Make your own Hedghehog

Materials needed

• Paper/card: Plain A4 card or thick paper for the hedgehog body

• Leaves: Real dried leaves or paper leaves (cut from coloured paper)

• Paint: Acrylic (browns, oranges, yellows, reds)

• Brushes & tools: Paintbrushes, sponges, cotton buds or fingers for printing

• Drawing tools: Pencil, black marker, crayons/coloured pencils

• Glue: PVA glue or glue stick

• Embellishments: Stickers, sequins, pom poms, googley eyes, glitter (optional)

• Protective items: Table cover, aprons/old shirts, wipes

Step 1: Draw the hedgehog body

• Outline: On card, draw a large “half-oval” or “rock” shape—this is the hedgehog’s body.

• Face area: Add a small pointy nose at one end and mark a curved line to separate the face from the spiky back.

• Cut out: Carefully cut around the outline. Adults can help younger children with scissors.

Step 2: Add the hedgehog’s face

• Features: Draw an eye, nose and mouth with pencil first, then outline with marker.

• Colour: Colour the face area with crayons or pencils (light brown, beige or any colour they like).

• Personality: Encourage kids to give their hedgehog a mood—sleepy, happy, surprised.

Step 3: Prepare and paint the leaves

• Leaf selection: Choose leaves of different sizes and shapes. If using real leaves, make sure they’re dry and flat.

• Paint colours: Put autumn colours into a palette or small pots.

• Painting: Kids paint the leaves on one side—solid colours, stripes, dots or patterns.

• Drying: Leave the painted leaves to dry on scrap paper or a tray.

Step 4: Glue the leaves as “spikes”

• Plan the layout: Show kids where the hedgehog’s back is and explain that the leaves will be its spikes.

• Layering: Start gluing leaves along the top edge of the body, overlapping them slightly to create a fluffy, spiky look.

• Direction: Make sure the leaves point outwards from the body, like quills.

• Fill the back: Continue until the whole back area is covered in colourful painted leaves.

Step 5: Add embellishments

• Eyes & nose: Stick on a googly eye or draw one; add a tiny pom pom or sticker for the nose if desired.

• Decorative extras: Kids can add sequins, glitter, tiny stickers or drawn patterns on the body.

• Name tag: Let them write their hedgehog’s name on the bottom or on a separate label.

Step 6: Create a background (optional)

• Scene: Glue the hedgehog onto a coloured sheet to make a forest floor or autumn park.

• Details: Draw grass, mushrooms, fallen leaves, acorns or a little house.

• Story: Invite kids to tell a short story about where their hedgehog lives.

Step 7: Display and talk about textures

• Dry completely: Make sure all glue and paint are dry before moving.

• Touch and describe: Let kids gently feel the different textures—smooth card, bumpy leaves, shiny embellishments.

• Showcase: Hang on a wall, fridge or create a “hedgehog gallery” with all the children’s work.