Introduction
Paper crafts are a fun and engaging activity for children of all ages. Crafting with paper allows kids to tap into their creative side while developing fine motor skills.
Glue-Blowing Art
Glue-blowing art is a sensory and artistic activity that results in unique abstract designs. Have kids squeeze glue onto a paper plate or construction paper and blow through a drinking straw to move the glue around. Glitter, sequins, or other small objects can be added. This craft allows children to explore different blowing techniques.
Paper Airplanes
Folding paper airplanes is a classic craft that never gets old. Provide children with construction paper and teach them how to fold a basic paper airplane. Have flying competitions to see whose airplane can fly the farthest. For variations, try making different airplane designs or decorate them with markers, stickers, or glitter glue.
Paper Bag Puppets
Puppet shows are incredibly fun, and puppets can be customized to represent different characters. Cut out simple puppet shapes from brown paper bags, construction paper, or felt. Glue or tape on googly eyes, yarn or felt for hair, and draw on features with markers. Get creative with different puppet personalities.
Paper Plate Faces
Paper plates make a cheap and easy base for face crafts. Provide assorted art supplies and let kids decorate paper plates however they like by gluing on googly eyes, using pom poms for hair, or drawing facial features. This open-ended craft sparks the imagination.
Tissue Paper Flowers
Tissue paper flowers are gorgeous yet simple enough for little hands. Cut various sizes of circles from tissue paper and stack them in the center of a paper plate or construction paper with a glue dot in the middle. Fold the circles in half and gently ruffle the edges for realistic petals.
Easy 5-minute crafts with paper
Paper Weaving
Weaving with strips of colored paper teaches basic skills while producing a beautiful piece of art. Take an empty toilet paper roll and wrap strips of colors vertically around it, weaving horizontal strips over and under the vertical strips. Glue in place. Experiment with different patterns and color combinations.
Paper Bead Necklaces
Young children will love making paper bead necklaces to wear. Cut colorful construction paper or scrapbook paper into thin strips and twist or roll each strip into a bead shape, gluing the ends. String beads onto string, yarn, or pipe cleaners to create one-of-a-kind jewelry.
Origami
The Japanese art of paper folding, origami develops patience and fine motor skills. Start with easy origami models like paper stars, boats, or butterflies using instructions online. Provide different colored origami paper in various patterns and designs. As skills advance, try more complicated models.
Paper Plate Masks
Personalized paper plate masks promote role play and creativity. Decorate paper plates with googly eyes, feathers, glitter, or other colorful materials and elastic string for the straps. Encourage kids to pretend they are different imaginary characters while wearing their handmade masks.
Paper Spin Art
Spin art is a sensory, abstract art process requiring minimal materials. Tape a piece of paper onto a table or floor and place a small puddle of paint, glue, or watercolors in the center. Provide popsicle sticks, q-tips, or straws for applying color, and then spin the paper to create unique designs inspired by centrifugal motion. No painting skills are required!
How to make cool things with notebook paper
Notebook Paper Flowers
Collect leftover ripped-out notebook paper and have kids shape them into beautiful bouquet filler flowers. Crumple paper into a ball, then gently shape it into a flower by tweaking crumpled edges outward. Layer many paper flowers together for a full floral arrangement with plenty of texture and color variations naturally achieved through random crumpling.
Notebook Paper Scroll
Challenge kids to turn notebook paper into a folded scroll using basic origami techniques. Lay a sheet of landscape-oriented paper, fold it in half horizontally, and then fold it into thirds vertically. Cut slits along one edge and entwine the scroll shut, tying it off with ribbon for a fun prop or decorative element.
Notebook Paper Quilling
Quilling involves rolling, shaping, and gluing strips of paper into intricate designs. Have kids practice with torn notebook paper strips. Roll papers tightly between fingers, shape simple designs and glue them onto construction paper to make flowers, shapes, or scene elements like trees and grass. An affordable, portable craft!
Notebook Paper Frogs
Provide green notebook paper, googly eyes, and a coffee filter for this whimsical animal craft. Cut a piece of paper into a teardrop shape for the frog’s body, glue eyes near the top, and glue the coffee filter underneath to make webbed feet. For variation, try cutting a head shape and gluing it to the body instead of the eyes.
10 Things Made with Paper
Paper Dolls
Kids will have a blast making paper dolls to dress up and play with imaginatively. Print templates online and cut out doll figures from construction paper for a reusable craft. Provide accessories like hats, dresses, and shoes made from scrap materials for endless outfit combinations and role-play.
Paper Basket
An adorable way to reuse junk mail and scraps is by weaving them into a basket. Cut papers into thin strips, then weave them perpendicularly around and over the fingers of one hand until it form a basket shape that can be filled. Great for practicing fine motor skills.
