How to Make a Snappy Shark or Loveable Lobster Craft
By RSPCA Shop | Published: 2026-10-29
Category: How-to Guides
Follow these simple steps to assemble your own paper shark or lobster craft. No glue or scissors needed—perfect for a creative hobby with kids.
Quick answer
Assemble your own Snappy Shark or Loveable Lobster in about 20 minutes using only the card pieces and instructions—no glue or scissors required.
Why choose a paper shark or lobster craft?
Both kits are plastic-free and made from FSC-certified paper, making them a planet-friendly choice for a creative hobby. The shark model gives your room the illusion of a shark swimming through the wall, while the lobster flips inside out and includes an activity sheet with ocean facts. Choose red or blue for the lobster to match your space.
Step-by-step assembly guide
- Unpack and organize the pieces: Open the kit and lay out all the card pieces on a flat surface. For the shark, you should have 15 pieces; for the lobster, 24 pieces. Keep the instruction sheet handy. Check that you have all pieces before starting—missing a piece can stop you mid-assembly.
- Follow the instruction sheet in order: Each piece is numbered or labeled. Punch out the pieces gently and follow the step order shown on the sheet. Do not skip ahead, as later pieces often lock into earlier ones. If a piece doesn't fit easily, you may have the wrong orientation—flip it around before forcing it.
- Slot pieces together firmly: Press the tabs into the corresponding slots. For the shark, assemble the head and tail separately, then join them. For the lobster, build the body and claws before attaching the flip mechanism. A common mistake is not pushing tabs all the way in—this makes the model wobbly. Press until you hear or feel a click.
- Add the finishing touches: For the lobster, attach the wall display hook to the back if you plan to hang it. Read the activity sheet to learn fun lobster facts. For the shark, position the model so the head and tail create the swimming-through-wall effect. If you hang the lobster, make sure the hook is securely attached to avoid it falling off the wall.
What you need to know about these kits
- Create Your Own Snappy Shark: The Create Your Own Snappy Shark includes 15 card pieces and an instruction sheet, with no glue or scissors needed. This makes it a safe, mess-free activity for kids age 9 and up—just punch out the pieces and slot them together.
Create Your Own Snappy Shark - Make Your Own Loveable Lobster: The Make Your Own Loveable Lobster has 24 lobster pieces, a wall display hook, and an activity sheet with lobster facts. You can hang the finished lobster on the wall with the removable hook, and the activity sheet adds an educational layer to the craft.
Make Your Own Loveable Lobster
