Perfect for teddy bear picnics, these cute play cupcakes are so simple, quick and fun to make that your little one will be able to whip up a batch in no time! Kids will love experimenting with different frosting flavours and decorating ideas, and they’ll always have something sweet for toys’ tea-time! The cupcake craft is made in the same way as the Play Food Ice-cream Cone Craft, which is another great activity to try.
A note before starting: if your glue stick is a bit old and hard you might have some problems sticking the tissue paper. You can rehydrate old glue sticks following this handy trick.
Supplies
- A large piece of tissue paper (preferably white)
- 10cm diameter circles of coloured tissue paper
- Paper cupcake cases
- Scissors and glue (glue stick and PVA craft glue)
- Sticky tape and masking tape
- Dyed rice, small beads, sticky gems and/or sequins to decorate (I used glitter stars, heart sequins and other glitter flakes that are sold for decorating fingernails)
- Pom-poms for cherries
- Large tray or plastic bag
How to make the easy Cupcake Craft:
1. Screw the large piece of tissue paper into a fairly loose ball. Wrap some strips of masking tape around the ball so it keeps its shape. (I find masking tape is good for this, because you’ll be putting glue on the ball, and the masking tape takes the glue well. However, normal sticky tape will do if that’s all you have.)
2. It’s time to choose the icing! Choose circles of tissue paper in whatever colours (or flavours) you like. Take your glue stick and apply glue liberally all over the top of the ball. Lay a tissue circle on top and press to stick all round.
3. Put some glue in the bottom of a paper cupcake case and stick the cupcake into it.
4. Now it’s time to decorate the cupcake with “sprinkles”! This is fun, but a bit messy. Sit the cupcake on a large tray or inside a large plastic bag. Squeeze some craft glue onto the top of the cupcake, then scatter on the “sprinkles”.
5. Stick on a small red pompom (or a ball of red tissue paper) as a cherry.
6. Leave to dry fully before playing with the cupcakes!
Advice for small group classes:
This is a straightforward craft which can be easily completed in under an hour.
Some tips:
- Set up a shop! Arrange the tissue paper “flavours” on a table and have the kids queue up to pick which flavours they want for their cupcakes.
- Ask the children to bring in their teddies and have a teddy bear’s picnic with the cupcakes they’ve made.
- Pretend to be making real cupcakes by making the ball in a bowl, setting the cupcakes on a tray and “baking” them in a pretend oven before decorating them!
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