Last year my baby girl joined her brother in a land far away and I can’t tell you how proud I am of her. A few weeks back, the University of Ottawa let us know that she’s been awarded a scholarship to study Biochemistry. WHAAAAT!!!!! So she’ll be going back to school, or university, in about a month’s time and I’ve been itching to make her something that’s both functional and will remind her just how much we love and miss her. Something like a unicorn bucket or two 😉 There’s a Mommy unicorn to hold her pens, pencils, and brushes…….

Top down view of the Mommy unicorn. This cute unicorn bucket pencil holder is a lovely back to school gift idea. They're quick and easy to make using moldable plastic and some faux flowers. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

………. and a smaller planter version with a faux cactus stuck inside. My daughter’s green thumb is still a little brown around the edges 😉

This cute unicorn bucket pencil holder is a lovely back to school gift idea. They can be used as small planters too and they're quick and easy to make using moldable plastic and some faux flowers. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

Aren’t they adorable? And they’re really easy to make too.

What you need to make the unicorn bucket pencil holder or planter

  • Hot water (about 150°F or 65°C)
  • Wax Paper
  • Fork or tongs
  • Bowl
  • Faux flowers
  • Glue
  • Metal buckets
  • Spray paint (optional)
  • InstaMorph Moldable Plastic

If you don’t have any moldable plastic, you can use air dry clay or paper mache instead.

What you need to make the unicorn horn. InstaMorph is so much fun to play with and the possibilities of what you can do with it are endless. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

The only buckets I could find were pink with white dots. Not quite the look I was going for. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a polka dot unicorn before 😉 Have you?

Unicorns don’t care if you believe in them any more than you care if they believe in you Click to Tweet

But there’s nothing a few coats of spray paint won’t fix.

Paint the buckets white if you prefer. I could only find pink ones with spots in the craft cupboard. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

Making the Unicorn Horn

To make the horns for the unicorns I used this crazy stuff called InstaMorph. I ordered a small packet from Amazon and I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve had with it. I gave half of the packet to a friend of mine and even after making the unicorn horns I still have a whole bunch left. A little sure goes a loooooong way.

What is InstaMorph

InstaMorph is a lightweight thermoplastic which is moldable when warm and becomes a hard, strong plastic when it cools down. It’s A DIY-ers dream. Seriously you can use it to mold almost anything, including false teeth. No lies. Just check out the reviews on Amazon 😀 Once it cools down you can sand it, drill into it or paint it just like any other plastic form. Pretty darn awesome right!!?

How to Use InstaMorph

This stuff is so much fun to work with. Boil about three cups of water and pour into a bowl. Allow to cool down so it’s still hot but not scalding to prevent burns. Add some of the InstaMorph pellets and leave for a minute or so until they become clear and start sticking together. Remove the pellets with a fork or tongs and shake off any excess water.

InstaMorph is so much fun to play with and the possibilities of what you can do with it are endless. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

Use your hands, or other crafty tools, to form the pellets into whatever shape you’d like to make.

InstaMorph is so much fun to play with and the possibilities of what you can do with it are endless. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

For the unicorn horn, I rolled the InstaMorph into a sausage and then slowly twisted it on one end. I flattened the other end to create a flat surface to glue onto the buckets later. Just be careful when working with the InstaMorph. It will stick to other plastics and fabrics. Ask me how I know ? Wax paper or a piece of glass are good surfaces to work on.

InstaMorph is so much fun to play with and the possibilities of what you can do with it are endless. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

When InstaMorph cools down it becomes as hard as plastic, so you need to work quickly. But that’s okay. You can always re-heat and mold it again if you don’t like the shape. Once you’re happy, let it cool down completely before painting or sanding. For the unicorn horn, I sprayed it with white glitter paint.

Adding the horn to the unicorn buckets

Use E6000, or any other clear strong glue, to attach the InstaMorphish horns on the inside of the buckets. I love using E6000 but it does take a while to dry properly so, depending on the glue you use, you may need to clamp the horn down.

InstaMorph is so much fun to play with and the possibilities of what you can do with it are endless. Use E6000 to glue the horn on once it's dry. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

In the meantime, you can start getting your faux flowers ready to add around the horn. I bought some cheap bunches of blue and yellow flowers (my daughter’s favorite colors 😉 ) Depending on the type of flower you have you may need to cut the stalk off.

A few faux flowers to glue on around the unicorn horn. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

Glue the flowers around the horn and draw on some eyes to finish the unicorn buckets off.

This cute unicorn bucket pencil holder is a lovely back to school gift idea. They're quick and easy to make using moldable plastic and some faux flowers. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

So easy and because the horn is plastic it should be durable too, just in case my daughter blows something up unintentionally. Hey, she’s going to be doing biochemical things so you never know 😉

This cute unicorn bucket pencil holder is a lovely back to school gift idea. They can be used as small planters too and they're quick and easy to make using moldable plastic and some faux flowers. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

And when her green thumb starts working properly she can replace the faux cactus with the real thing.

This cute unicorn bucket pencil holder is a lovely back to school gift idea. They can be used as small planters too and they're quick and easy to make using moldable plastic and some faux flowers. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

I’m hoping the Mommy unicorn will make her smile and think of us back here at home.

A close up of the Mommy unicorn. This cute unicorn bucket pencil holder is a lovely back to school gift idea. They're quick and easy to make using moldable plastic and some faux flowers. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

But I would love to know what you think of her back to school gift idea. Would you make one for your kids?

If you like the idea of a back to school unicorn bucket don’t forget to pin it for later.

This cute unicorn bucket pencil holder is a lovely back to school gift idea. They're quick and easy to make using moldable plastic and some faux flowers. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn
And just in case you want to play with InstaMorph moldable plastic, it might be a good idea to pin the instructions too.

This cute unicorn bucket pencil holder is a lovely back to school gift idea. They're quick and easy to make using moldable plastic and some faux flowers. We'll show you how to use the moldable plastic in this photo rich tutorial too. #backtoschool #unicorncrafts #pencilholder #DIYpencilholder #moldableplastic #instamorph #unicorn

Oh and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more amazing craft ideas to share with you 😉

InstaMorph | Thermoplastic Beads, Meltable Polymorph Pellets | Lightweight Modeling Compound for DIY Crafts, Sculpting, Cosplay Accessories | Temporarily Repair | Six Ounce White
Ins Style Vase with Artificial Flower Set 1 Piece Fake Rose Berry Leaf Floral Flower Arrangement Glass Rose (White S)
Hosley 3 Pack of Galvanized Planters - 5' Diameter. Ideal Gift for Weddings, Special Events, Parties. W9

And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY

Merrycolor Mermaid Pillow Cover, Unicorn Pillow Case Magic Reversible Sequin Pillow Cover Decorative Throw Cushion Case (F Unicorn- Silver Sequins)
Sale Corkcicle Stemless Wine Glass Tumbler with Lid, Insulated Travel Cup, Sparkle Unicorn Magic, 12 oz
Sale Aurora® Inspirational Precious Moments™ Sparkle Unicorn Stuffed Animal - Cherished Memories - Enduring Comfort - White 8.5 Inches

Until next time, hope you have a beautiful crafty week.

Made with love by a Crafty Mix