Create some merch for an animation. Activities for Kids.

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Create some merch for an animation

Design and make animation-themed merch: stickers, badges, and paper T-shirts. Practice drawing characters, cutting shapes, and arranging colors and layouts safely.

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Step-by-step guide to design and make animation-themed merch

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What you need

Adult supervision required, card stock, clear tape, coloring materials such as markers crayons or colored pencils, glue stick, pencil and eraser, plain paper, safety pins or badge backs, scissors

Step 1

Pick one animation character or a fun theme to put on your merch.

Step 2

Decide how many stickers badges and paper T-shirts you want to make.

Step 3

Lightly sketch your chosen characters directly onto card stock with your pencil.

Step 4

Color your sketches using your coloring materials.

Step 5

Cut out each colored character shape carefully with scissors.

Step 6

Make a sticker by placing a piece of clear tape over a cut design and trimming the tape close to the edge.

Step 7

Draw circle shapes for badges on card stock with your pencil.

Step 8

Cut out each circle badge shape with scissors.

Step 9

Glue a cutout character onto the front of each badge circle using the glue stick.

Step 10

Attach a safety pin or badge back to the back of each badge using tape or glue.

Step 11

Fold a sheet of plain paper in half neatly.

Step 12

Draw a T-shirt outline across the folded edge with your pencil.

Step 13

Cut along the T-shirt outline and then unfold the paper T-shirt.

Step 14

Decorate the paper T-shirt by drawing coloring or gluing a character on the front.

Step 15

Share your finished stickers badges and paper T-shirts on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

If I don't have card stock, safety pins, or a glue stick, what can I use instead?

Use sturdy cereal-box cardboard or a manila folder instead of card stock, clear packing tape or contact paper in place of the small clear tape when making stickers, white school glue or a glue roller for attaching cutouts to badge circles, and a paperclip bent into a loop or a small stapled paper loop reinforced with tape if you don't have safety pins or badge backs.

My tape stickers keep peeling or getting bubbles when I place the clear tape over the cut design—how can I fix that?

Lay the cut design flat on a clean surface and smooth the clear tape from one edge to the other using a ruler or folded card to press out bubbles while making the sticker, trim close to the edge with sharp scissors, or switch to clear contact paper or printable sticker paper to avoid peeling and bubbling.

How can I adapt this activity for younger kids (ages 3–5) and older kids (ages 10+)?

For ages 3–5 pre-sketch character outlines on heavy card stock and pre-cut shapes, provide thick crayons and supervise gluing and attaching pins, while ages 10+ can freehand detailed sketches, use fine markers, cut intricate shapes with craft knives under supervision, and make layered badges with personalized text before sharing on DIY.org.

What are some fun ways to upgrade or personalize the stickers, badges, and paper T-shirts after finishing the basic steps?

Upgrade stickers by laminating with contact paper or extra clear tape for durability, add glitter glue or fabric markers to decorate paper T-shirts, attach ribbon loops or extra card stock layers to badges to make mini medals, and scan your finished set to create printed iron-on transfers or a digital portfolio to post on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to design and make animation-themed merch

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DIY TOYS FOR KIDS || WINTER HOLIDAY CRAFTS FOR LITTLE PEOPLEⓇ TOYS BY FISHER-PRICEⓇ

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Facts about character design and crafts for kids

🎞️ Devices like the phenakistoscope (1832) and the zoetrope (1834) were early animation toys that made pictures appear to move.

📌 Pin-back buttons were mass-produced for political campaigns and advertising starting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

👕 T-shirts became everyday casual wear worldwide after World War II and are now a popular way to show fandom and designs.

🏷️ The first pressure-sensitive self-adhesive labels were invented in 1935 by R. Stanton Avery, paving the way for modern stickers.

🎨 Using bold shapes, a limited color palette, and clear outlines helps small merch like stickers and badges stay readable from a distance.

How do you design and make animation-themed merch like stickers, badges, and paper T-shirts?

Start by picking a simple character or motif and sketching several small poses. Refine a chosen sketch, trace it onto printable sticker paper or cardstock, and color it with markers or colored pencils. For stickers, cut outlines and laminate with clear tape or use sticker sheets. For badges, mount art on cardstock and attach badge backs or safety pins. For paper T-shirts, trace a T-shirt template, decorate, cut out, and glue onto a paper shirt. Test layouts, let everything dry, and assemble care

What materials do I need to make animation-themed stickers, badges, and paper T-shirts?

You’ll need sketching paper, pencils, erasers, colored pencils/markers, printable sticker paper or clear label sheets, cardstock, child-safe scissors, glue stick, and clear tape or laminator sheets. For badges: badge backs or safety-pin bases (or a button maker if available). For paper T-shirts: plain paper shirt templates or cardstock and fabric markers/iron-on transfer paper if using real shirts. Optional: printer, cutting mat, ruler, and non-toxic paints. Choose washable, non-toxic supplies f

What ages is this animation-themed merch activity suitable for?

This activity suits a wide range: ages 4–6 can draw simple shapes, color, and cut with supervision; 7–9 can trace templates, arrange layouts, and help assemble stickers and paper shirts more independently; ages 10+ can design original characters, use printable sheets, and safely operate tools like badge makers with adult help. Always match complexity to the child’s fine-motor skills and provide adult supervision for sharp tools, irons, or heated transfer materials.

What safety tips should I follow when making merch with children?

Use child-safe, blunt scissors and non-toxic art supplies. Keep small parts (badge pins, button backs) away from children under three to prevent choking. Supervise any hot tools (irons, button makers) and adult-only steps like using craft knives. Work on a protected surface and ventilate the area when using markers or glue with fumes. Teach safe cutting techniques and provide a first-aid kit nearby. For very young kids, stick to stickers and paper-only projects.

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