• One portrait sheet of navy cardstock, approximately 21 × 28 cm or 8¼ × 11 inches
• One or two sheets of white cardstock for the fox shapes and snow
• Pale-blue paper for two inner ears and a tail-tip accent
• Teal paper for the scarf
• Black paper for two small eyes and one nose
• Approximately 25–35 cotton balls, depending on size and how much you spread them
• Child-appropriate white craft glue suitable for paper and cotton

Cut a round head about 9 cm across, an oval body about 8 × 10 cm, two triangular ears about 3.5 cm tall, and two short rounded paws about 2 × 3.5 cm. The curled tail can fit inside a 9 × 10 cm rectangle. Make the white muzzle oval about 3.5 × 2.5 cm. These are starting measurements rather than a cutting template; adjust them so the whole fox fits comfortably on the background.

For the scarf, cut a rounded band about 7 × 1.5 cm and a short hanging section about 2 × 3.5 cm. Split the bottom of the hanging section to suggest two scarf ends. Cut three snow circles of different sizes, roughly 1.5–2.5 cm across. Use large enough facial pieces for your child to handle comfortably.

• Child-safe scissors
• Pencil and ruler
• A cup or small bowl for tracing the head
• Black marker for the mouth

Adults should supervise scissors and small loose pieces. If a child still puts objects in their mouth, prepare larger shapes and keep loose cotton and small paper features out of reach until you can help. The illustrated design uses paper features rather than plastic eyes.

Try the paper arrangement before gluing. The head and tail take up most of the page, so a quick dry fit helps you avoid running out of room near the edge. A sturdy cardstock background also handles the cotton and glue better than thin printer paper.

Use small cotton tufts around the face. Very large clumps can make it harder to attach the eyes and muzzle. If too much glue shows through, stop adding cotton and let that section set before continuing. For group activities, keep each child's paper pieces in a separate tray.

Change the scarf to berry red, mustard yellow, or lavender. You can also use a different dark background, such as charcoal or deep purple, while keeping enough contrast with the white cotton.

For a simpler version, use torn white tissue paper instead of cotton. To make a smaller fox, reduce all the paper shapes together and use less cotton. Children can choose a sleepy expression by replacing the round eyes with drawn curved lines. These changes are optional variations rather than parts of the illustrated five-step build.

Place the finished fox on a winter craft wall, a classroom display, or a shelf against a firm backing. Keep the collage indoors and away from moisture. This is a playful animal character: the scarf and pale-blue accents are decorative choices rather than a realistic wildlife model.

Store the artwork flat in a shallow box with room above the cotton. Avoid stacking heavy books on top, which can flatten the fur and bend the ears. If you want to frame it, choose a frame deep enough to keep the cotton away from the front surface.

This cotton ball Arctic fox craft combines easy paper assembly with a soft textured finish. Prepare the small pieces, give the glue enough time to dry, and let children enjoy turning a few familiar supplies into their own cheerful winter fox.