7 DIY Coraline Crafts for Movie Fans

You know that feeling when you watch Coraline and get completely sucked into its weird, wonderful, and slightly terrifying world? I get it every single time. There’s something about the Other World, with its button eyes and creepy garden spectacles, that just screams, “Craft me!”

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve paused that movie to admire the details—the quilt on Coraline’s bed, the weirdly cool gloves Wybie wears, that iconic dragonfly nightlight. And honestly, after the fifth rewatch, I finally grabbed my glue gun and decided to stop admiring and start making.

So, if you’re obsessed with the Pink Palace and its eccentric residents, you’re in the right place. I’ve rounded up 7 DIY Coraline crafts that are perfect for movie fans. They range from super easy (like, “I can do this while half-watching the movie” easy) to a little more involved. Grab your crafting supplies, and let’s get started.

1. Create Your Own Dragonfly Nightlight

Ever wondered why that dragonfly nightlight in Coraline’s room looks so comforting and ethereal? It’s probably my favorite non-character detail in the whole film. Recreating it is easier than you think, and it actually works as a nightlight!

What You’ll Need:

• A cheap, plug-in nightlight (the ones with the two prongs that hold a small bulb)
• Polymer clay (like Sculpey) in blue, purple, and black
• An X-Acto knife or a small crafting blade
• Wire for the antennae (optional)

Step-by-Step:

1. Start with the body. Take a small piece of the purple clay and roll it into an oval shape. This will be the dragonfly’s body.
2. For the wings, roll out the blue clay into two long teardrops for the top wings and two smaller ones for the bottom. Flatten them gently. I usually mess this up the first time and make them too thick. Trust me, keep them thin!
3. Assemble the dragonfly by gently pressing the wings onto the body. Use the black clay for two tiny dots for eyes on the head. If you’re feeling fancy, poke two small holes on the head and insert tiny wire pieces for antennae.
4. Bake the clay according to the package instructions. Let it cool completely.
5. The tricky part. Use a strong adhesive (like E6000) to glue your finished dragonfly onto the plastic face of the nightlight. Make sure it’s centered!
6. Plug it in and bask in the glow.

IMO, this is the perfect craft to remind you that even the darkest corners can have a little light. :/

2. Sew a “Welcome to the Pink Palace” Pillow

Coraline’s new home isn’t exactly welcoming at first, but that weirdly formal sign in the drawing room always stuck with me. This craft is great for adding a quirky touch to your couch or bed.

Materials:

• 1/2 yard of off-white or cream cotton fabric
• Fabric paint in black and pink
• A paintbrush or fabric marker
• Needle and thread or a sewing machine
• Poly-fil stuffing

The Process:

1. Cut two squares of fabric (about 16×16 inches for a standard pillow).
2. On one square, lightly sketch the text “Welcome to the Pink Palace” with a pencil. I try to mimic the slightly uneven, hand-painted look from the movie.
3. Paint the letters. Use the black fabric paint for the main text. Once that’s dry, add a tiny pink flourish—maybe a small flower or just a pink dot on the ‘i’.
4. Place the two fabric squares together with the painted side facing in. Sew around the edges, leaving a 4-inch gap.
5. Turn it right-side out, stuff it until it’s nice and plump, and hand-stitch the opening closed.

There’s something so satisfying about making your own home decor that has a story. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter. “Oh, this old thing? It’s just from my favorite terrifying movie.”

3. Recreate the Button Eyes

You can’t have a Coraline-themed craft list without talking about the button eyes. They are creepy, iconic, and weirdly fun to make. I made a bunch of these one rainy afternoon and turned them into hair clips and brooches.

Supplies:

• Large, mismatched buttons (hit up a thrift store or your grandma’s sewing kit!)
• Black felt
• Hot glue gun
• Pin backs or alligator hair clips
• Scissors

How to Assemble:

1. Trace your buttons. Place each button on a piece of black felt and trace a circle slightly larger than the button itself. Cut these circles out.
2. Glue the button to the center of the felt circle. The felt acts like a pupil, giving it that classic “Other World” look.
3. Attach the hardware. Hot glue a pin back to the rear of the felt for a brooch, or glue it onto a hair clip.
4. Wear them and watch people’s reactions. I wore a pair to a movie night and my friend literally shuddered. Success.

FYI, this is a fantastic craft for using up those random single buttons that always seem to multiply in junk drawers.

