Looking for a colorful Laurel Burch art project for kids? This fun cut-and-paste cat craft inspired by Laurel Burch lets kids explore bold patterns, bright colors, and playful design while practicing fine motor skills.
This activity is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary students and works great for Women’s History Month, a famous artists unit, or a simple creative afternoon at home.
👉 Exploring more female artists? Check out our full guide to Women in Art for Kids.
Kids will color patterned cat pieces and assemble them into their own unique Laurel Burch inspired artwork using the free printable templates below.
Who Was Laurel Burch?
Laurel Burch was an American artist known for her vibrant and whimsical animal designs. Her artwork often featured cats, horses, birds, and other animals filled with bold colors and decorative patterns.
Her unique style is easy for kids to recognize because it often includes:
- bold black outlines
- bright contrasting colors
- repeating decorative patterns
- large expressive eyes
Laurel Burch’s iconic cats are some of the most recognizable examples of modern folk art animal designs, making her artwork a fun and accessible introduction to art history for kids.
Laurel Burch Inspired Cat Craft
This Laurel Burch cat craft allows kids to create their own patterned cat by coloring, cutting, and assembling different pieces of the cat.
Students decorate the cat body, face, and tail with patterns before assembling their final artwork.
This activity encourages creativity while helping kids explore pattern, color, and artistic expression.
Supplies
- Laurel Burch cat printable templates
- crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- scissors
- glue
- cardstock or construction paper (optional background)
How to Make a Laurel Burch Cat Craft
1. Color the Cat Pieces
Start by coloring the cat body, face, and tail templates.
Encourage kids to fill each section with different patterns inspired by Laurel Burch’s decorative style.
Try patterns like:
- dots
- stripes
- zigzags
- triangles
- flowers
Bright colors and bold designs work best for this activity.
2. Cut Out the Cat Shapes
Carefully cut out the cat body, tail, and face pieces.
Younger children may need assistance with this step.
3. Assemble the Cat
Glue the pieces together to form the finished cat.
- Glue the face onto the body
- Attach the tail to the back of the body
- Adjust placement if needed
Each finished cat will look unique depending on the colors and patterns kids choose.
4. Add a Background (Optional)
Mount the finished cat onto colored construction paper to make the artwork stand out.
Kids can also decorate the background with:
- markers
- shapes
- stars
- additional patterns
This step turns the craft into a finished art display piece.
Make It Your Own: Use the Template as a Stencil
Want to make this Laurel Burch art activity even more creative?
Instead of coloring the printable patterns, students can use the cat template as a simple stencil and design their own patterns from scratch.
- Print the cat template.
- Trace the cat body, face, and tail onto blank paper or cardstock.
- Fill the shapes with your own decorative designs inspired by Laurel Burch’s style.
Try patterns such as:
- zigzags
- dots
- stripes
- triangles
- flowers
- geometric shapes
Encourage kids to use bold outlines and bright colors, just like Laurel Burch did in her artwork.
This version turns the printable into a creative starting point rather than a coloring page, allowing students to experiment with pattern design and color combinations while still using the cat shape as a guide.
Teacher Tip:
For younger students, use the patterned printable pages. For older students, use the stencil version and challenge them to create three or more original patterns on their cat.
Tips for Teaching This Laurel Burch Art Lesson
This project works well for:
- preschool
- kindergarten
- elementary art lessons
- homeschool art activities
Try these ideas to extend the activity:
- What patterns did you use on your cat?
- Which colors stand out the most?
- How is your cat different from others?
These simple prompts help kids connect their artwork to the artist’s style.
Why Study Laurel Burch With Kids?
Learning about Laurel Burch helps children:
- explore pattern and design
- experiment with color combinations
- practice cutting and fine motor skills
- learn about women artists in art history
Because her artwork is playful and colorful, it’s an excellent introduction to famous female artists for kids.
Grab the Free Laurel Burch Cat Templates
Download the free printable cat templates to create this Laurel Burch inspired craft.
The printable includes:
- cat face templates
- patterned cat bodies
- decorative cat tails
More Women in Art Projects for Kids
If your kids enjoyed learning about Laurel Burch, explore more famous female artists with these creative projects.
Visit our full guide to Women in Art for Kids to discover more artists and art activities.
You can also explore projects inspired by artists such as:
- Faith Ringgold
- Yayoi Kusama
- Frida Kahlo
- Georgia O’Keeffe
- Alma Thomas
These artists are great additions to a famous artists study for kids.
Looking for more famous artist projects?
Explore our Famous Artist Project Bundle, filled with hands-on art activities inspired by well-known artists. Each project is designed to be easy to use with kids and focuses on technique, creativity, and process over perfection.
