DIY University of Texas Spirit Crafts for Kids

Last Updated: November 1, 2026

Table of Contents

• School Spirit Crafts for Kids That Build Longhorn Pride
• DIY Game-Day Crafts for Kids: Projects for Every Age
  • Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
  • Early Elementary (Ages 6-8)
  • Older Kids (Ages 9-12)
  • Adapting Any Project for Different Abilities
• DIY Paper Pennant for Kids: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
• No-Sew Team Spirit Crafts Kids Can Make on Their Own
  • Fleece Tie Blanket
  • Felt Longhorn Keychain
  • Fabric Bunting
  • Copyright Note for Fabric Crafts
• Complete Supply List and Budget-Friendly Substitutions
• Safety, Accessibility, and Copyright-Aware Crafting
• Pair Your Crafts with Official Longhorn Gear for Game Day
• Frequently Asked Questions

School Spirit Crafts for Kids That Build Longhorn Pride

Kids learn pride by making things with their own hands. Families often turn a simple afternoon of cutting and gluing into a full-blown game-day tradition. That is why diy university of texas spirit crafts for kids belongs on your weekend list: it is cheap, hands-on, and gives children a real connection to burnt orange and white.

You do not need a craft store. Paper, glue, and a few household items cover most projects.

Below, we walk through age-by-age projects, a full pennant tutorial, and a supply list with budget swaps.

DIY Game-Day Crafts for Kids: Projects for Every Age

Matching a project to a child's skill level is the biggest factor in whether craft time ends in pride or tears. Below are six projects grouped by age, each with supplies, steps, time, and notes on where an adult should step in. Developing these foundational crafting abilities early on provides a perfect bridge toward tackling more complex DIY gift projects that require a bit more patience and precision.

Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)

Little hands do best with big shapes and no sharp tools. Keep sessions to 15-20 minutes and prep shapes ahead.

Burnt Orange Texas Collage

• Supplies: One sheet of burnt orange construction paper, one sheet of white paper, a Texas-shaped outline printed on cardstock (search "Texas outline printable"), a glue stick, and a marker.
• Steps: (1) An adult cuts out the Texas outline and traces it onto the white paper. (2) The child tears burnt orange paper into thumbnail-sized squares and glues them inside the outline until it is filled. (3) An adult writes the child's name and the date along the bottom.
• Time: 15-20 minutes.

Bluebonnet Cork Stamping

• Supplies: One wine cork per child, purple and green washable paint, a paper plate, white cardstock, and a smock.
• Steps: (1) Pour a shallow pool of purple paint onto the plate. (2) The child dips the cork and stamps clusters of three to five dots to form each bluebonnet. (3) Dip a fingertip in green paint to add stems and leaves. (4) Let dry flat for 20-30 minutes.
• Time: 15 minutes of crafting plus 30 minutes drying.

Longhorn Handprint

• Supplies: Burnt orange washable paint, white cardstock, a black marker, and a paintbrush.
• Steps: (1) Paint the child's palm and fingers with burnt orange paint. (2) Press the hand flat onto the cardstock and lift straight up. (3) Once dry, an adult draws two curved horns on either side of the thumb to complete the Longhorn shape. (4) Add the child's name and age.
• Time: 10 minutes plus 20 minutes drying.

Early Elementary (Ages 6-8)

This age can cut, fold, and follow a short set of steps. Expect 30-45 minutes per project, including drying time.

Paper Pennant with Hand-Drawn Longhorn

• Supplies: One sheet of burnt orange cardstock, white paper, safety scissors, a glue stick, markers, a ruler, a wooden dowel or drinking straw, and tape.
• Steps: (1) Measure and cut a 20-by-30-centimeter rectangle from the cardstock. (2) Draw a line from each top corner to the bottom center point and cut along the lines to form a triangle. (3) Cut a thin white strip and glue it down the center. (4) Draw a Longhorn head or write "Hook 'em Horns" in marker. (5) Tape the flat edge to the dowel and press flat for 10 minutes.
• Time: 30 minutes plus 10 minutes drying.

Cactus Paper-Cup Planter

• Supplies: One paper cup per child, green and burnt orange washable paint, a paintbrush, a black marker, and a small amount of air-dry clay or crumpled paper for the "soil."
• Steps: (1) Paint the outside of the cup green and let dry for 30 minutes. (2) Paint a burnt orange stripe around the rim. (3) Once dry, draw vertical lines and small spines with the marker. (4) Stuff crumpled paper or a clay ball into the top to finish the planter.
• Time: 20 minutes of painting plus 30 minutes drying.

Torn-Paper Texas Flag Art

• Supplies: One sheet of white cardstock, red and blue construction paper, a glue stick, and a pencil.
• Steps: (1) An adult draws a light pencil outline of the Texas flag: a blue vertical band on the left and two horizontal bands (white on top, red on the bottom) on the right. (2) The child tears red and blue paper into small strips and glues them inside the matching sections. (3) Add a single star in the blue band using a white paper scrap or a sticker.
• Time: 30-40 minutes.

Older Kids (Ages 9-12)

Older kids want control and a result that looks good on a bedroom wall. These projects run 45-90 minutes and suit a small group or classroom station.

Stenciled Room-Decor Sign

• Supplies: One wooden or cardboard sign blank (a 12-inch by 6-inch board works well), burnt orange and white acrylic paint, a foam brush, letter stencils, and painter's tape.
• Steps: (1) Paint the blank burnt orange and let dry for 30 minutes. (2) Tape the stencils in place and spell a short phrase such as "Hook 'em" or the child's name. (3) Dab white paint through the stencils with the foam brush. (4) Peel the stencils while the paint is still slightly tacky, then let dry for 1 hour.
• Time: 45 minutes plus 1.5 hours drying.