4. Make a Coraline-Inspired “Other World” Journal

Coraline finds a door. You can find a journal. This project lets you capture your own weird dreams or just write your grocery lists in style. I love distressing things to make them look old, so this one was a blast.

Gather This:

• A plain hardcover notebook
• Acrylic paint (dark blue, black, and a metallic gold or silver)
• A sponge
• Sandpaper
• A printed image of a key or a small toy key

Steps to Follow:

1. Paint the cover. Use the sponge to dab dark blue and black paint onto the notebook cover. Don’t aim for perfect coverage; a blotchy, textured look is better. Let it dry.
2. Distress it. Once the paint is dry, take the sandpaper and rough up the edges and the surface a bit. It adds instant character.
3. Add the key. Glue your small key or printed image onto the center of the cover.
4. Paint the key. If you used a printed image, paint over it with metallic gold or silver to make it pop. Add a little black wash to make it look tarnished.

Now you have a journal that looks like it belongs on a shelf in the Pink Palace. Just… don’t crawl through any small doors you might find, okay?

5. Craft Wybie’s “Cat” Gloves

Wybie is the unsung hero of the movie, and his gloves are ridiculously cool. They have little cat faces on them! This is a quick win if you have a plain pair of gloves lying around.

Items Needed:

• A pair of brown or black gloves (stretchy fabric works best)
• Felt scraps in white, black, and pink
• Fabric glue
• Needle and thread (matching the glove color)

Let’s Get Crafty:

1. Cut out the shapes. You’ll need two small white ovals for the face base, two tiny black triangles for ears, two even tinier pink triangles for inner ears, and black thread for whiskers.
2. Glue the white ovals onto the back of each glove, right where your knuckles are.
3. Attach the ears. Glue the black triangles onto the top of the white ovals, then glue the pink triangles onto the black ones.
4. Embroider the face. Use your needle and thread to stitch on two small eyes (just French knots) and stitch three whiskers on each side.
5. Let everything dry completely before wearing them and terrorizing the local cats (please don’t actually do that).

6. Build a Miniature “Other World” Garden

Remember the garden in the Other World? It’s alive, musical, and completely mesmerizing. While I can’t help you make a magical sentient garden, I can help you make a miniature version for your desk.

For This Project:

• A small wooden shadow box or deep frame
• Polymer clay in neon pinks, greens, and yellows
• Florist wire
• Small artificial flowers or moss
• Acrylic paint and a tiny brush

The Miniature Build:

1. Paint the background. Paint the inside back of your shadow box with a swirling, dreamy sky pattern. Think purples, pinks, and blues.
2. Sculpt the flowers. Use the polymer clay to create tiny, exaggerated flowers—the ones in the movie are almost too perfect. Wrap a bit of clay around the end of a piece of florist wire for the stem, and attach your flower head.
3. Bake the flowers. Follow the clay instructions.
4. Arrange the scene. Glue moss and artificial flowers to the base of the shadow box. Poke holes in the moss and insert your clay flower stems. You can even paint a tiny door on the back wall.
5. Close it up and admire your tiny, non-threatening version of the garden.

7. Personalize Your Own “Coraline” Raincoat

Coraline’s yellow raincoat is practically a character itself. It’s bright, it’s cheerful, and it’s perfect for customization. This is the easiest project on the list, but the impact is huge.

You Will Need:

• A plain yellow raincoat or slicker
• Iron-on vinyl or fabric paint in black
• An iron (if using vinyl)
• A printer and paper (for creating a template)

Just Do This:

1. Find a logo. I searched online for a high-contrast image of a scotty dog or the silhouette of the “Other” father. You could also just do a simple geometric shape.
2. Create your stencil. If using paint, print out your shape, cut it out, and trace it onto the back of the raincoat. If using vinyl, cut your shape out of the vinyl sheet.
3. Apply the design. For vinyl, follow the package instructions to iron it onto the back of the coat. For paint, use a stencil brush to dab the paint on carefully.
4. Wear it with pride. Now you have a conversation-starter of a coat. Who doesn’t love a literary/film reference you can wear?

There you have it—seven ways to bring a little bit of the Pink Palace into your own home. Whether you’re team “creepy button eyes” or team “cozy quilt,” there’s a craft here for you.

Have you tried making any Coraline-inspired crafts? I’d love to hear about your successes (or hilarious failures—I have plenty of those). Drop a comment below and let me know which project you’re tackling first. Happy crafting!