Make some super cute printable paper guinea pigs using our free template. This set has a mama with two babies to cut, fold and slot together – no glue needed!
This printable craft was first published in 2016 and has been updated and reshared for today’s audience.
You might also like our hand-sewn guinea pig pillows
Do you have a soft spot for guinea pigs? I do. Last year we bought two young pigs by the names of Bob and Lucy for our girls.
I say ‘for our girls’, but secretly I bought them for me.
When I was growing up we kept guinea pigs. We began with three—three soon became many. We sold the babies to the pet shop lady (if we weren’t allowed to keep them) and the four dollars per piggy she paid us was GOLD to a ten-year-old.
I wanted my girls to experience being guinea pig owners, especially the part with tiny fur babies. This happened quicker than I anticipated!
As expected, they’re both smitten and I’m happy to report that it’s just as amazing as I remembered to hold a baby guinea pig in your hands. This picture is of a one-day-old baby.
This one’s a few weeks old.
Guinea pig babies are born completely covered in fur with their eyes open (unlike hairless baby mice). Straight away, they can walk around and even eat grass. They grow fast. After 7 weeks ours were more than ready to leave their mama.
Lucy had three babies. It was sad to say goodbye but they’ve all moved on and found new homes now.
She won’t be having anymore because Bob has been desexed (an interesting discussion to have with kids!). We thought it would be kinder for Lucy to not be constantly pregnant and it’s a big responsibility to find good homes for all their babies, so these three were it for our family.
When the last of the babies was shipped off to his new home, Miss K asked me to make a paper guinea pig for her.
You know I’m always up for a paper craft challenge!
Paper guinea pigs aren’t the same as the real thing but they are still cute. If you have a kid who’d love a pet guinea pig but don’t want the responsibility of keeping them it might be the next best thing.
How to make printable paper guinea pigs
To make one you’ll first need to print out the template. For best results use a heavy paper or light card stock that will fit through your printer. This will help for strength and sturdiness.
Get the guinea pig template here
Cut out the shapes including the slits for the ears, fold two creases along the line of the guinea pig’s back and finally slot the ears into place to hold it together.
There is a mother guinea pig template and two different babies. I’ve made an extra one using an earth coloured card stock to give the mama three babies just like Lucy.
Miss K was very pleased with them!
More paper animal crafts for kids
- Make some cute paper penguins
- Here is a mama and baby polar bear set to make from paper
- These paper chain snakes are based on two real species of pythons – and you can also design your own
- Make a fun, bouncy, frog on a lilypad
- Check out our ebook filled with 14 different Ocean Animal templates to make from paper plates!
Kate says
These are so cool!
Kelly says
So darn cute!!
Stacey says
They are so cute!
Mari says
They are adorable, thank you so much for sharing! I’m looking forward to making them with my nieces and daughter! And the story of Bob and Lucy is so funny and cute! 🙂 I have my own heartwarming childhood memories of our hamsters, but can also remember the heartbreak when each died in its turn, and that’s one of the reasons there’ll be no pets for my daughter! </3 The paper guinea pigs will make perfect little friends! 😀
Kate says
That’s so sweet! I hope your daughter likes them 🙂
Ali says
Hi Mari – although it’s really sad to lose pets, it’s actually a very good way for kids to learn about and get used to how to deal with loss, before they lose an important human such as a grandparent. Loss and death are a normal part of life and helping children to understand and cope with it is a positive side effect of a sad event.
Charlotte says
I love this but can’t work out how to find the template to print?
Kate says
Hi Charlotte, there is a headline that says ‘Printable Template’ about halfway down the post, and a hyper link (text in a lighter grey than usual that you can click on) in the sentence underneath it which will take you to the printable.
Rebecca Dillon says
These are so adorable! I sent the link to my friend who’s an educational director at our zoo!
Kate says
Thanks Rebecca, glad you like them
john pugwash says
lovely guinea pigs
if I could buy a farm somewhere and take all the guinea pigs in the world and just let them run free I WOULD
absolutely beautiful
p.s im I really really really like guinea pigs especially boars!!!!!!!!
Kate says
That would be a lot of guinea pigs! I love them too 🙂
Nataly Anders says
And this toys we like! That’s great, where have you got so many great ideas…
We also make monkeys and elephants =)
Thank you! New day – new toys!
Kate says
Monkeys and elephants sound cool too! Thanks Nataly
Nessya says
Hi!
Thanks for sharing this with us! I just love your blog, and I’ll make this paper cavy for my real one 😉
And I’d be happy to do things you’ve posted in few years when I’ll have my own children! 🙂
Thanks again and I wish you all the best!!!
Kate says
Thank you Nessya! So lovely to hear.
Laura says
These are absolutely charming! Just shared on a FB Guinea Pig page last night. Was thinking how fun it would be to have some with just a basic face and the rest blank so it could be colored to match your own piggy! Thanks for sharing this sweet idea! ♥
Kate says
That is such a cute idea! Glad you like them and thanks for sharing 🙂
krudook says
thank you.
Angela Boxwell says
Thank you, these are great. We have 4 guinea pigs and will make some from your template.
Kate says
Fantastic, I’m glad you like them 🙂
Tamara Eads says
Sooo adorable! Can’t wait for my students to make them… I’m going to make them, too!
Kate says
I hope the students have fun!
KIrstie says
When I saw the template I just had to have it to make some! I had guinea pigs as a child and adored them. A friend of my mums let me go and see hers, and so when the babies were being born, I went and watched them and choose mine when they were a few minutes old! They make lovely pets and there’s nothing cuter than when they chat to each other! Xx😊
Kate says
I’m glad you like them! We love our piggies too 🙂
Natalie says
Great Present!
Susana Tzintzun-Lopez says
How cute!! My students will love this since it will remind them of our class pet guinea pig Oreo