Air-Dry Clay Longhorn Keychain

• Supplies: Air-dry clay, a plastic knife, a straw or skewer for the hole, acrylic paint, and a keyring.
• Steps: (1) Roll a walnut-sized ball of clay and flatten it to about 1/4 inch thick. (2) Shape a Longhorn head or Texas outline with the plastic knife. (3) Poke a hole near the top with the straw. (4) Let dry for 24 hours, then paint and let dry another 30 minutes. (5) Thread the keyring through the hole.
• Time: 30 minutes of shaping plus 24 hours drying plus 30 minutes painting.

Adapting Any Project for Different Abilities

A child who cannot cut can still place, press, and decorate. Pre-cut shapes for kids who struggle with scissors, offer larger grips on brushes and markers, and adjust table height so the child can work with a flat wrist. For sensory sensitivities, offer smooth cardstock over glitter and rough felt, and keep a damp towel nearby.

DIY Paper Pennant for Kids: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

What you need:

• One sheet of burnt orange cardstock
• White paper for letters
• Safety scissors

Total time: 20 to 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy

University of Texas Varsity Cardigan (Kids) →

Step 1: Cut the triangle. Measure a rectangle about 20 by 30 centimeters on the cardstock.

Step 3: Make your letters. Cut or write "Hook 'em Horns" or the child's name.

Step 4: Decorate. Add a hand-drawn Longhorn, stars, or bluebonnets with markers.

Step 5: Attach the dowel. Tape the flat edge of the pennant to the dowel or straw.

Expected result: A stiff, colorful pennant the child can wave or hang.

No-Sew Team Spirit Crafts Kids Can Make on Their Own

No-sew team spirit crafts remove the biggest barrier for young makers: needles. These three work with glue, folding, and knotting alone, and each lists supplies, steps, timing, and approximate cost.

Fleece Tie Blanket

• Supplies: Two pieces of fleece, each about 1.5 yards long (one burnt orange, one white), sharp scissors, and a ruler or a piece of cardboard cut to a 4-inch square.
• Steps: (1) Lay the two fleece pieces on top of each other, right sides out, and trim the edges so they match. (2) Cut a 4-inch by 4-inch square out of each corner. (3) Using the cardboard square as a guide, cut 4-inch-deep fringe strips about 1 inch wide along all four sides, through both layers. (4) Tie the top and bottom strips of each pair together in a double knot, working around the blanket. (5) Trim any uneven ends.
• Time: 1.5-2 hours for a child-size blanket, best split across two sessions.

Felt Longhorn Keychain

• Supplies: Two 4-inch squares of felt (burnt orange and white), a Longhorn or Texas outline template, fabric glue or a hot glue gun (adult use only), a 6-inch length of ribbon, and a keyring.
• Steps: (1) Trace the template onto both felt squares and cut out two matching shapes. (2) Fold the ribbon in half and glue the ends to the back of one felt shape to form a loop. (3) Run a thin line of glue around the edge of that shape and press the second shape on top. (4) Let dry flat for 30 minutes, then attach the keyring through the ribbon loop.
• Time: 20 minutes plus 30 minutes drying.

Fabric Bunting

• Supplies: Scraps of burnt orange and white fabric (old T-shirts work well), pinking shears or sharp scissors, a length of ribbon or bias tape about 6 feet long, and fabric glue.
• Steps: (1) Cut fabric into triangles about 6 inches wide at the top and 8 inches tall. (2) Fold the top edge of each triangle over the ribbon by about 1 inch. (3) Glue the folded edge to the ribbon, spacing triangles about 2 inches apart. (4) Let dry for 1 hour before hanging.
• Time: 45 minutes plus 1 hour drying.

Copyright Note for Fabric Crafts

Fabric crafts make it tempting to print an official Longhorn logo onto a shirt or blanket. Making a personal blanket or bunting for your own family is fine. Stick to fan-inspired shapes, a Longhorn silhouette, a Texas outline, or the words "Hook 'em", rather than reproducing the official mark. Benefits of Buying Official UT Austin Apparel explains why official gear is the better route for licensed logos and imagery.

Complete Supply List and Budget-Friendly Substitutions

Most Texas spirit crafts for kids run on supplies you may already own. Here is the core list, plus swaps that keep costs down without hurting the result.

Buy cardstock in a multi-pack rather than single sheets. One pack covers a whole classroom's worth of pennants and signs.

Safety, Accessibility, and Copyright-Aware Crafting

Safety comes down to three things: tools, materials, and supervision. Match scissors to age, keep small pieces away from children under three, and use washable, non-toxic paint and glue. For sensory sensitivities, offer smooth cardstock over glitter and rough felt.

Pair Your Crafts with Official Longhorn Gear for Game Day

Crafts look better when the whole family is dressed for the occasion.

For a full celebration, host a Texas Longhorns themed family party and use the pennants and bunting as table decor. Little fans can wear the University of Texas Varsity Cardigan (Kids), a soft fleece layer made from 80% cotton and 20% spandex with varsity-inspired trim and front pockets.

For the youngest crafters, the University of Texas Inspirational Button Down Set (Kids) gives a little fan a complete game-day look in soft knit. And if you are planning what to wear yourself, what to wear to a Texas Longhorns game covers the full outfit.

The glue sticks will dry out and the paper will fade, but the memory of a kid holding up a handmade pennant in burnt orange does not.

At Coordinates, we build family apparel around exactly that moment. Our University of Texas collection includes sizes for men, women, kids, and babies, so everyone can match.

Get started with Coordinates and turn craft day into a full family tradition.

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