Introduction: Emergency Stuffed Animal
Feeling lonely but you don't want to be around people? Wish you had something inanimate to hug but can't afford those pricey large stuffed animals? Want something like this RIGHT NOW? Then check this out! It takes around an hour and costs under five dollars!
Step 1:
All you really need to make this stuffed animal is two paper bags and a roll of duct tape. Smaller paper bags work best and be sure to crumple them up before hand to make them nice and soft. You may need two rolls of duct tape depending on how precise you are.
Not pictured is a pair of scissors and a sharpie to draw the face on in the end. Optionally, you can also use cotton balls to fill in the gaps and make it a bit softer, but you can get by just fine without them.
Not pictured is a pair of scissors and a sharpie to draw the face on in the end. Optionally, you can also use cotton balls to fill in the gaps and make it a bit softer, but you can get by just fine without them.
Step 2:
First things first, take one of the paper bags and crumple it into an oblong shape. You can make it more rectangular or triangular depending on what you want your end result to look like.
Step 3:
Next, take a few long strips of duct tape and wrap them around the paper bag to stabilize the shape. Don't worry about how it looks right now, you just want to make sure it holds together for the time being.
Step 4:
Now, work on covering up all the bits of paper bag that are still showing. When you get to the bottom and top of the oblong shape, use shorter strips of duct tape since they will lie flat easier than the long ones.
Step 5:
Keep wrapping the shape in duct tape until you've flattened down all the bits that stick up. When you're done, you should have something that looks like this.
Step 6:
Now that the body is done, it's time for the head. Crumple up the other paper bag, but this time make it a shorter shape that will work better as a head. Then just repeat what you did for the body.
Step 7:
Once the head is done, you can then put it on the body. Use a lot of short strips here that will lie flat and make a nice smooth joining. You could also use a little bit of glue just to be absolutely sure the head won't fall off, but it's really not necessary.
Step 8:
To make the ears, just take a medium strip of duct tape and fold one corner over so that it makes a triangle. Do the same for the other side, so that you have two triangles together. Use a few more strips to strengthen the ears, but be sure not to put any tape over the crease in the middle, or else the ears won't fold properly.
Step 9:
Attach the ears much the same way you attached the head, except use smaller pieces of duct tape. Tape both the front and backs of the ears so that they'll stay attached. Repeat the process for the second ear.
Step 10:
To make the tail, just take a really long strip of duct tape and twist it up so it makes a sort of rope. Then cover it in smaller strips of duct tape until its as thick as you want it to be. To make the curve at the end of the tail, use much smaller strips of duct tape while curving the tail in the direction you want. Then just tape it to the back of the body with a piece of duct tape and it should hold just fine.
Step 11:
Alright, you should have something that looks like this by now. Almost done!
Step 12:
Now all that's left is to draw a face on it. Go wild with this, you could make it cute, sad, angry, whatever you want. And if you mess up or just want to change its face later, all you need to do is put a strip or two of duct tape over it and you'll have a blank canvas to work with again.
Enjoy your extremely cheap and surprisingly cuddly new stuffed animal!
Enjoy your extremely cheap and surprisingly cuddly new stuffed animal!