4 Paper Crafts To Make With The Kids

Paper is a versatile material that is very easy to work with. We present 4 crafts to make with the children and spend a fun afternoon with the family.

If you have children at home, never throw away magazines, newspapers, wrapping paper or cardboard bags! It would be great to learn these paper crafts to make with the kids and take the opportunity to recycle them all.

Organize an afternoon of eco-themed creativity and entertainment at home or, if you are a teacher, plan this activity at school as part of your arts education content. Cut, paste, cut, assemble, paint and, in the meantime, have fun. It’s amazing!

4 paper crafts to make with children

folded butterflies

Folding paper to assemble figures without cutting or pasting is an activity known as origami, an ancient Japanese art. In that case, we share an easy template for you to experiment with with young children.

Necessary materials:

• Colored paper.
• White or yellow wool.
• Black pencil.
• Rule.

Step by step:

1. Draw butterflies on colored paper. Ideally, they should be at least 15 x 15 centimeters.
2. Cut them out following the silhouette.
3. With the ruler and black pencil, gently mark parallel lines along the butterfly, half an inch apart.
4. Fold the paper along these lines, with alternating movements, so that it looks like a bellows.
5. When finished, take the wool, make a few loops in the center and tie a knot.
6. Unfold the paper above and below the wire to form the butterfly figure.
7. Make several of different colors and, in the end, form a garland of butterflies!

Flowers

To make these paper crafts, you need to use scissors, so we recommend paying close attention. The technique is called kirigami and involves creating shapes by cutting directly into paper.

Necessary materials:

• 15 x 15 cm square colored papers.
• Black pencil.
• Scissors.

Step by step:

1. Fold the square of paper diagonally.
2. Repeat the operation two more times to get a small triangle.
3. On one of the outer faces, gently draw a curved petal-shaped line with the pencil, the center of which should be one of the vertices of the triangle.
4. Then make other cuts forming the desired shapes.
5. Unfold the paper and you will see your flower with the cut shapes, all the same and perfect.
6. Assemble your bouquet of kirigami flowers and glue them to cardboard to create a very special card!

A decorative collage, one of the best paper crafts

This type of paper craft for children is special for making their own creations, in which each child can choose their favorite theme and combine materials, textures and colors to achieve a unique final work.

Necessary materials:

• Various types of paper: magazines, newspapers, gift wrapping, crepe, cardboard.
• Drawing pencils.
• Acrylic painting.
• Scissors.
• Glue.

Step by step:

1. Cut out a cardboard measuring 40 x 30 centimeters.
2. Paint the background in the color you want with acrylic. For example, if you’re doing a seascape, paint it light blue or white so that your raised figure stands out even more.
3. Smoothly draw whatever you like (a mountain, a beach, a flower, a tree, an animal, etc.).
4. Cut the papers into strips and then into small pieces.
5. Make little balls out of them all.
6. Choose the colors you will place in each part.
7. Apply glue to the design and glue the balls, filling in the spaces.
8. At the end, you’ll have an embossed artwork ready to hang on your child’s bedroom wall!

recycled wrapping paper

This idea serves to reuse the cut pieces of paper used in previous works. Collect them in a box and use them to create original wrapping paper.

Necessary materials:

• Small colored paper cutouts.
• A sheet of wrapping paper or a cardboard bag.
• Glue.

Step by step:

1. Glue the paper. If you like, make some special shape: spiral, round, square, a flower, etc. You can also give it a different touch and form the letter of the name of the person who will receive the gift.
2. Spread all the pieces of paper you have saved on top.
3. Let it dry for a few hours.
4. Once dry, wrap your gift.
5. You will take an incredible gift with an ecological and sustainable packaging!

Have fun and learn with these children’s paper crafts

Crafts are beneficial to children, as they stimulate motor skills, promote new learning, activate imagination and creativity, in addition to an aesthetic sense. Best of all is the creation of a relaxed environment where children share, chat, laugh and have fun. Children’s paper crafts are simple. Take the opportunity to spend quality time with your family!