If you need a cute ocean-themed art project that is quick to set up and still looks adorable on the fridge, this handprint narwhal craft is such a fun one. It’s a simple paper craft where your child’s handprint becomes the narwhal’s body, then you add the face, horn, and little details using our free printable narwhal template.
It’s the kind of craft that works well at home, in a classroom, or anytime you need easy craft ideas that still feel special.
This narwhal handprint craft is also a lovely keepsake. Little hands change so fast, and it’s always sweet to look back at a handprint craft later and remember how small they were.
Narwhals are one of those animals kids instantly get excited about, and this craft lets them create their own “unicorn of the sea” with a bit of imagination and a few basic supplies. It’s great for practicing cutting, gluing, and building confidence with simple steps. You can keep it classic with light blue paper, or let kids choose any shades of blue they like.
If you’re working on letter or alphabet themes, you can easily pair this with N is for Narwhal and add a quick tracing page or a few alphabet cards alongside the craft.
Narwhals are Arctic animals, which makes this craft a great fit for an Arctic theme, too. Narwhals live in the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean and around places like Canada, Greenland, and Russia, where they spend much of their time beneath sea ice. That’s why this handprint narwhal works so nicely alongside other handprint Arctic animals, and it fits perfectly into our growing collection of Arctic-themed crafts that explore cold climates, icy habitats, and the amazing animals that live there.
Materials Needed for your Narwhal Handprint Craft
You only need a few simple supplies for this one, which makes it perfect when you want paper crafts without a big mess.
Construction papers (light blue looks especially cute)
Scissors
Glue
Marker
Free printable template (below)
How To Make the Handprint Narwhal
This handprint narwhal craft is easy to set up and fun for kids to make, using a simple handprint as the base and our free printable template for the details. It’s a great activity for ocean themes, Arctic animal studies, or anytime you want a quick paper craft that still feels special.
How to make a handprint Narwhal
A cute and simple handprint narwhal craft using paper and a free printable template – perfect for kids, Arctic animal themes, and easy creative fun.
Materials
- Construction paper in your chosen colors
- Scissors
- Glue
- Marker
- Free printable template (PDF below)
Tools
- Printer for the template
Instructions
- Cut out all of the template pieces (handprint body, horn, belly, tail, fin, eye pieces, and cheek) and trace these shapes onto the colored paper.
- Trace your child’s hand onto light blue paper (or use the handprint template), then cut it out and place the white belly piece underneath to check the fit.
- Glue the white belly piece onto the bottom of the handprint to create the narwhal’s belly.
- Glue on the yellow horn at the front, then add the white eye circle.
- Glue on the tail at the back, then add the fin on the side and the pink cheek on the face.
- Finish the eye by adding the black pupil (and little highlight if you like) on top of the white circle.
And use a marker to add the final details - draw a smile, add a little line for the mouth area, and a few short lines near the tail for extra detail.
A helpful tip is to trace the handprint first (on light blue paper if you have it), cut it out, and then add all the printable narwhal pieces on top like you’re building a little character. If you’re doing this with a group of kids, it helps to pre-cut the smaller template pieces for younger children.
Once you’ve made one narwhal, kids usually want to create more. You can make a whole mini pod of narwhals in different shades of blue, or add a winter twist by using icy colors and calling it a winter narwhal craft for colder months.
If you have paint out already from another activity, you can also paint the background paper to look like the ocean before gluing the narwhal on top, but this craft is just as cute as a simple cut-and-stick project.
Download the Free Printable Narwhal Template PDF
You can grab the free printable narwhal template here and print it out for your kids to use. It makes the craft so much easier because all the pieces are ready to trace, cut, and glue in place.
Terms of use: our free printable narwhal craft template is free for personal use and classroom use.
This handprint narwhal craft is one of those simple, happy projects that kids can finish quickly, feel proud of, and want to show off right away. With the free printable template, it’s easy to set up, easy to make, and the results are always adorable.
More Ocean Craft Ideas Kids Will Love
If your child loved this narwhal craft, you can keep the fun going with more easy paper crafts and printables. Ocean animals are always a win, and they’re a great theme for an art project any time of year.
- Paper Plate Whale
- Watercolor Paper Bag Jellyfish Craft
- 38 Jawsome Shark Crafts for Kids
- 28 Fin-tastic Fish Crafts for Kids
- 30 Best Ocean Animal Crafts For Kids
More Handprint Arctic Animals
If you’re enjoying this narwhal craft, it fits perfectly into a wider Arctic animals theme. We’ve been working on a growing collection of handprint Arctic animals that celebrate the incredible wildlife found in cold, icy habitats. These handprint crafts are simple to make, lovely as keepsakes, and a fun way for kids to learn about Arctic animals while creating something they can be proud of.
- Handprint Seal Craft
- Arctic Fox Handprint Craft
- Handprint Snowy Owl Craft
- Handprint Penguin Craft for Kids
If you make your own printable narwhal, I’d love to hear how it turned out – and if you share your finished narwhal handprint on social media, tag us so we can see your creations.
