Remember when Maia said that Despicable Me was one of her favorite movies (during her very official interview)?
Well, she was especially taken by the minions.
The other day, when her friend Isaac was over, they were both in “make” mode and searched through the box of milk bottle caps and other bits and pieces that I save for craft projects. Then through the recycle bin to see what they could find there.
Coming across the yellow La Croix cans from my sparkling water addiction, Maia had the idea to use them to make minions.
And thus, the minion craft craze entered our house.
(And I didn’t even realize there was a minion craft craze!)
Maia and Isaac made their first two minions, played with them, created MTDs (minion transportation devices) such as a pulley ride and one that involved a car towing a minion in a berry basket.
When Isaac had to go home, Maia continued to make even more minions.
For days.
4-year-old Daphne has been a willing understudy and has been making and playing minions along with Maia. Mostly because she wants to do anything her big sister is doing.
If you, too, have Despicable Me fans in your house, then they might like to make a few minions themselves.
How to Make Your Own Minions
Easy Minion Crafts for Kids
(or anyone who needs a minion)
By Maia, Age 8.75
MATERIALS
- Empty yellow aluminum drink cans (we used Lemon La Croix sparkling water)
- White milk bottle caps or similar
- Blue and Black Sharpie permanent markers
- Hot glue gun
- Yellow pipe cleaners
- Black pipe cleaners or yarn (for hair, optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: First, you look at your empty fizzy water can and draw an outline of how high you want the minion’s overalls to be (see photo). Color in the overalls with the blue Sharpie marker.
Step 2: Use a black Sharpie to draw an eyeball in the center of the milk bottle cap and outline the rim of the cap.
Step 3: Use clear tape or a hot glue gun to attach the white milk bottle cap to the center of the minion’s face (centered over the minion’s overall front) or use two side by side. Use the black Sharpie to draw the goggle strap around the minion’s head and also to draw the minion’s mouth.
Step 4: Heat up the hot glue gun and then when it’s ready, put a line of glue along the top edge of the back of the overalls. Center a yellow pipe cleaner around the back of the minion and press to the line of hot glue, leaving the two ends of the pipe cleaner unattached to be the minion’s arms. Trim the arms with scissors if they are too long.
Step 5: (Optional) Add a few strands of hair to the top of the minion using a hot glue gun and black yarn or black pipe cleaner sections. If the hair seems a bit long, give your minion a haircut.
Step 6. Name your minion and write the name on the bottom (so you don’t forget).
Step 7. Admire your minion.
Step 8. Make more! ‘Cause you can’t have just one minion!
Note: If you’re naming them and giving them identifying features and personalities, as Maia did, you might want to refer to this Who’s Who of the Minions graphic. We were just trying to remember names and characteristics at the beginning (and looking up a few online) but this handy graphic is great!
Our household minions have been played with quite a bit. Their flexible pipe cleaner arms are moved around to do and hold things. They have taken over the dollhouse, played in the sandbox, kept a minion-sized diary, worked at a minion-sized laptop (fashioned out of paper), sat on a minion-sized potty, and ridden in a variety of transportation devices (including a remote control car at Isaac’s house).
Don’t you see why you need some minions for yourself?
Now go make your own minions and take over the world!
But wait! There’s more!
More Minion Crafts for Kids
After drafting this post I searched around a bit and was floored by how many minion crafts there are out there! These three especially caught my eye as being kid-friendly and fun. (Maia wants to make the Despicable Me fruit snack.)
- Make a minion out of toilet paper rolls (on MollyMoo)
- DIY Despicable Me pencil topper (on Michelle Made This)
- A Despicable Me Fruit Snack plus other fun Despicable Me food (on Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons)
How about you? Is your family as into minions as mine? Enough to make some minion snacks and minion crafts?
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