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Time Required :
About 30 minutes
Beginner
Beginner
You're new to the skills necessary to complete this project, or maybe you've tried them just once or twice before.

castles and princesses: accordion dragon

Your kids can pop into their own fairy tale with this castle pop-up craft.
Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels

Print Project

Step 1
Print the template from michaels.com and cut out pieces.   
Step 2
Cut two pieces of green construction paper to 12" x 4" each.  Glue the two pieces together, end-to-end, so you have one long green piece. 
Step 3
Make ¼" accordion folds along the longest side of the paper to make the dragon’s body. 
Step 4
Glue 1" of a craft stick to the bottom of each end of the folded paper and allow the rest of the craft stick to hang down from the body. Set aside.
Note: Craft sticks allow the dragon to move by raising and lowering "hands". 
Step 5
Trace 2 head, 2 tail and 2 wing shapes from green construction paper. Cut out. 
Step 6
Cut yellow and red streamers, ½" wide x 8" long.  Glue streamers to the back of one of the head shapes, behind the mouth, to look as if the dragon is breathing fire. 
Step 7
Lay the head shape with streamers face down, so that the streamers are on top.  
Step 8
Glue one end of the accordion-folded body at the base of the head. Be sure the craft stick is at the bottom of the head.  Match up the second head shape with the first and glue in place. 
Step 9
Repeat the last last step for the tail shapes at the opposite end of the accordion-folded body. Be sure the craft stick is at the bottom of the tail. 
Step 10
Attach the wings to each side, at the base of the head. 
Step 11
Trace and cut 2 green circles for each nostril and 2 triangles for the ears. 
Step 12
Trace and cut 2 black circles and glue a 1" wiggle eye to each.  Attach eye circles to both sides of the head. 
Step 13
Trace and cut two jagged teeth shapes from white construction paper. Cut out and glue in place. 
Step 14
Decorate tail and head with yellow dots, and add a red dot to the nostrils. 
Step 15
Share your project photos with #MadeWithMichaels 
Supplies
Materials
Materials
 
  • img
    809188652
    You’ll Need: 1

    Elmer's® Glue-All® Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue, Extra Strong

    Item # 10002287 
    Save 20% with code 20MADEBYYOU See Details See Details
    Valid In-store & Online through 1/30/2021. Exclusions apply.
    $3.19
    • Color: White
    • Size: 4 oz
    • Color: White
    • Size: 4 oz
    +More Sizes
    • Color: White
    • Size: 4 oz
    +More Sizes
    +More Options
  • img
    832736818
    You’ll Need: 1

    Crepe Streamer by Celebrate It™

    Item # 10330252 
    Save 20% with code 20MADEBYYOU See Details See Details
    Valid In-store & Online through 1/30/2021. Exclusions apply.
    $2.99
    • Color: Red
    • Size: 81ft x 1.75"
    • Color: Red
    • Size: 81ft x 1.75"
    +More Colors
    • Color: Red
    • Size: 81ft x 1.75"
    +More Colors
    +More Options
  • img
    876270891
    You’ll Need: 1

    Creatology® 9" x 12" Construction Paper, Assorted Colors

    Item # 10625590 
    Save 20% with code 20MADEBYYOU See Details See Details
    Valid In-store & Online through 1/30/2021. Exclusions apply.
    $3.69
    • Color: Assorted
    • Size: 9" x 12"
    • Count: 50
    • Color: Assorted
    • Size: 9" x 12"
    • Count: 50
    +More Counts
    • Color: Assorted
    • Size: 9" x 12"
    • Count: 50
    +More Counts
    +More Options
 
Tools
Tools
 
  • img
    You’ll Need: 1

    Creatology™ Blunt Tip Scissors

    Item # 10268872 
    Save 20% with code 20MADEBYYOU See Details See Details
    Valid In-store & Online through 1/30/2021. Exclusions apply.
    $1.99
 
You’ll Also Need
  • Pencil
  • Computer
  • Printer
  • Celebrate It™ Crepe Streamer – Yellow (sku 10411234)
Instructions
Step 1
Print the template from michaels.com and cut out pieces.   
Step 2
Cut two pieces of green construction paper to 12" x 4" each.  Glue the two pieces together, end-to-end, so you have one long green piece. 
Step 3
Make ¼" accordion folds along the longest side of the paper to make the dragon’s body. 
Step 4
Glue 1" of a craft stick to the bottom of each end of the folded paper and allow the rest of the craft stick to hang down from the body. Set aside.
Note: Craft sticks allow the dragon to move by raising and lowering "hands". 
Step 5
Trace 2 head, 2 tail and 2 wing shapes from green construction paper. Cut out. 
Step 6
Cut yellow and red streamers, ½" wide x 8" long.  Glue streamers to the back of one of the head shapes, behind the mouth, to look as if the dragon is breathing fire. 
Step 7
Lay the head shape with streamers face down, so that the streamers are on top.  
Step 8
Glue one end of the accordion-folded body at the base of the head. Be sure the craft stick is at the bottom of the head.  Match up the second head shape with the first and glue in place. 
Step 9
Repeat the last last step for the tail shapes at the opposite end of the accordion-folded body. Be sure the craft stick is at the bottom of the tail. 
Step 10
Attach the wings to each side, at the base of the head. 
Step 11
Trace and cut 2 green circles for each nostril and 2 triangles for the ears. 
Step 12
Trace and cut 2 black circles and glue a 1" wiggle eye to each.  Attach eye circles to both sides of the head. 
Step 13
Trace and cut two jagged teeth shapes from white construction paper. Cut out and glue in place. 
Step 14
Decorate tail and head with yellow dots, and add a red dot to the nostrils. 
Step 15
Share your project photos with #MadeWithMichaels 
Project Reviews