If you’re looking for the perfect back to school craft for kids, this monster pencil topper craft is spot on! It’s friendly, fun, and you can make it however you’d like (plus it comes with a free template!). For another fun monster-themed craft, check out the tie-dye monster shirt I made for M a few years ago. Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

Pencil toppers make the perfect back-to-school craft. They are so inexpensive to make using felt scraps, and kids can add their own touch to them.

Felt makes it a “real” durable craft and it’s a great boredom buster for those days approaching the school year.

The fun monster template you’ll find here is a cute version that my boys love. It’s a friendly approach to the new school year, and and perfect for warming anxious kids up, with a little touch of fun.

You can simplify this for younger kids by making holes in advance (the Crop a Dial is perfect for that) and using thicker yarn for them to stitch with. It won’t be as durable and clean-looking. Older kids can stitch it using embroidery floss or thread. You can glue on a googly eye if you prefer, or add a felt eye.

What you need to make a monster pencil topper craft:

Felt scraps
Pencil
Detail scissors
Needle and thread
The template – download it here

How to make a DIY monster pencil topper:

1. Choose your colors. Monsters can be any color but the eyes should be black and white (or use googly eyes). Cut out according to the templates.

2. Take any one of the monster base cutouts and the 2 circle cutouts for the eye. Place the black circle on the center of the white circle and then place the 2 circle cutouts on the head of the monster template.

3. Use a bit of white thread to stitch a small dot “glare” on the black felt. Use black thread to stitch the black circle and then use white thread to stitch the white circle to attach it to the monster base cutout.

4. Place the plain base cutout on a flat surface. Place the 2 antennas where you’d like them on the head of the monster.

Overlap about 1 cm with the top head. Place the straight ends of the hand cutouts along the 2 sides of the front of your monster.

5. Stitch a smiley face on the front of your monster using black thread if you’d like.

Place the eye stitched base on the top of the plain one, keeping the antennas and hands in place. Pin everything in place if you’d like.

6. Use a matching thread to stitch around the side of the base cutouts. Start to stitch from one side, from the bottom and stitch towards the top, coming back down to the other side, but keeping the bottom straight edge open.

7. Once the stitching is complete tie a knot or two and cut off extra thread.

Your monster pencil topper craft is complete and ready to enjoy for the new school year!

For more back to school crafts, check out my origami school bus, or download these free printable school bus boxes! You can also craft some Thing 1 and Thing 2 pencils.

Monster pencil topper craft

Make a cute and quirky monster pencil topper craft for back to school, or any day! This fun DIY school supplies tutorial includes a free printable template to make it easier for you to create.

Materials

Felt scraps
Pencil
Detail scissors
Needle and thread
The template

Instructions

Choose your colors. Monsters can be any color but the eyes should be black and white (or use googly eyes). Cut out according to the templates
Take any one of the monster base cutouts and the 2 circle cutouts for the eye. Place the black circle on the center of the white circle and then place the 2 circle cutouts on the head of the monster template.
I used a bit of white thread to stitch a small dot "glare" on the black felt. Use black thread to stitch the black circle and then use white thread to stitch the white circle to attach it to the monster base cutout.
Place the plain base cutout on a flat surface. Place the 2 antennas where you'd like them on the head of the monster. Overlap about 1 cm with the top head. Place the straight ends of the hand cutouts along the 2 sides of the front of your monster.
Stitch a mouth on the front of your monster using black thread if you'd like. Place the eye stitched base on the top of the plain one, keeping the antennas and hands between the main monster body layers. Pin everything in place if you'd like.
Use a matching thread to stitch around the side of the base cutouts. Start to stitch from one side, from the bottom and stitch towards the top, coming back down to the other side, but keeping the bottom straight edge open.
Once the stitching is complete tie a knot or two and cut off extra thread.