Design an original character

What can I use if I can't find cardboard, fabric, clay, or certain colouring materials?

Use cereal or shipping boxes as cardboard, old t-shirt scraps or felt for fabric, play‑dough or air‑dry modeling paste instead of clay, and swap markers or colored pencils for crayons, watercolors, or torn colored paper when you color your drawing and make the costume piece.

My sketch looks off, my prop won't stick, or my photo is blurry—how do I fix these problems?

For an imbalanced full‑body sketch, draw a light stick‑figure and basic shapes first to erase and adjust; if the cardboard or fabric costume piece won't attach, add a folded cardboard tab or double‑sided tape before gluing, and to avoid a blurry photo scan or photograph the finished character on a flat surface in bright natural light or use a flatbed scanner.

How can I adapt this character activity for different age groups?

For younger kids, simplify by choosing a theme, saying the name aloud, writing one short sentence backstory, using large crayons and pre‑cut cardboard for the costume piece with adult help attaching, while older kids can write a longer backstory, add detailed facial/clothing features, hand‑sew or sculpt the 3D prop, and use a wider color palette or digital coloring before uploading to DIY.org.

What are some ways to extend or personalize the character project once it's finished?

Turn the background into a shoe‑box diorama, make the 3D prop wearable or movable with brads, create a short comic or stop‑motion flipbook of your character using multiple poses, and include the extra photos and a longer description when you share on DIY.org.