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3D Swimming Paper Shark Craft

Ready, steady, chomp! This 3D Swimming Paper Shark craft is perfect for all you shark lovers out there!

Kids will love making this paper shark craft! It’s a fun and easy ocean-themed project that’s perfect for summertime or any time of year and is complete with the educational benefits of exploring perspective and scale.

With the option to paint and decorate the shark, the creative process is engaging for both kids and adults, while remaining simple enough for children to have a go at independently crafting their own splashing shark.

This 3D Standing Paper Shark craft is perfect for all you shark lovers out there!

Kids will love making this paper shark craft! It's a fun and easy ocean-themed project that's perfect for summertime or any time of year and is complete with the educational benefits of exploring perspective and scale.

Shark Week is a popular TV show hosted on the Discovery Channel that takes you on a journey of deep water mystery as you experience the hunting habits of sharks.

The popularity of this subject matter makes it perfect for this 3D paper craft, which is fun and engaging for kids or novices who love paper craft. You could even pack it up in a card as a special thoughtful present!

Related Projects:

To extend the fun and celebrate a whole week of sharks, take a quick peek at these great shark-themed crafts and projects that you can do with your kids.

How to Make a 3D Swimming Paper Shark Craft

Materials

White Card Stock and Paper for Printing
Two Shade of Blue Card Stock
A Coloring Medium
Scissors
Pencil
Glue

How to Download the Printable Shark Craft Template

The Shark Templates are available to members of the Arty Crafty Kids club.
Members will need to log in to access the templates: https://www.artycraftykids.com/product/3d-swimming-paper-craft-craft-template/

Not A Member?

Watch the Video Tutorial

Let’s Make a 3D Paper Shark!

Color in the Shark Template

Select a favorite coloring medium and fill the shark template with color.

Our shark has been painted, which gives children the opportunity to refine their hand-eye coordination for painting. They can also play with color mixing, using all sorts of colors to paint the sharks. This helps them to develop their creative side and have fun at the same time.

Image of hands cutting out a gray painted shark.

Cut out the Shark Elements

Once the shark is full with color, carefully cut out the shark elements.

Image of hands assembling the head of the shark, adding eyes and a mouth.

Assemble the Shark’s Head

Secure the mouth and eye to the shark’s body.

Image showing hands tracing around the small set of waves.

Trace the Waves onto Card Stock

Next, trace both sets of waves onto blue card stock – for best results, use two different shades of blue!

Alternatively, Arty Crafty Kids may prefer to have a go at designing their own set of turbulent waves.

Image showing hands cutting out waves from blue card stock.

Cut out the Traced Waves

Carefully cut out the waves.

Image showing hands layering the two sets of waves, both different shades of blue.

Glue the Smaller Wave onto the Larger Wave

Apply a strip of glue along the bottom of the smallest wave and secure it to the larger wave.

Image showing hands aligning the wave template against the blue waves.

Align the Wave Template Against the Blue Waves

For guidance, align the large wave template against the blue waves.

Image showing hands folding the end of the waves back on itself so they stand.

Fold the Wave Along the Dotted Line

Fold the waves along the dotted lines to enable the waves to stand independently.

Image showing hands slotting a shark between the two shades of blue waves.

Glue the Shark’s Head onto the Front Wave

Next, slip the Shark’s body between the front waves and secure with glue.

The shark should appear to be splashing out of the waves.

Image showing hands glueing the tail on the back wave.

Glue the Tail onto the Back Wave

Glue the tail onto the back wave.

Secure the Shark Element’s to the Waves

To ensure all the paper shark parts are secure, press down on the shark’s head and tail.

With the craft almost complete, the shark can remain as a stand alone craft or transformed into a greetings card for a special occasion.

Simply open up the waves and write a personal message. This would be a great gift for a child’s birthday, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and just because you’re “Jawsome” days!

Suggested Puns for the Paper Shark Greetings Card:

” [Mom] You’re a real catch!”
“[Dad] I love ‘sharking’ around with you”
” [Gramps] I’m hooked on you!”
” [Grandma] You are Jawsome!”

The 3D Standing Paper Shark Craft is Complete

The tutorial for the 3D Standing Paper Shark Craft is now complete!

I hope your Arty Crafty Kids have the most wonderful time creating their own splashing sharks and as I always, I would love to see their creativity in action. If you open to share their completed crafts online, do give Arty Crafty Kids a tag!

Extend the Learning with Fun Shark Facts for Kids!

Did you know that the biggest shark ever recorded was the Megalodon? This massive shark lived in the oceans around 2.6 million years ago and could grow to be over 60 feet long!Today, the largest living shark is the whale shark.

Whale sharks can grow to be over 40 feet long and weigh over 20 tons.

There are 500 different types of sharks, including great white sharks, hammerhead sharks, and tiger sharks. Sharks come in all shapes and sizes, from the small Dwarf Lanternshark that only grows to be 8 inches long to the giant Whale Shark.

Most sharks are predators, but there are a few species of peaceful bottom-dwelling sharks, like the Nurse Shark. Sharks have been around for 450 million years and are one of the oldest groups of fish on Earth.

More Ocean Themed Arts and Crafts for Kids:

Looking for more ocean themed arts and crafts for kids? We have rounded up some of our favorite tried and tested ideas! From ocean themed paintings to paper crafts, there’s something here for everyone. So get creative and have fun!