Have you seen the new hit movie, Mr. Popper’s Penguins? As often happens in Hollywood, the movie is quite different from the book, originally  published in 1938.  What the book and movie do share, however, is an irresistible parade of lively penguins.  If your kids are clamoring for their own tuxedo-clad companions, introduce them to our penguin family.  You’ll find they’re a whole lot easier to live with than their South Pole counterparts! Designer Kathleen George created Mr. Popper’s Penguin Family.

(We have more penguin tutorials on StyrofoamCrafts.com, and while several will definitely require help from an adult, we think you’ll find them pretty darn adorable.  We’ve featured three at the end of this post, and each photo links to the tutorial on StyrofoamCrafts.com.)

Are you a penguin fan? Make Mr. Popper’s penguin family.

Here’s what you need to make Mr. Popper’s Penguin Family:

• STYROFOAM Brand Foam: 3”, 2-1/2”, 2”and 1-1/2” balls
• Black acrylic paint
• Felt: scraps of black & yellow
• Wiggle eyes: two each 15 mm; 10 mm; 9 mm; 8 mm
• Tools needed: Plastic knife; candle stub or bar of soap; pencil; wooden skewer; stiff paintbrush; paper plate; paper towels; scissors; thick, white craft glue

To make your Mr. Popper’s Penguin Family:

(Note: The directions are the same for each size of penguin.)

1. Wax knife blade with the candle stub or bar of soap. Cut a thin slice from bottom of foam ball so it will sit flat. (Note: An adult should carefully supervise this step.)

Draw a circle on the belly and leave it white.

2. Lightly draw a circle on the “tummy” area of the ball with a pencil. Push wooden skewer into the circle. Using the skewer as your handle, paint the ball black, except for the circle. Push skewer into a scrap of STYROFOAM Brand Foam to hold it while paint dries.

3. Download patterns and cut out. Cut wing and tail patterns from black felt. Cut beak and feet from yellow felt.

4. Fold beak in half and glue sides together along the fold; let dry.

5. Glue beak and wiggle eyes to the face.

6. Match the largest patterns to the largest ball, smallest patterns to the smallest ball, etc. Referring to the photo, glue wings and feet to the body. Glue tail to the bottom back of the penguin, positioning it to help the penguin stand.

For more penguin fun, check out these critters from designer Debra Quartermain.  Just click on the photo to go to the step-by-step tutorial on StyrofoamCrafts.com.

Fishing Penguins by Debra Quartermain appeared on the cover of a popular craft magazine!

Skiing Penguin by Debra Quartermain glides along on snowflake skis.

Yee haw! Look closely – one little penguin can’t bare to watch! Sledding Penguins by Debra Quartermain.

Have you seen the movie Mr. Popper’s Penguins?  Did you enjoy it?  Leave a comment and share your movie review with us.

P.S. A quick announcement that Angie, who blogs at The Country Chic Cottage, won our Solar System kit!  Congratulations, Angie!  And if you didn’t win this week, we’ll announce another Summer Craft Boredom Buster giveaway next week.  Good luck!

Happy crafting!

Sharon