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Tumbling Tower Penguin

Use wooden blocks from a Dollar Tree Tumbling Tower game to make a cute penguin to sit on a shelf or tiered tray. This is a perfect winter craft that is very inexpensive to make.

A felt penguin bottle holder with snowflakes on it.

Want more penguin crafts? Be sure to see these fun ideas, too:

All materials other than paint are from Dollar Tree. Many of the supplies are the same ones we used to make these winter crafts:

You could easily make all three of these craft ideas at the same time.

DIY Tumbling Tower Penguin

Supplies

  • Free Tumbling Tower Penguin Pattern
  • Tumbling Tower Game (12 pieces)
  • Acrylic Craft Paint (White, Pink, and Black)
  • 2 Wiggle Eyes
  • Chenille Stem
  • Craft Felt (Orange, Blue)
  • Snowflake Button
  • Hot Glue Gun or Craft Glue
  • Scissors
  • Paintbrush
  • Black Permanent Marker or Sharpie
  • Pencil with New Eraser (optional)
  • Ruler
A craft kit with paint, glue, scissors and a bag.

Directions

Step 1

Line up two rows of six tumbling tower wooden blocks each.

A stack of wooden blocks and a glue gun.

Glue the first six wooden blocks together with long sides glued together.

Repeat the process with the second set of six wooden blocks.

Glue the two large rectangles of wooden blocks together on top of each other.

A glue gun and wood pieces on a wooden table.

Step 2

Draw the penguin body on top of the wooden blocks with a pencil. This doesn’t have to be perfect. Make sure to put two bumps on top, similar to drawing an ‘M’ for the penguin eyes.

Paint the inside of this shape with white acrylic craft paint.

A bottle of paint and a pencil on a wooden table.

Then paint the rest of the wooden block with black acrylic craft paint.

Let the paint dry between coats and then apply a second coat, if necessary.

Step 3

Download, print and cut out the penguin patterns.

Trace the triangle beak and two feet from orange craft felt. Cut out the pattern pieces.

A pair of scissors and orange felt pieces on a table.

Glue the wiggle eyes underneath the two bumps on the penguin body. Then glue the beak underneath the two eyes.

Next, glue the two feet on the bottom of the block.

A penguin craft with a glue gun next to it.

Step 4

Cut out the penguin hat pattern from the blue felt. We used a color called Lagoon for the craft felt.

A pair of scissors next to a piece of blue felt.

Wrap the rectangle of felt around the wooden blocks and glue the base.

A glue gun on a wooden table next to a piece of paper.

Step 5

Gather the top of the penguin’s hat together towards the top. Wrap and twist a chenille stem around the felt to secure it closed. Trim long ends off with scissors.

A felt penguin craft with scissors and a felt penguin hat.

Step 6

Add polka dot cheeks by dipping a new pencil eraser into pink acrylic craft paint. Alternatively, you can freehand pink dots for the cheeks or use a pink permanent marker to draw them on.

Allow to dry completely.

A felt penguin pencil case with a pencil and a felt penguin.

Draw a smile from cheek to cheek with a permanent black marker.

Step 7

Remove the shank (or loop) from the back of a snowflake button with scissors. Glue the button to the penguin’s hat.

A pair of orange scissors next to a package of snowflakes.
A felt penguin on a wooden background.

Helpful Tips

  • Orange craft foam or cardstock can be used instead of orange felt.
  • Instead of a snowflake button, you could use a small foam snowflake cut out, snowflake sticker or other type of miniature snowflake.
  • Ribbon can be used instead of a chenille stem to secure the penguin hat.

Pin this Tumbling Tower Penguin winter craft to save for later!

We love using Tumbling Tower game pieces in unusual ways to make easy Dollar Tree DIYs. Be sure to see these other crafts, too:

Cindy Skougaard

Saturday 6th of January 2024

Thanks for the penguin idea. I like quick and easy diy crafts.

Kimberly

Saturday 6th of January 2024

Thanks, Cindy! I do, too!