Plastic Medicine Cup Jellyfish

How can you turn something not-so-fun into something completely fun? You’ve seen those scrunched up faces and tight lips when you fill that cold-medicine cup and head toward your child. When they are feeling better and the medicine bottle is empty, turn that not-so-fun cup into these adorable jellyfish the kids will love!

These colorful sea creatures would be a great addition to your child’s room, perfect for suspending from the ceiling. These would be a fun addition to an ocean or beach themed birthday party too!

A great way to recycle those empty, plastic cups, this is a colorful project that doesn’t take much time at all. I do suggest using a sewing needle in this craft in order to add the hanger. So if you feel your child isn’t quite ready for that yet, you can do that step for them first.

You will need:

Recycled plastic medicine cup
Button
Tissue paper
2 googly eyes
24-inch length of embroidery floss
Needle (parental supervision recommended)
Glue
Scissors

To make the hole for the hanger, parents poke needle through the center of the bottom of the medicine cup.

Thread embroidery floss through both holes of a button and match up the two ends of the floss so that the button is in the center.

Thread the two ends of the embroidery floss through the eye of the needle.

Poke the needle through the bottom of the medicine cup, from the inside of the cup.

Pull the needle and floss through the hole until the button touches the medicine cup. Secure the button in place with glue.

Remove the needle from the floss.

Cut four strips of tissue paper, about 3-inches wide. I used pink and white for this one, and blue and white for the other jellyfish. You can use whatever colors you like.

Stack the tissue paper strips on top of one another.

Add a generous amount of glue inside the medicine cup. Place your thumb in the center of all the tissue paper strips.

Gather the tissue paper around your thumb.

Push your thumb and the tissue paper inside the medicine cup.

Repeat these steps for any additional jellyfish you are making.

Trim the ends of the tissue paper so that they are all the same length.

Starting at the bottom of the tissue paper, cut the paper into strips up to the medicine cup.

Glue on 2 googly eyes and let everything dry. Hang!

Project created by Amanda Formaro for Kix Cereal. Amanda is a well-known craft expert and author of the  books “Rubber Band Mania” and “Duct Tape Mania”, the first two in a series of craft books for kids. She has been writing and crafting on the Internet for over fifteen years. Find out more on her blog, Crafts by Amanda, where she shares tutorials with step-by-step photos for adults and kids alike.