Some of our favorite afternoons in the studio start with a stack of paper and one question: “What should we make today?” These five crafts use things you probably already have at home, and each one takes less than an hour.
What you’ll need
- Colored paper or cardstock
- Kid-safe scissors and a glue stick
- Crayons, markers or paint
- Tape, string and a few paper plates
1. Paper plate animals
Paint a paper plate, then add paper ears, googly eyes and a big smile. Lions, bunnies and pigs are always a hit.
2. Handprint cards
Trace your child’s hand on folded cardstock, cut it out and turn it into a card for grandma, a teacher or a friend.
3. Paper chain countdown
Cut strips of paper, write something fun on each one and loop them into a chain. Tear off one link each day before a birthday, a trip or a holiday.
4. Torn-paper mosaics
Draw a simple shape, then fill it with little torn pieces of colored paper. Tearing is great for little fingers, and no scissors are needed.
5. Paper bag puppets
Glue a face onto a lunch bag and put on a puppet show. Bonus points for a cardboard-box stage!
Studio tip: lay down an old tablecloth or newspaper first, and let kids make their own choices. The goal is fun, not perfection.
We’re working on hands-on craft kits with everything you need in one box. Want to hear when they launch?