Make your own mini llama

Ages: Six and up (adult supervision recommended)  

In Peru, llamas have been an important part of life for thousands of years! With their thick wool and padded toes, llamas can climb the cold, steep terrain of the Andes Mountains—the longest mountain range in the world.  

For centuries, communities and indigenous people across Peru have relied on llamas. Llamas carry goods over rough mountain paths and provide warm wool for clothing and blankets. Many families also use a weaving technique that is more than 4,000 years old to craft the vibrant, patterned blankets you often see draped across llamas’ backs.  

Today, llamas remain a cherished part of Andean culture and heritage.  

One person who knows the richness of this culture firsthand is Alejandra, who grew up in an SOS Children's Village in Peru. Alejandra was raised by her SOS Mother, Isabel, in a warm, loving home alongside eight SOS siblings. With education and art classes she loved, Alejandra flourished. In 2025, she achieved her dream of owning her own business! With money from an SOS Independence Fund, Alejandra bought an art studio in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Alejandra’s story is a reminder that with hard work, love and opportunity, you can achieve your dreams, too! 

Today, as you make your own mini llama, think about your dreams—you’re never too young to start reaching your goals! 

Supplies: 

— One toilet paper roll  

— One sheet of white paper 

— Four sheets of colored paper (pink, yellow, blue and green) 

— Pom-pom trim 

— One paper straw  

— Glue 

— Safety scissors 

— Ruler 

— Black marker 

Instructions:  

Step 1: Make your llama’s head and neck. 

To make your llama’s long head and neck, draw a long cloud shape on the piece of white paper. Then, use your scissors to cut it out.   

Now, it’s time to make your llama’s face! On the pink piece of paper, draw a small oval about the size of your thumb, and cut it out. Turn the pink oval horizontal, and use your black marker to draw the llama’s eyes, nose and mouth. 

Make sure your llama’s head and neck shape is vertical. About half an inch from the top of the head, glue your llama’s pink face onto the head.  

Step 2: Attach the head to the body. 

Lay your toilet paper roll on its side so it looks like your llama’s body. Put a thin line of glue on the bottom of your llama’s neck and glue it to the front of your toilet paper roll.  

Step 3: Make your llama’s legs. 

Using your safety scissors, cut the straw into four pieces. Glue the four pieces onto the bottom of your toilet paper roll to make your llama’s legs. 

Step 4: Create your llama’s blanket. 

Cut a rectangular piece of yellow colored paper, about two inches wide and three inches long. 

Then, cut thin strips—about ¼ of an inch wide and two inches long—from your blue, green and pink pieces of paper. 

Glue each of the strips horizontally onto the yellow rectangle to create a colorful, patterned blanket. Then, use your marker to draw designs on each stripe.  

Step 5: Add the pom-pom trim. 

Measure and cut your pom-pom trim to match the width of your blanket.  

Then, glue your trim onto the bottom edge of your blanket.  

Once the trim is in place, glue your finished blanket onto the middle of the toilet paper roll. 

Step 5: Attach the tail.  

Cut a single pom-pom from the trim you have left over and glue it to the back of the toilet paper roll as your llama’s fluffy tail! 

Give your llama a name and display it proudly! 

Children growing up in SOS Children’s Villages in Peru are surrounded by the rich culture and traditions of the Andes—like the llamas and woven blankets that have been a part of Peruvian life for generations. Now, every time you see your mini llama, you can remember and celebrate that culture, too!