Never be stuck for something to do! Keep your hands and brain busy with glue, tape and scissors - and have crafty fun with Fifi!
An adult Greek tortoise, like Torty, is around 20cm long. But you can make a mini one from a walnut shell! Torty has some toes missing from her run in with an artillery gun in 1916. Can you see which ones they are?
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_1adb08da0e874d299c1aba0f9c36763c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_1adb08da0e874d299c1aba0f9c36763c~mv2.jpg)
You will need:
Walnut shells (halved and kernels removed) NB These are in-season this month & next, so ought to be available at supermarkets and roadside stalls.
Torty template
Craft glue
Scissors (small ones are best)
Felt tipped pens (optional)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_7e5d6ccccb4b42089aea03915315e81d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_7e5d6ccccb4b42089aea03915315e81d~mv2.jpg)
1. Print out
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_09805927002d42f19b4e09c7f9c638f2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_09805927002d42f19b4e09c7f9c638f2~mv2.jpg)
Print off the template onto heavy paper or thin card.
2. Colour
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_4868f29893ba4ebbb464caf12338d3fe~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_4868f29893ba4ebbb464caf12338d3fe~mv2.jpg)
Colour in a tortoise, or use a pre-coloured one.
3. Cut & glue
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_8781a4d8e61b4fd59e084ebac770f636~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_8781a4d8e61b4fd59e084ebac770f636~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_0bfbf7465528425bb97b25bfe49d27c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_0bfbf7465528425bb97b25bfe49d27c0~mv2.jpg)
Cut it out and dot glue onto the legs.
4. Stick & flip
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_60232432e608459f9ee5ff4ef9fcd4a4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_60232432e608459f9ee5ff4ef9fcd4a4~mv2.jpg)
Stick the shell to the tortoise and flip it onto its back to dry.
5. Finishing touches
![Final product - nut tortoise](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_1adb08da0e874d299c1aba0f9c36763c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_1adb08da0e874d299c1aba0f9c36763c~mv2.jpg)
When it is completely dry, bend the neck, legs and tail to make the tortoise stand. Pinch the nose a little to give the head shape.
Make a whole bunch! Did you know a group of them is called ‘a creep’ of tortoises?
Print this craft out and save it for later: Here's the PDF, incorporating both templates
![Fifi Colston](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_6ecd39280f1349ad9f0f2690d455b530~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_837,h_924,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/09ef90_6ecd39280f1349ad9f0f2690d455b530~mv2.jpg)
Fifi Colston
Fifi Colston is a freelancer with fingers in many creative pies. She is a published junior fiction novelist, children’s book illustrator of more than 30 titles, poet and a long standing television presenter of arts and crafts on firstly TVNZ’s What Now and then The Good Morning Show. Fifi is a veteran of Wearable Arts; a finalist and award winner over 21 years with 23 entries in show. She has also works in the New Zealand film industry as a costumier, puppet maker and illustrator.
When she has a moment, Fifi visits schools and community groups, inspires budding artists and writers and runs workshops in creative process. You can find her at http://fificolston.blogspot.com.