LET’S BUILD TOGETHER

Friendly octopus

29 pieces 12 steps · One little step at a time.

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A little before you begin

All eight arms are fixed. Move the complete model gently by its body.

The round eyes use ordinary bricks, with no printed faces.

Build away from the screen

Save or print the guide, including every step, the parts list and play ideas. For an offline copy, download the ZIP, extract it and open index.html. No bricks included.

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01

STEP 1 OF 12

Lay two orange 2 × 4 plates lengthways, with two clear stud columns between them. These are the two back arms.

Lay two orange 2 × 4 plates lengthways, with two clear stud columns between them. These are the two back arms. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

02

STEP 2 OF 12

Add two orange 2 × 4 plates on each side, turned across the first pair. Leave one clear row between the two plates on each side. Their inner two columns sit under the future body.

Add two orange 2 × 4 plates on each side, turned across the first pair. Leave one clear row between the two plates on each side. Their inner two columns sit under the future body. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

03

STEP 3 OF 12

Place two more orange 2 × 4 plates side by side at the front. Centre this pair across the body and leave five clear rows between the back and front pairs.

Place two more orange 2 × 4 plates side by side at the front. Centre this pair across the body and leave five clear rows between the back and front pairs. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

04

STEP 4 OF 12

Join the arms with two yellow semicircular plates. Put their straight edges together to make a circle, with the join running from left to right.

Join the arms with two yellow semicircular plates. Put their straight edges together to make a circle, with the join running from left to right. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

05

STEP 5 OF 12

Join the two semicircles with a yellow round plate centred on their join. Leave two rows of the body showing behind it.

Join the two semicircles with a yellow round plate centred on their join. Leave two rows of the body showing behind it. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

06

STEP 6 OF 12

Round the two back arms with orange curved bricks, rounded ends pointing away from the round body. Each tip overhangs its arm plate by one row.

Round the two back arms with orange curved bricks, rounded ends pointing away from the round body. Each tip overhangs its arm plate by one row. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

07

STEP 7 OF 12

Put an orange curved brick on each outer arm end. Point the left pair to the left and the right pair to the right. Each tip overhangs its plate by one column.

Put an orange curved brick on each outer arm end. Point the left pair to the left and the right pair to the right. Each tip overhangs its plate by one column. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

08

STEP 8 OF 12

Round the two front arm ends with orange curved bricks. Point their curved ends forwards, with one row projecting beyond the plates.

Round the two front arm ends with orange curved bricks. Point their curved ends forwards, with one row projecting beyond the plates. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

09

STEP 9 OF 12

Put two orange 2 × 4 bricks side by side on the round plate.

Put two orange 2 × 4 bricks side by side on the round plate. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

10

STEP 10 OF 12

Put two more orange 2 × 4 bricks directly on the first two to make a taller head.

Put two more orange 2 × 4 bricks directly on the first two to make a taller head. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

11

STEP 11 OF 12

Cap the head with two orange double-curved bricks side by side. Line them up with the bricks beneath.

Cap the head with two orange double-curved bricks side by side. Line them up with the bricks beneath. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

12

STEP 12 OF 12

Put two white square bricks in front of the head, with two clear columns between them. Add a black square on each for two separate eyes.

Put two white square bricks in front of the head, with two clear columns between them. Add a black square on each for two separate eyes. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

THE LAST STEP OF THE GUIDE

Room for a little more imagination.

Count all eight arms and give each one an imaginary job. Draw a paper rock pool. Let the octopus discover a shell or a hidden clue. Tell a story with another sea creature, then swap who tells the next part.

Tell us how your build went

Back to the build

Part and software credits.