Attach the draw lines and the caterpillar body segment by highlighting the GROUP.
Select the ATTACH option in lower right hand corner.
Repeat this step for each letter in the alphabet.
Next, adjust the size of your caterpillar's body segments as you wish. For this tutorial, i am sizing the segments to 6 inches.
Select the segment.
Then, change the size.
Repeat this step for each segment of the caterpillar's body.
STEP 6 - PREPARE THE CATERPILLAR'S LEGS
Highlight the caterpillar's leg and adjust the sizing as you wish. For this tutorial, I am sizing the little legs to 3 inches wide.
After you have sized the leg to your liking, DUPLICATE the layer as many times as you see fit. I am wanting twenty legs for my alphabet caterpillar.
Click the GREEN Make It Button located at the top right corner.
STEP 7 - PREPARE YOUR MATS AND MAKE MATERIAL SELECTIONS
You can group the body segments together to save paper if you wish. To do so, select the segment you wish to move and click the three dots that appear. Select MOVE OBJECT.
Select the mat you wish to move it to.
Move the segment as you see fit and repeat for all layers.
Once done, click CONTINUE and select your materials.
STEP 8 - LOADING YOUR MATS AND CUTTING YOUR MATERIALS
Attach your cardstock to the Cricut StandardGrip Mat. Load your Cricut Pen into CLAMP A.
To load the mat into the machine, press the double arrows button. Do make sure that the mat is positioned under the mat guides.
Hit the "C" button once it begins to flash and you are on your way to cutting out your caterpillar!
Once the cut is complete, the double arrows will flash again. Press it and the mat will unload.
When removing the card, peel your mat away from the cut rather than peeling your cut away from the mat. This will help prevent curling.
Repeat Step 8 until all layers are cut.
STEP 9 - TIME TO LET THE KIDS COLOR!
This is the fun part! Let the kids draw and color on each body segment of the caterpillar. For even more learning, discuss each letter as they color. How it sounds, things that start with that letter, sing the alphabet song, etc.
STEP 10 - ATTACH THE ANTENNA AND LEGS TO YOUR CATERPILLAR
This part could be done before or after the kids do their coloring. It is totally up to you!
Start by adding a little glue to the antenna.
Then, attach to the caterpillar's head.
After the antenna are on, move on to the legs.
Start with a little glue on the leg.
Attach to the back on the body segment.
Continue until all legs are attached.
STEP 11 - ATTACH CATERPILLAR TO THE WALL
Use whatever materials you are using to attach the cardstock to the wall. i am using small pieces of rolled packing tape.
Apply to the wall beginning with the head and adding the body segments in alphabetical order.
You can get as creative as you like with placement. Get the kids involved too!
Continue on until all letters are on the wall and the caterpillar is complete!
We sang the alphabet song again to help reinforce the letters!!
Enjoy!
I just know that the kids are going to love this cute little caterpillar! Hopefully, it will help them learn their ABC’s as well!
Post a photo in the comment section or tag your projects on social media @thebeardedhousewife using the hashtag #beardedhousewife! I’d love to know what you think!
Love,
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This is fantastic! Thank you. I am a K-2nd grade special education teacher, and I have a Hungry Caterpillar unit coming up. We can focus on one letter a day and tape up each letter as we visit it. It will make virtual learning just a little bit more fun. Thank you so much.
It is my pleasure! I am so glad you can you use and thank you for all you do for the kiddos!