8 Cool Paper Crafts You Can Make With Kids
Think crafts are just for rainy days? Recycle that junk mail and pull out that craft drawer! Perhaps a trip to the local craft shop may be in order. Here are eight cool crafts that will keep kids occupied any time of the year. Allow them to stretch their creative mind and (hopefully) give you a few quiet hours to sit back and watch them make something wonderful.
Bookmarks
Bookmarks are an easy project for young crafters. Using any kind of paper or cardboard, kids can cut out a shape and decorate with whimsy. Using white glue and bits and bobs from the craft drawer, kids can create something spectacular for the reader in their lives. Aunt Jenny loves cats? Draw a picture of a kitty, add glitter and punch a hole and add a ribbon. Grandpa loves Ireland? Find pictures of his favorite spots and embellish away! Write the artist’s name and date and laminate for an instantly loved keepsake.
Holiday Fun
Kids will happily occupy themselves cutting out paper snowflakes to adhere to the windows on a winter’s day. Or how about making garlands from colored paper hearts for Valentine’s Day? Green shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day and pastel-colored eggs for Easter are just a few ideas to get them started. Black paper bats and bright orange pumpkins will bring autumn indoors. Paper turkeys and pilgrims will festoon the table. Create an Advent calendar filled with treats counting down to Christmas. Adults can step in to help string and tape up for children to see their favorite holidays on display.
Cards and Envelopes
What a great way to recycle! And who doesn’t like to receive a handmade card, especially from a kid. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends will love this idea. And it’s such a sweet and thoughtful way to keep the lines of communication open between kids and family members. Use construction paper, pictures, felt, buttons, sequins and glitter to create ready-to-mail masterpieces. Recycle old cards to use as templates or cover with new paper to create something fresh. Turn junk mail over and fold to make envelopes. Love a specific creation? Take it to your local print shop to make more for everyone to enjoy.
Scrapbooks
With just a few pieces of paper, glue and binder clips, a scrapbook can be made for just about any occasion. Travel scrapbooks are a great way to keep kids occupied during a trip. And then they have an activity to complete when they get home! Have kids collect items throughout a vacation. Collect ticket stubs, tourist brochures and seashells. Take pictures out the window along the road of specific-color cars, horses or clouds. The possibilities are endless. With only a few suggestions, a child’s imagination will race. But don’t stop there. Have them make scrapbooks for their birthday or a special holiday or for Mother’s and Father’s Day – or just a day trip to the aquarium or beach.
Origami
Using newspaper or large pieces of paper or napkins, origami is an interesting and simple activity for children. Cats, dogs, frogs, cranes, flowers – kids can choose their favorite. It requires nothing but paper and some concentration that will occupy them for hours. A diagram and video is all it takes to get started.
Gift Wrap
Make wrapping paper out of old newspapers, brown craft paper or junk mail and have kids decorate for a personalized touch. Tie up with ribbon or string for both a green and stylish presentation.
Pinwheels
Everyone loves pinwheels. They are the perfect craft for picnics and outdoor parties. Make red, white and blue for the Fourth of July or personalize for kids’ birthday parties. It’s an easy and fun craft that both kids and adults will love.
Flip Books
What a neat way to learn about animation. Using about 20 index cards and binder clips, a flip book will create hours of fun. Let kids draw or use stickers or duplicate pictures for a most scientific creation.
You can find most of these items locally at craft stores. Items like binder clips and string can be found at drug stores or paper suppliers. You probably have items such as newspaper, magazines, photos, scissors and white glue on hand.
Don’t have a home printer? You can email paper crafts and templates to an online printing company. Larger crafts like posters and holiday cards could also benefit from a professional print shop.
What are your favorite crafts and projects to make with kids?
Tom Chu is the SEO Manager at PsPrint, which is an online printing company specializing in brochure and poster printing As well as other similar services. Follow PsPrint on Twitter and Facebook to learn more.
