You'll need:
Egg carton
Pencil
Ruler
Craft scissors
Nail scissors or similar (optional) Adult supervision required
Paint
Craft glue
Black felt-tip or gel pen
Blue/green straw
Black marker pen (like a Sharpie)
1. Roughly cut out two middle cones from the egg box so they're easier to work with. On one, draw a pencil line around the cone, just above the bumpy joins at the bottom. Cut along the line. This will be the body.
2. The second cone is for the head, and you only need the very top part. Either estimate this, or use a pencil and ruler to mark about 1.5cm (1/2in.) from the top on all sides, join the marks and cut out. A handy way to do this is to cut up two adjacent corners to the pencil line, bend the card back and cut off the flap - it should be easier now to cut along the rest of the line.
(If your cone has a hole in the top or you want an easier head option, see the tip at the bottom.)
On the body cone, lightly draw a pencil line around it, about half way up. Don't worry if the line is a little wobbly, it's just for guidance.
2. The second cone is for the head, and you only need the very top part. Either estimate this, or use a pencil and ruler to mark about 1.5cm (1/2in.) from the top on all sides, join the marks and cut out. A handy way to do this is to cut up two adjacent corners to the pencil line, bend the card back and cut off the flap - it should be easier now to cut along the rest of the line.
(If your cone has a hole in the top or you want an easier head option, see the tip at the bottom.)
On the body cone, lightly draw a pencil line around it, about half way up. Don't worry if the line is a little wobbly, it's just for guidance.
3. Cut up the middle of one cone side to this pencil line, then wiggle and turn your scissors, and cut along the line to the corner and just a little beyond.
Do the same on the other side so you've cut a 'T' shape.
Repeat this 'T' shape on the opposite side of the cone.
Do the same on the other side so you've cut a 'T' shape.
Repeat this 'T' shape on the opposite side of the cone.
4. To form the legs, press the cut edges in the middle towards each other and squeeze and press each one into a more rounded shape. You should end up with what looks like an impressive pair of flares, which seems sort of appropriate!
If the trousers look a bit too wide, trim the edges until you're happy.
If the trousers look a bit too wide, trim the edges until you're happy.
4. For the arms, cut a thin strip of card from the egg carton lid that's about 5mm (1/4in.) wide and 5cm (2in.) long. Round it at the ends for the hands.
5. Either cut the arm strip in half after the painting step (Step 6) and glue the pieces either side, or, with adult supervision, use the nail scissors to make a hole in the middle of one of the arm sides (keep the scissors closed, press down and twist from side to side.)
Once you've made the hole, snip up to the top of the cone and down the other side until the slot looks level. Cut an extra sliver out to widen the gap for the arms. Make sure the slot goes far enough down the body, so when you push the arm strip in, it sits below the top part of the cone (the head will be glued here later)
Once you've made the hole, snip up to the top of the cone and down the other side until the slot looks level. Cut an extra sliver out to widen the gap for the arms. Make sure the slot goes far enough down the body, so when you push the arm strip in, it sits below the top part of the cone (the head will be glued here later)
6. Now, painting time!
For Luke Skywalker, keep the arms in and paint the body and legs white, and the bottom part of the legs brown for the boots. We gave him yellow/fair hair and made up a flesh colour with a lot of white, a little red, yellow and tiny dab of blue, for the face and hands.
TIP: Put the head on a spare egg carton cone while you're decorating it. This makes painting much easier.
TIP: Put the head on a spare egg carton cone while you're decorating it. This makes painting much easier.
7. For Han Solo, keep the arm strip out and paint it a creamy yellow and white colour and use this to paint a strip down the front of the body cone for his shirt. Paint the rest of the top part of the body dark brown (red, yellow and blue) and use this for his shoes too. Make his trousers and hair a lighter brown (add some white to the mix).
8. While the paint's drying, make a lightsaber for Luke from a blue or green straw. Cut off about 4cm (11/2in.) and colour the bottom end with the black marker pen. Cut small slits in this end so you can slot the lightsaber onto Luke's hand. For Han Solo's gun, colour about 1.5cm (1/2in.) of the straw with the black marker pen, cut this off and make slits as before.
9. When the paint is dry, use the fine black pen to draw on a face and add detail to the clothes and hair (see pics)
Slot Han Solo's arm strip back in (or is you've cut the strip in half, glue the arms either side). Glue the head on.
Tip: For an easier head option, instead of using a cone, draw a oval head shape on a piece of spare egg carton card. Paint or colour this in with pencils or felt tips. Cut out and stick near the top of the body cone.
If your egg cones have holes in the top, brush glue inside the cones and push a small piece of newspaper up to fill the hole.
