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Chalkola · Tutorial
DIY Animal Cutouts with Dry Erase Markers
Updated Jul 2026
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Dry erase marker art: Dry erase markers work on non-porous surfaces like laminated paper, whiteboards, glass, mirrors, and plastic sheet protectors. These surfaces allow the ink to sit on top and erase cleanly. Porous surfaces like regular paper or cardboard will absorb the ink and make it permanent.
60 Colored Dry Erase Markers — Comes in 12 rich colors (Neon & Pastel) 5 pens each of Black, Blue, Red, Green, Pink, Purple, Yellow, Orange, Light Blue, Light Green, Copper brown & Dark Brown
Low Odor Dry Erase Markers Non Toxic for Kids — Chalkola whiteboard marker conform to ASTM and EN71 regulations & are AP Certified. Our dry erase pen are safe to use for kids
Erasable Markers for Whiteboard — Dry Erase Marker set that dry quickly, erase quickly with any cloth or dry eraser. Dry erase markers chisel tip allows to produce thin or thick lines without any breaks, making them perfect for classrooms or conference rooms.
These white board marker work on any non-porous surface — like blackboard, glass board, plastic boards, ceramic. They can be used as fine tip dry erase markers or thick point, in different angles
Paper dolls, pop-up books, stickers, and cutouts are just a few of the many fun at-home art projects that you can do with just a pencil, paper, colored markers, and scissors at hand. For most DIY crafts, you really don’t need much to create something incredible and unique. With the right art tool, any material or surface can help you unlock and unleash your art skills, first-time artist or not. For today’s art-ivity, with just basic materials that you can find at home, we’re going to show you how to do animal cutouts using our favorite Chalkola Dry Erase Markers. Not to be mistaken as just whiteboard pens, these versatile and vibrant markers can be used on any non-porous surface if you want your illustration or creation to be erasable, and on any porous surface if your goal is to create permanent art. Kids and kids-at-heart are going to have a blast working on these delightful cutouts, so without further ado, let’s go into the wild and get crafty with this paw-some artivity!
Here's a video of the step-by-step guide so you don't get lost in the jungle!
Steps:
Lay out your paper. Start drawing your first animal of choice (ours is a bird). As this will become a cutout art, it’s best to use a black marker to draw the outline of your animal so it will be easy to see and cut.
Draw your second animal. We’ve decided on an elephant, which is easier to draw, especially for younger kids.
Our third animal is a tiger, which is also easier to illustrate for kids (and tigers are always a crowd favorite!)
Once you’re done and satisfied with your animal drawings, it’s time to work on some leafy greens to complete the jungle look! Use Yellow, Green, and Apple Green for your leaves to make the colors pop once they're combined. You can also include some Copper and Brown details for added layers.
Start tracing your illustrations with a scalpel or cutter knife (best to have a cutting board or a protective layer underneath your paper so you don’t damage or scratch the surface you’re working on).
Once you’re done with all your animals and leaves, start cutting three circles on one sheet of paper (you can trace around a small soup bowl so it’s easier to cut).
Add a background by gluing or taping a colored or printed paper under the sheet with the three circle cutouts.
Lastly, arrange your cutout animals and leaves in each circle so it looks like they’ve popped out of the holes.
Wild how fun and easy that was–and this is just one of the many, many art-ventures you can embark on using your favorite Chalkola art supply! We’d love to see what you come up with, so please tag us on Instagram @chalkola and use the hashtag #ChalkolaArt for a chance to be spotted and featured. We can’t wait to work on another art-ivity with you. Stay tuned for more next week!
Why Dry Erase Markers Are Perfect for Reusable Art Projects
Dry erase markers offer unique advantages for craft projects that go far beyond writing on whiteboards. Their erasable ink makes them ideal for learning activities where children practice shapes, colors, and patterns without wasting paper.
When used on laminated animal cutouts, dry erase markers transform into:
Reusable coloring pages that reduce paper waste and save money on art supplies
Customizable decorations for parties and holidays—change the design to match any theme
Educational tools for teaching animal habitats, species identification, or color theory
Imaginative play props that children can personalize during storytelling and games
The vibrant, water-based ink in quality dry erase markers delivers bold color payoff on smooth surfaces while erasing cleanly with just a dry cloth. This encourages artistic experimentation because there's no fear of permanent mistakes. Kids gain confidence trying new techniques, color combinations, and design ideas knowing they can start fresh anytime.
For parents and teachers, this approach means one set of cutouts provides hundreds of creative sessions instead of single-use worksheets.
To ensure your dry erase marker art projects stay vibrant and reusable for months or years, follow these best practices:
Choose thick cardstock or cardboard as your base material before laminating. Thin paper can wrinkle or tear with repeated handling. Cardstock provides structure that holds up to enthusiastic young artists.
Laminate completely with no gaps or bubbles. Any exposed porous edges will absorb marker ink and become permanent. Run cutouts through a laminator twice if needed, or use self-adhesive laminating sheets for odd shapes. Sheet protectors work perfectly for flat cutouts and cost less than laminating pouches.
Erase with dry cloths first before using any liquid. Dry erase marker ink lifts easily when dry. For stubborn marks after heavy use, lightly dampen a cloth with water. Avoid harsh chemicals that can damage the lamination over time.
Store flat or hanging to prevent bending. Laminated cutouts that crease may develop cracks where the plastic coating separates, creating areas where markers can bleed underneath.
Use quality dry erase markers with rich pigmentation and smooth flow. Low-quality markers can leave ghosting (faint residue) on laminated surfaces that builds up over time and becomes harder to remove.
