Crafting with paper has been a beloved pastime for children throughout history. Whether it’s creating intricate needlepoints or making paper doll chains like the Ingalls sisters, paper crafts remain a delightful and budget-friendly way to spend an afternoon. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the necessity for easy and engaging activities for kids, and crafting is a perfect solution. Kids naturally thrive on creativity, and you likely have a stash of materials at home to get started on paper projects anytime.
However, with so many ideas floating around on Pinterest and in your mind, it can be daunting to choose. To simplify things, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide just for you.
Decorative Paper Crafts
- Mobile: Create a fun mobile by attaching colorful shapes cut from paper to two sticks. Hang it above beds or in play forts.
- Paper Doll Chain: Revisit the classic paper doll chain. Let your kids unleash their creativity using vibrant paper.
- Paper Lanterns: While battery-operated lights are optional, these lanterns can add charm to any room.
- Countdown Chain: Keep track of upcoming events like Winter Break or summer vacations with a colorful chain.
- Heart Wreath: Use that fancy scrapbook paper you’ve been saving to create a lovely wreath.
- Stained Glass Kites: Brighten up dreary windows using cut-up tissue paper or melted crayons.
- Woven Placemats: Kids can create placemats in colors that match your next family gathering or go wild with their favorite shades.
- Swimming Crinkle Fish: These paper fish are perfect for a birthday party with an underwater theme.
- Christmas Village or Train Track Scenery: Involve your kids in decorating the Christmas village or changing up the look of your train table.
- Pinwheels: Add a touch of spring to your decor with paper pinwheels attached to straws.
- Ceiling Spirals: Kids can practice their scissor skills by creating spirals from construction paper.
- Snowflakes: Use thicker paper to craft snowflakes that cast beautiful shadows when hung in windows.
Cardboard Roll Creations
- Minions: After crafting these fun characters, let them embark on their own adventures.
- Race Cars: Show your kids how to personalize their race cars with fun extras.
- Marble Roller Coaster: Start with simple paper designs before investing in expensive store-bought versions.
- Cardboard Ring Sculptures: Cut cardboard tubes into rings for your kids to decorate and assemble into sculptures.
Animal Crafts from Cardboard Rolls
- Owls: Help your kids create cute paper owls while sharing fun owl facts.
- Elephants: Before you know it, they’ll have an entire collection of paper animals.
- Puppet: Craft simple puppets using spools for a fun and interactive experience.
Wearable Paper Crafts
- Masks: Encourage imaginative play by making masks for Mardi Gras or animals.
- Superhero Cuffs and Headbands: Let them design their own superhero and create costume components.
- Folder Paper Bracelets: This nostalgic project requires patience and fine motor skills.
- Spiked Dinosaur Hat: This challenging craft will earn you major “cool mom” points.
- Paper Hats: Use leftover newspaper to create unique hats for imaginative play.
- Japanese Fan: They can paint designs on white paper or use leftover scrapbooking materials.
Fun Paper Crafts
- Clothespin Puppets: Suggest making puppets that complement bedtime stories or favorite songs.
- Wiggly Fish: Crafting these moving fish requires scissor skills but is incredibly rewarding.
- Chomping Fish: Surprise your kids with a fish that has a secret message inside.
- Paper Airplanes: Explore the world of crafting paper airplanes with various designs.
- Ball Catcher: Create DIY paper ball catchers that are just as entertaining as traditional toys.
- Hopping Frogs: Origami frogs are a fun project that will delight your kids.
- Fire-Breathing Dragon: Craft a dragon that pairs perfectly with dinosaur crafts.
- Memory Game: Use patterned paper to create a unique matching game.
- Paper Balloon: Revisit the joy of making paper balloons together.
- Origami Boat: Organize boat races after crafting colorful origami boats.
- Cootie Catcher: These versatile crafts can be used for games or fortune-telling.
- Monster Page-Corner Bookmarks: Create bookmarks that can also serve as homemade gifts.
- Origami Box: Help little ones design and decorate their own secret-keeping box.
- 3-D Blocks: This project can turn into a whole day of block-making fun.
- Crinkle-Winged Birds: These birds can be customized and hung from ceilings.
- Photo-booth Props: Set up a fun photo booth with props crafted by your kids.
- Cards: Let your children create personalized cards for family and friends.
- Mosaics: Small hands will enjoy cutting paper into squares to create colorful mosaics.
- Rockets: Craft colorful rockets and embark on imaginative space missions.
- Racetrack: After building cardboard tube cars, create a racetrack from black construction paper.
For more engaging insights and discussions around parenting and creativity, check out our other posts, including one on victim-blaming and the importance of self-empowerment. You can also find authoritative information about fertility methods at Make a Mom and learn about pregnancy options on Wikipedia.
Summary
This article presents 45 paper craft projects that can keep children entertained for hours, ranging from decorative items to fun wearables and engaging games. Each project encourages creativity while using common household materials.