Think of a circus rolling into town with bright colors, quirky faces, and playful energy. That’s exactly what these peanut clowns bring into your home.
By painting each shell with vibrant hues and topping them off with tiny paper hats, you create a parade of characters that look ready to perform.
No two clowns are alike, and that’s what makes them special, just like in a real circus, every performer shines in their own way.
Materials Needed
- 8-10 peanut shells (about 2-2.5 inches long, intact)
- 1 set of acrylic paints (red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, green, black, white, etc.)
- 3-4 fine paintbrushes (sizes 0-3 for detail, 6 for base coats)
- Colored paper or cardstock for party hats (about 4”×4” squares)
- Craft glue or hot glue gun
- Small pompoms or beads (6-8 mm) (optional)
- Markers or paint pens for fine details
- Scissors
- Tiny yarn or wool strands for clown hair (about 1-2 inches each)
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Clean your peanut shells gently and make sure they’re intact. These will become your clown “bodies.”
Step 2: Paint each shell with bright base colors including red shirts, green pants, purple vests, or orange suits. Let the base dry before layering details.
Step 3: Add facial features using fine brushes or paint pens. Then give each clown rosy cheeks, smiling lips, and quirky eyes.
Step 4: Cut small paper triangles and roll them into cone-shaped party hats. Secure with glue and add a pompom or bead to the tip if you want extra flair.
Step 5: Glue tufts of yarn or wool around the top of the peanut for clown hair. You can choose bold colors such as blue, red, green, or even multicolored for a lively effect.
Step 6: Attach the hats on top of the hair with glue. Make sure they sit snugly.
Step 7: Once dry, arrange your peanut clowns in a group.
You can glue magnets on the back, string them as garlands, or simply line them up as festive tabletop décor.
Tips:
Try giving each clown a unique personality including one with big round glasses, another with a bowtie, and maybe even a clown with mismatched socks painted on!
When I made these, I realized the best part was how no two turned out alike. It felt like building my very own circus troupe, each performer with a story to tell.