Creative Ways to Use Dry Erase Animal Cutouts
Once you've created your laminated animal cutouts, the creative possibilities extend far beyond simple coloring. Here are engaging ways to use them:
Rotating seasonal decorations: Redecorate the same butterfly cutout with spring pastels, summer brights, autumn oranges, and winter blues. Hang them in windows or attach to walls with removable adhesive.
Story-building activities: Children draw emotions, patterns, or accessories on animal characters, then create stories about their decorated animals. Erase and create new characters for different narratives.
Learning habitats and adaptations: Draw appropriate camouflage patterns on animals, then discuss why zebras have stripes or leopards have spots. Change the patterns to explore hypothetical scenarios.
Fine motor skill practice: Tracing the cutout edges, filling in small spaces, and drawing detailed features helps develop hand-eye coordination and pencil grip in young children.
Party activities and favors: At birthday parties, let each child decorate an animal cutout to take home. Use ocean animals for under-the-sea themes, jungle animals for safari parties, or farm animals for barnyard celebrations.
Restaurant and travel entertainment: Pack a few laminated cutouts and dry erase markers in your bag for quiet entertainment during dining out or long car rides. They're mess-free and endlessly reusable.
NEED MORE COLORS? THE 120-PACK FOR CLASSROOMS
Chalkola Bulk Dry Erase Markers for Classroom (120 Pack, 12 Vibrant Colors) | Erasable, Low Odor, Chisel Tip WhiteBoard Markers, Dry Erase Pens for Kids, Teachers
★★★★★4.4 · 1,696 verified reviews
$49.95 USD · free shipping
120 Bulk Dry Erase Markers — Low odor white board dry erase markers classroom pack. Comes in 12 rich colors (Neon & Pastel) - 10 pens each of: Black, Blue, Red, Green, Pink, Purple, Yellow, Orange, Light Blue, Light Green, Copper brown & Dark Brown
Easy to Use and Erase — Our whiteboard markers bulk can be erased easily by a cloth or eraser, so you can write or mark again.Our dry erase markers classroom set can be used as fine tip dry erase markers or chisel tip, in different angles.
Widely Applicable — you can use our bulk whiteboard markers in classroom, office or even at home! As perfect pack of dry erase markers can be easily used on whiteboards for teaching kids
Low Odor Dry Erase Markers Non Toxic for Kids — Chalkola dry erase marker bulk conform to ASTM and EN71 regulations & are AP Certified. Our bulk dry erase markers for classroom are safe to use for kids
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What customers say about Chalkola dry erase markers
4.7★
Average rating
12K+
Verified reviews
96%
Would recommend
Low-odor
erases clean, no ghosting
★★★★★
"I teach 3rd grade and these are the only markers that erase clean off the whiteboard weeks later — no ghosting. The 12 colors stay vivid and the chisel tip does thick and thin."
Maya R. · Verified Amazon buyer
★★★★★
"Bought the bulk pack for our office glass boards. Bold, low-odor, and they last — we're months in and not one has dried out. Wipes off with a dry cloth instantly."
Jenna L. · Verified Amazon buyer
★★★★★
"My kids draw on their easel whiteboard daily. Bright colors, smooth ink, and zero smell. The fine-tip set is great for detailed doodles and lettering practice."
Olivia T. · Verified Amazon buyer
★★★★★
"Tried the cheap classroom brands first — faint and squeaky. Chalkola lays down opaque color in one pass and erases without leaving a shadow. Buying again."
Dry erase markers work on non-porous surfaces like laminated paper, whiteboards, glass, mirrors, and plastic sheet protectors. These surfaces allow the ink to sit on top and erase cleanly. Porous surfaces like regular paper or cardboard will absorb the ink and make it permanent.
Yes, but the markers become permanent on regular paper because it's porous. For reusable dry erase marker art, laminate your paper cutouts or place them inside plastic sheet protectors. This creates a non-porous surface that erases easily, letting you redecorate the same cutout repeatedly.
Animal cutouts are perfect beginner projects for dry erase marker drawings. Start with simple shapes like fish, butterflies, or cats. Use templates or printable patterns, laminate them, then add colors and details. The erasable surface lets you practice repeatedly without wasting materials.
Print or draw animal patterns on cardstock, cut them out, then laminate each piece or slip into sheet protectors. Kids can decorate with dry erase markers, wipe clean with a dry cloth, and redesign endlessly. This makes the cutouts perfect for repeated play and learning activities.
Absolutely. Dry erase markers with fine or chisel tips allow detailed artwork on laminated surfaces. You can layer colors, blend shades while wet, and add intricate patterns to animal cutouts. The erasable nature encourages experimentation without fear of mistakes, making them ideal for creative exploration.
Dry erase markers and whiteboard markers are the same product—both use erasable ink designed for non-porous surfaces. The term "whiteboard marker" simply refers to their most common use. Quality dry erase markers work on any smooth surface including glass, laminated paper, and plastic beyond just whiteboards.
To revive a dry erase marker that's skipping or faded, dip the tip in a little rubbing alcohol (or hold it against an alcohol-dampened cloth) for a few seconds to redissolve the dried ink, then cap it tightly and store it horizontally. Most dry erase markers 'die' from air-drying rather than running out of ink, so always replace the cap firmly — worth knowing before you start a dry erase marker art project.
Dry erase markers use an oil-based ink that sits on the surface and wipes off dry with a cloth — perfect for whiteboards and the laminated animal cutouts in this project. Wet erase markers use a water-soluble ink that resists smudging and only comes off with a damp cloth, so they suit overlays and menu boards that get handled a lot. For reusable dry erase marker art you wipe clean often, dry erase is the better pick.
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