On this page, you will find 20 original caterpillar coloring pages that are all free to print or download! For this series, I illustrated many types and styles of caterpillars, including the beloved character The Very Hungry Caterpillar, cute and whimsical caterpillars, detailed illustrations of a caterpillars lifecycle, simple caterpillars for kids, and many more!
These printables are perfect for kids or adults who are interested in these fascinating, colorful, and transforming insects and are looking for something creative to do. Once the coloring pages are complete, you can then use them as party decorations, banners, wallpaper, placemats, stencils, and so much more!
To use any of these free printables, you can click on any of the below images or links to open the high-resolution PDF on a new page. From there, you can freely download or print to your heart’s content!
All these PDF coloring pages are on standard US letter size, but they also fit perfectly onto A4 paper sizes! Enjoy!
10 Craft Ideas To Do With Caterpillar Coloring Pages
Here are 10 affordable, fun, and creative craft ideas you can do with your completed coloring page!
10. Pom Pom Caterpillars
For this craft, which is great for practicing fine motor skills in youngsters (specifically the pincer grasp), you will need crafting pom poms in various colors and, if you want, sizes.
Your kids will color in a caterpillar’s head and then fill in the body with the pom poms.
If the body is small enough, they can glue the pom poms in a single row, but if it’s larger, they can use multiples in a patterned array or not.
9. Very Hungry With Leaves
Caterpillars naturally bring to mind the famous story The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the book inspires this craft.
Using green construction paper, you’ll cut out leaf shapes, draw a small grid on it (for the leaf’s veins), and punch holes into it.
Then, you’ll glue five or six crafting pom poms into a line on the leaf.
For the last pom pom, you’ll glue on a caterpillar face that you have resized, and your kids have colored in and cut out.
8. Toilet Paper Roll Caterpillars
This craft can get messy, but it is appropriate for preschoolers and up, so get your vinyl tablecloth or drop cloth ready and dress your kids in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty!
You will give the kids a piece of construction paper and two or three paper plates with dollops of non-toxic, washable paint in whatever colors the kids want.
Then they’re going to take toilet paper rolls, dip one circular end in the paint and press it against the paper.
They’ll do this repeatedly until they have made a linked body of circles.
Once it’s dry, they can color in and cut out a caterpillar face and paste it onto one end, and for a finishing touch, they can use markers to add on little legs and feet.
7. Linked Paper Caterpillars
To make this craft, you will need lots of construction paper cut up into two by eight strips – these will be linked together and affixed by glue, tape, or even staples.
To make a Very Hungry Caterpillar-themed caterpillar, you can use green construction paper for the body and red for the head.
For any old caterpillar, your kids can use whatever colors they want!
For the final link, which should feature a loop that is “facing forward” (as opposed to lying flat), your kids will color in and cut out a caterpillar face and paste it onto the link.
6. Caterpillar Bookmarks
You can turn my caterpillar pictures into super cute bookmarks that will make your kids want to read again and again.
You may want to resize the pictures before printing them out; once they’re printed, have your kids color in just the caterpillar and cut it out.
Then you’re going to paste the caterpillar cut-out onto a rectangular piece of construction paper – about three by seven or eight inches.
Let the glue dry completely before putting it into a book!
5. Button Caterpillars
Another cute “fill in the lines” craft, you’ll need lots of buttons to choose from, and you can use any colors – but vibrant ones are best!
Have your kids glue the buttons onto the caterpillar’s body; they can overlap them slightly or just place them side-by-side.
Before they actually glue the buttons down, they might want to lay out how they want the buttons to be arranged – or they can wing it!
4. Caterpillar Crowns
Pick a caterpillar picture where the bug’s face is prominent, and have your kids color it in and cut it out.
Then, using two-inch strips of construction paper, make loops that will fit around your kids’ heads (you might have to use one and a half or two strips).
Paste the caterpillar’s face onto the “crown” and let your kids “bug out”!
3. Caterpillar Friendship Bracelets
For this craft, you will need shrink sheets; you’ll print off the caterpillar picture onto it and have your kids color it in and cut it out.
If the caterpillar is segmented in any way, have your kids cut along those lines to separate the parts and then punch holes roughly in the middle.
Bake the pieces and let them cool completely; then, create a bracelet incorporating the caterpillar parts using cording and beads.
2. Party Invitations
Nothing could be sweeter for a child’s birthday than party invitations featuring a caterpillar.
You can resize the illustration of your choice by copying and pasting it from its downloadable PDF file into a word processor document.
Then, set it in the upper-left corner – and upside down. It will turn right-side up once you do the necessary folding.
You can also write in the party details once it’s folded up or add it on the computer – you’ll put that info in the lower-right corner.
1. Suncatchers
You can turn my caterpillar picture into beautiful suncatchers – first, you’ll print the illustrations onto transparency paper.
Then, you will paste pieces of tissue paper within the lines. You can use many colors or just stick to two or three.
Once that’s done, you’ll cut out the caterpillar, poke two holes about two inches apart, then string some cord or twine through and tie it off.
Finally, you can use that cord, suction cup, and hook to hang your suncatcher in a window.