Long-time readers of The Sapling will remember that in our first year, we had a regular crafting feature from the super talented Fifi Colston. This December, Fifi’s illustrations brought Nadia Lim’s debut picture book to life – and so to celebrate, we’ve got Fifi back to share a new bit of special crafty goodness, inspired by Marvellous Marvin!
You will need:
The Marvin template
A5 Coloured card (210mm x 148mm)
Scissors and a craft knife
Glue stick and tape
A popsicle stick
Some coloured pencils and felt tips will be useful too!
1) Download the Marvin template and print it onto thick paper or light card.
You can also print it out onto paper and stick it to any kind of card if that is easier. Look in the recycling bin for empty cereal boxes- they are a great source of cardboard! If you don’t have a colour printer, then colour in the black and white version with felt tips or coloured pencils.
2) Cut Marvin and the egg out. Tape the popsicle stick to the back of Marvin.
3) Cut a slot in the coloured card.
It should be 2cm wide and 4.5cm up from the bottom edge.
4) Thread Marvin’s popsicle stick through the slot.
5) Turn the egg over and glue around the bottom edge.
Just do a thin line as shown in the picture.
6) Press the egg down onto the card, matching the cracks.
7) When you push the stick up from the back, Marvin will hatch!
8) If you want to create a background, get busy with your felt tips and coloured pencils. Marvin is a free-range chicken, so he likes lots of greenery!
Fifi Colston
Fifi Colston is a freelancer with fingers in many creative pies. She is a published junior fiction novelist, children’s book illustrator of more than 50 titles, poet and a long-standing television presenter of arts and crafts on firstly TVNZ’s WhatNowand then TheGoodMorningShow. Fifi is a veteran of Wearable Arts; a finalist and award winner over 26 years with 26 entries in show. She also works in the New Zealand film industry as a costumier, puppet maker and illustrator.
When she has a moment, Fifi visits schools and community groups, inspires budding artists and writers and runs workshops in creative process. You can find her at fificolston.com.