Paper Boats
Boats are always a favorite kids’ craft. Provide plain paper or construction paper and have kids cut out simple boat shapes, folding the sides inward if desired for more stability. Decorate with markers or added materials before pretending to sail on an imaginary ocean journey.
Paper Flowers
Beyond tissue paper flowers try new types of paper blooms using origami or quilling techniques. Folded paper flowers let kids get creative with petal shapes and center designs. Quilled flowers involve rolling strips of patterned paper and gluing them into intricate layered floral sculptures. It’s so pretty for gifts or Mother’s Day crafts.
Paper Pinwheels
Paper pinwheels are festive for any season. Provide construction paper or scrapbook paper cut into four identical triangle shapes. Poke a hole near the top point of each triangle and feed a brad or split stick through to act as the pinwheel’s axel. Twist a paperclip onto the end for spinning on a warm, breezy day.
FAQ
What is fun to make with paper?
There are endless options for fun paper crafts to do with kids. Some of the easiest and most enjoyable include paper airplanes, paper dolls, origami projects like paper frogs or boats, homemade cards and drawings utilizing different types of paper, scrapbooking with magazine clippings and stickers, weaving with paper strips, and more sensory-based activities like glue blowing art or paper spinning. The possibilities are limited only by imagination!
How do you make a 5-year-old look paper?
Here are some simple paper craft ideas that 5-year-olds will enjoy:
- Paper plate masks – Let them decorate paper plates and add strings to wear as creative masks.
- Paper bag puppets – Cut out puppet shapes from brown lunch bags and let kids decorate them with googly eyes, yarn, markers, etc.
- Paper flowers – Cut colored paper into circles or petals and stack with a glue dot in the middle for easy tissue paper flowers.
- Paper airplanes – Show them how to fold a basic airplane shape from construction paper and have contests to see whose flies are farthest.
- Notebook paper frogs – Cut teardrop shapes from green paper, add googly eyes and coffee filter “feet.”
- Finger/handprint art – Help trace little hands onto paper and let them add details like faces or clothing.
Keep it open-ended with simple supplies, and let their imaginations do the rest!
How do you curl papers for kids?
There are a few different techniques kids can use to curl paper for crafts without advanced skills:
- Wet curling: Simply run the paper under warm water, dab off excess, and gently shape it around a pencil or dowel rod as it air dries.
- Dry curling: Lay the paper flat and use a spoon, ruler, or other straight-edged tool to gently score/crease a line down the center. Then, gently roll each side inwards towards the score line.
- Crumpling method: Wrinkle or scrunch up the paper tightly in your hands before uncrumpling and gently shaping the curls. This works well for textured curls.
- Staple/tape method: Secure one end of the paper down, then roll it as you tape or staple each turn close together down the paper length. Remove fasteners when dry.
For young kids, the wet or dry methods are the easiest. Have patience, and don’t force curls- let the natural creases form on their own.
How to make coffee paper?
There are a few different ways to make coffee filter paper crafts with kids:
- Coffee filter flowers – Crumple filters and shape the crinkly edges into simple flowers. Punch a hole for a Brad “stem.”
- Coffee filter snowflakes – Cut designs from white filters using scissors shaped like stars, triangles, polygons, etc. The crinkly edges resemble snow when held to a light.
- Coffee filter stained glass – Layer filters with colors and tape the edges to make windows.
- Coffee filter butterflies – Cut the filter into a wing shape, curl edges, and add googly eyes and pipe cleaner for antennas.
- Coffee filter ghosts – Cut two white circles, glue a ghost face on one with markers or glitter glue, and staple them together sandwich style.
- Sensory play dough – Mix flour, salt, water, and filters to make crinkly play dough.
- Coffee filter boats – Crumple boats shape, glue googly eyes, and decorate with markers.
To make, simply cut designs from used coffee filters with scissors. The lightweight, absorbent material crinkles and curls easily. Provide markers, glitter glue, and pipe cleaners for decorating. Let creativity lead the way!
How to make a heart with paper
Here are a few different ways to make paper hearts that are fun for kids:
- Paper plate heart: Cut a heart shape from red paper and glue it onto a paper plate. Decorate with glitter, stickers, or markers.
- Folded heart: Fold a sheet of paper in half widthwise. Use a heart template to cut out the shape along the folded edge. Unfold for a full heart.
- Heart tweaking: Crumple up red or pink paper tightly, then gently tweak the edges outward to form a lopsided crinkly heart shape.
- Heart rainbow stack: Cut multi-colored hearts from construction paper and stack them in order of the rainbow, gluing them together at an angle.
- Heart pin: Punch holes at top points, thread string or yarn through, and tie in a bow for decoration to pin or hang.
- Paper heart lace: Cut a heart outline from paper, then cut vertical strips almost to the center for a lacy fringe effect.