The Muffin Man or Chef Paper Craft (EASY)

This instructable will give you the step by step to create your own muffin man (or chef) out of paper using cheap and easy to use materials.  Your chef could be the muffin man, purple pie man, wolf gang puck and many other characters from literature, TV, movies and games.

This is a very easy and cheap creation to add to any classroom lesson.  Anyone younger than second grade will need more than one day of work, and pre-cut items might be helpful.  Anyone younger than 5th grade you may want to break the lesson up.  Do not fear, any K-12 grade level can be successful with this, you just might need to modify what steps they do.  Pre-cutting templates for instance might be helpful.  Working in small groups may be a good idea.  You name it modifications can be made and I'm more than happy to help you come up with those modification. :)

Please see my other paper craft instructables for other ideas as well:

Little Girl Paper Craft
Pirate Paper Craft
Swan Paper Craft
Airplane Paper Craft

Lesson Ideas:

Geography (where the chef, story, recipe originated from, where they were written...learning the continents, oceans)

Basic body terminology (torso, arms, legs, pelvis)

History lesson(s)

Cooking Lesson

Following basic directions

Learning how to write expository text, narrative, instructional

Art lesson for any season

Puppet theater

Learning new key words (these can very from lesson to lesson)

and MUCH MUCH MORE!

I'd love to hear any ideas you might have for lessons!

Step 1: Materials Needed

Materials needed:

Paper (Construction Recommended)
Glue (Elmers)
Scissors
Hole Punch
Templates

Materials Recommended But Not needed:

Paper Clips
Permanent Marker (many colors or one)
White Paint
White Out
Crayons
Markers
Tooth Pick
Exact Knife

Paper is not the only way this gal could be made, some other thoughts on what you could create this guy out of are listed below:

Clay
Fabric
Paper mache
You name it you could likely use it!

Comments

[craftyv]

I so appreciate your interest. I did make a chef and adapted it but was not satisfied with it. Mainly because my grand daughter is more like the blonde girl than anything so I might make a girl, dress and all, then use black and white check for an apron and a check bakery hat. Like a round pill box hat. I can't wait i'm re-inspired.

[craftyv]

He is so cheeky, I love him. My grand-daughter is a pastry chef here in Australia and I hope to adapt this and little girl to look more like a female chef. (she hasn't got a moustache) Ha! Ha! Here's hoping. If you have any ideas I would be very grateful They all wear black and white check pants with a polo type top in white with a black collar and a large white apron.

[poofrabbit]

Check out the paper craft I did with the little girl, I think you could easily add hair to make this chef female :)

[porcupinemamma]

Wow! I didn't scroll down until just now. Your other characters put a big smile on my face too. Sure wish i was a student in your class

[poofrabbit]

YAY! Always glad a smile springs up! In good news your student can be sorta in my class by using my instructables. :) Always happy to help you out if you get stuck as well. Thanks for checking me out!

[porcupinemamma]

Ever Cool! Thanks for sharing

[wilgubeast]

I'd love to see some pics of a small child making one of these. Show us that even kids can do it. (Because I am terrible at papercraft and need an even-kids-can-do-it kick in the pants to gain the confidence to start.)

[poofrabbit]

Oh and wilgubeast You could create anything I've posted in paper craft so far.  If you think it would help I can make templates even for the hair. :)  I like to make art accessible and have people be successful. I won't say something is easy if its hard, I don't like to burst peoples bubbles.  If I have some times I'll video me creating one, that might boost your confidence. :)

[poofrabbit]

Not a problem, I can see if I can get that accomplished. :) This is not a real young child project unless you pre-cut all the paper, and even then the mortar skills may not be there. I would say the ideal age to use this with a child would be 7 or 8 to start. For sure by 10, this is something that can be accomplished. I'm using this in my classroom next year with 3rd and 4th graders and at a summer camp this summer. I will see if I can borrow a child and have them create this and take pictures. What I would suggest for teachers is to use their smartboard to display the instrctions and every child have a copy of the pattern. It could be printed out on card stock. Then they could go step by step putting the paper craft together. The great thing about it being on instructables and in a step by step, you can easily go back if someone missed a step. Of those I've made thus far (and there are more to come I made the green goblin last night but I need to take him apart and make templates) I would say the girl is the easiest. However, currently the pirate is my favorite....but that said I'm fond of the chef too. I was thinking about giving him a big fork or spoon lol. Another fun thing to use these for would be cake toppers. Instead of paper one could use the thin foam you find at craft stores or big box craft areas. I might make one using that and post it as well. I did get asked just today if I would make some for a colleges classroom as book characters for them to hold and act out stories, so I have some templates to tweek and create for those. I promise to post those as well. :)