Many girls love pretending to be mermaids. When I was a child I loved the idea of mysterious mermaids with shimmery tails and under-the-sea hairstyles. Over the last few years, mermaids have been trending in the form of dolls, mermaid fin blankets, room decor and even cookies! Here are some fun ideas for all girls who love mermaids!
DIY Mermaid Tail Blanket
I made my daughter a mermaid fin blanket that is big enough so she can grow into it and enjoy it for several years. This cozy blanket with a fin was easy to make by sewing a sleeping-bag like blanket out of plushy fabric and adding a tail.
To make a mermaid fin blanket, cut out the tail and fin using soft plushy fabric. Layer the fabric “right sides together” and sew the edges closed using a sewing machine. Make sure all your seams are sewn with the blanket turned inside out so they are hidden. Once you turn the blanket “right sides out” your blanket will have a nice finished look.
This is an easy DIY sewing project to learn on. If you make any mistakes, the fabric is forgiving and you can easily rip out any seams to correct them. We used one color of fabric for the fin and another color of plushy fabric for the tail.
Steps for Sewing a Mermaid Tail Blanket
- Cut out the mermaid fin in the correct proportionate size.The most important element of a mermaid tail blanket is the fin!
- Don’t cut the blanket too narrow where the fin attaches to the tail so your little girl can put her feet through.
- To make the tail, arrange the fabric right sides together and sew the seams along the edges to create a tube.
- Sew the edges of the fin closed, right sides together. Then sew the fin onto the tail, leaving the circular inner space open to put feet through.
- Fold the waistband down and sew a seam along the edge, adding gentle elastic if desired.
- Turn the mermaid tail blanket right sides out. That’s it! You’re done!
My daughter will love this mermaid blanket for years to come! I was tempted to make it a bit smaller in size, but I didn’t want to spend time making it only for her to outgrow it in a year or two. I love the bright colors and plushy design. This mermaid tail blanket is perfect for camping, lounging and movie watching.
Sensory Mermaid Glitter Slime
We also love playing with glitter slime! This borax-free DIY glitter slime uses school glue and liquid starch which is much gentler on little hands. Our glitter slime also sticks together better than some other recipes, minimizing mess on clothes and the floor. Mermaid slime would be perfect for a mermaid-themed kids’ party too!
Basic Slime: 1 cup water + 1 cup school glue + 1 cup starch
To make glitter slime, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup school glue and mix until fully combined. Add food coloring and glitter if desired. You could also add sequins and confetti to create different sensory combinations. Once you add your sparkly elements, stir in 1 cup liquid starch. The slime will get stringy as the starch absorbs the liquid. Let it sit for about 10 minutes for the DIY glitter slime to fully congeal to create the dense slimy sensory substance kids love to stretch and mold.
My kids love playing with DIY glitter slime for the activity segment of our morning homeschool routine. Once you make glitter slime, it’s easy to pull out and play with. Have your kids wash their hands before and after play time, to keep the slime clean. It’s also good to wash off any slime residue from kids’ hands before snack time. We store our homemade glitter slime in an air tight container to use for several weeks. You can also make several colors of glitter slime and teach kids how to create new colors by mixing slime colors.
Mermaid Tail Cookies
How adorable are these mermaid tail cookies? Someone is much better at cookie decorating than I am, but I’d love to try making these someday! The shimmery air brushed colors and icing details are just gorgeous!
Mermaid Star Pillow
My daughter wanted a star pillow for her mermaid-themed bedroom, so I made one using some of the leftover plushy fabric from the mermaid tail blankets. It turned out so cute, with soft bubble fabric on one side and shimmery silky fabric on the other!
Doll Mermaid Tails
Finally, I made coordinating mermaid tails for my daughter’s WellieWishers American Girl dolls. Why stop at kid-sized mermaid tails? Doll mermaid tails are so easy to make because of the size and short seams. Learn to make these cute doll accessories here! If you already know how to sew, this is an easy afternoon project.
My girls love playing with all things mermaid. Mermaids inspire girls to pretend, dress up and imagine they have glittery tails and can twirl through the ocean. I hope you enjoyed our mermaid-inspired kids’ crafts and ideas!
Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 3 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, taking photos and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!
Thank you for giving me so many ideas. My 6 year old granddaughter is sure she is going to be a mermaid Doctor.
Miriam
do you have the pattern