Craft this adorable Dr Seuss Thing 1 & Thing 2 Pencil Toppers! When you’re done, check out other pencil topper crafts, like this monster pencil topper craft. This post contains affiliate links.

Across the US, March 2 is celebrated as “Dr. Seuss Day” – the birthday of the famed author and illustrator who made reading so fun and accessible to countless kids. It’s a great time to reignite the joy of reading with activities and crafts that celebrate our favorite books, like these pencils which are inspired by Dr. Seuss’s pair of characters, Thing One and Thing Two.

When you twirl the pencil between your hands, the hair gets wild just like Thing One and Thing Two!

Made from simple, inexpensive materials, these can be done as a craft together with your young readers (or readers-to-be) or you can easily make a whole bunch yourself to give out as favors. One sheet of craft felt is enough to make “hair” for about 12 pencils, so this is definitely perfect for a group or class.

The craft includes not just an adorable and interactive pencil topper, but also a ribbon or flag with an inspirational quote from Dr. Seuss’s book, The Lorax: “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” We picked this one because it holds valuable meaning for us and our kids – people so often worry about fitting in and following the crowd, and everyone could use some encouragement to celebrate their uniqueness instead.

It also represents one of Dr. Seuss’s strengths and – his books were truly unique in their time, which is what made them so special. That’s why I thought this is a great line to celebrate Dr. Seuss day, but of course it’s just a suggestion and you can use any line that you find inspiring or just fun.

You’ll want to pre-cut the felt if you’re doing this with a group of kids. Felt can be a little tricky to cut, but I find that a good sharp scissor will do the trick.

If you’re planning this as a group activity, pre-printing the quote will make this already simple craft take an even shorter amount of time, so keep this in mind when planning your event.

For more inspiration, check out my past Dr. Seuss crafts here!

What you need

Red pencils

Wiggly eyes
Black and white baker’s twine (or ribbon)
Markers (red, black, blue)
Bright blue craft felt
Cardstock (white)
Glue gun with glue sticks (or liquid glue)
Double-sided tape runner/roller or glue stick
Permanent marker (black)
Scissors
Ruler

How to Make this Dr Seuss Pencils Craft

1. Use the ruler and permanent marker to measure strips of blue felt 2.5” by 9”. You’ll need one strip for every 3 pencils you’re making. Cut out the strips.

2. Cut about 1 ½” fringe along the length of each strip, leaving a one-inch border along the opposite edge. Cut the fringed strips into 3” lengths.

3. Apply a line of glue along one short edge and the long edge of one of the blue felt fringes. Attach the short edge to the eraser end of a pencil, and roll the rest of the fringe tightly around the pencil. Apply additional glue on the outside edge to finish securing the fringe.

Glue two wiggly eyes to the blue felt area below the fringe.

Repeat for each pencil.

4. Measure and cut strips of white cardstock 1/2″ by 8 1/2″ to create flags. Cut a little notch in each end. Fold a strip in half around a pencil so you know where to leave space in the center. Hand-write the quote “Why fit in when you were” on the left-hand section with a blue marker, and “born to STAND OUT” on the right-hand section with a red marker. Then outline each quote with a black marker, using a loose sketchy style.

5. Apply adhesive tape or glue stick to the back of the flag. Line up the cardstock around the top of the pencil just below the blue felt and attach both sides together to create the flag.

To finish, measure and cut a 20” length of black-and-white bakers twine and tie in a bow around the top of the pencil, between the felt and the flag.

Your Dr. Suess Pencil Craft is complete! What will you be using yours for? Comment below!

DIY Dr Suess Thing 1 & Thing 2 Pencil Toppers

Materials

Red pencils
Wiggly eyes
Black and white baker’s twine (or ribbon)
Markers (red, black, blue)
Bright blue craft felt
Cardstock (white)
Glue gun with glue sticks (or liquid glue)
Double-sided tape runner/roller or glue stick
Permanent marker (black)
Scissors
Ruler

Instructions

1. Use the ruler and permanent marker to measure strips of blue felt 2.5” by 9”. You’ll need one strip for every 3 pencils you’re making. Cut out the strips.
2. Cut about 1 ½” fringe along the length of each strip, leaving a one-inch border along the opposite edge. Cut the fringed strips into 3” lengths.
3. Apply a line of glue along one short edge and the long edge of one of the blue felt fringes. Attach the short edge to the eraser end of a pencil, and roll the rest of the fringe tightly around the pencil. Apply additional glue on the outside edge to finish securing the fringe.
Glue two wiggly eyes to the blue felt area below the fringe.
Repeat for each pencil.
4. Measure and cut strips of white cardstock 1/2" by 8 1/2" to create flags. Cut a little notch in each end. Fold a strip in half around a pencil so you know where to leave space in the center. Hand-write the quote “Why fit in when you were” on the left-hand section with a blue marker, and “born to STAND OUT” on the right-hand section with a red marker. Then outline each quote with a black marker, using a loose sketchy style.
5. Apply adhesive tape or glue stick to the back of the flag. Line up the cardstock around the top of the pencil just below the blue felt and attach both sides together to create the flag.
To finish, measure and cut a 20” length of black-and-white bakers twine and tie in a bow around the top of the pencil, between the felt and the flag.