Seal & sea lion paper pair

What you'll need

• Before cutting, pencil part codes and edge numbers on blank backs. Print all four sheets in one style at 100%. Use 100–140 gsm paper, scissors, glue, 6 mm clear tape and soft filling. S is the gray seal: 12 paper pieces. L is the brown sea lion: 17 pieces, including four ear faces. Color first.

Assembly overview

1. Sort two different animals. Before cutting, pencil part codes and edge numbers on blank backs. Print all four sheets in one style at 100%. Use 100–140 gsm paper, scissors, glue, 6 mm clear tape and soft filling. S is the gray seal: 12 paper pieces. L is the brown sea lion: 17 pieces, including four ear faces. Color first.
2. Fold the seal’s perimeter band. Fold SW1 and SW2 at each dashed line. Follow edge numbers 1–13 around S1. SW1 covers 1–8 and SW2 covers 9–13. The 40 mm width is body depth. Join short ends edge to edge with tape; never overlap or shorten the band.
3. Close and fill the seal. Fit S1 to the band, printed face out, matching numbered edges. Bridge each outside seam with short tape strips. Fit mirrored S2 to the opposite rim with its face out and nose at the SAME end. Leave edge 9 open, fill lightly through it, then tape it closed.
4. Fold the sea lion’s band. Fold LW1, LW2 and LW3 to match L1’s taller outline. Follow 1–17: LW1 covers 1–9, LW2 covers 10–16, LW3 covers 17. The 35 mm width is body depth. Tape all short ends edge to edge. Keep the raised neck shape.
5. Close and fill the sea lion. Tape L1 to its matching band edges, face out. Place mirrored L2 on the opposite rim, nose at the same end. Tape all edges except bottom edge 11. Fill the head and body lightly through that opening with a blunt tool, then tape edge 11 shut.
6. Make flippers and ears. Glue each matching a/b pair with blank backs together: SF1–SF4, LF1–LF4 and E1–E2. Keep colored faces outside. Fold flipper roots at 5 mm and ear roots at 4 mm. These are separate flat appendages, not parts to stuff.
7. Attach the seal’s flippers. Glue the 5 mm root of SF1 and SF2 onto opposite lower sides near the head. Bend them outward and down. Attach SF3 and SF4 near the rear, pointing backward. The short front flippers and absence of external ears distinguish the seal.
8. Finish the sea lion. Attach long LF1/LF2 to opposite lower front sides. Attach LF3/LF4 near the rear, pointing forward. Glue E1/E2 behind the eyes on opposite sides and bend outward. Keep the raised neck and ear tabs visible. Both bodies are lightly filled; press gently. Physical assembly remains untested.