Paper Crafts

This craft can be adapted for all sorts of occasions but it suits a gratitude garland perfectly. It is a simple but thoughtful craft which requires no glue so can be done anywhere.

You need paper cut into strips, the paper can be patterned on one side but it needs to be plain on the other so that you can write on it. You also need a pen and small stickers.

On each of the strips of paper write one of the things you are grateful for.

Make a loop with the first strip and use a small sticker to secure the ends together.

Loop the next strip through the first and secure with a sticker.

Continue until all the strips of paper are used.

I initially thought that this is a good one mainly for younger children as it is easy for them to do and is also a great way to learn about some basic shapes. They can make a fish with the prepared shapes or cut out some of their own shapes. However our older children had a go and created some fantastic fish out of all sorts of shapes, and none of them were what I was expecting, they were far more exciting! It is sometimes worth while to try things with different ages and see what happens!

	Cut out lots of different shapes of paper.
	Arrange them until the fish you want swims into shape.
	Glue your fishy shapes down.

Add a bit drama to a simple crayoned picture with this technique. It is especially good for pictures in a dark setting like a night time scene, a forest or a space craft rocketing through space.

Draw and color in a picture with crayons. It is good to have some white paper left on the picture. Paint over the entire picture with a dark colored paint, and before it dries, wipe the paint off the crayoned sections. The crayon will resist the paint and it will wipe off easily while the paint is still wet. The paint will soak into the paper and make the crayoned parts stand out.

Try changing one element of the paper you offer to your children to create their artwork on. It is surprising how a simple change can alter their process and result.

In this case we have changed the color of the paper for the artwork, this makes even a simple picture a colorful artwork. I think that a display of these in all different colors on a school wall would look pretty fabulous!

Another similar example from a while ago that you may also want to try is Holey Paper for Children’s Art.

Make a splash at your place with these fishy paper crafts for children

	Paper Roll Fish Very colorful fish from some simple materials
	Two Fold Origami Fish This fish really just takes two folds!
	Paper Plate Fish A perfect follow up craft for any fishy story.
	Paper and Crayon Batik This fabulously fishy picture was made with the crayon batik technique.
	Flying Paper Fish A brilliant craft for when you need to emergency craft – super quick and easy.
	Egg Carton Fish Model This flash fish started life as an egg carton.
	Egg Carton Fish Another way to turn bit of egg cartons into a fish.
	Hand Print Fish This fish is keeping company with some other handy hand shape art.
	Hand Print School of Fish One is not enough – print a school of fish.

When I saw this idea I was a bit suspicious as it looked too effective for the simple steps – I thought it may have taken a long time or many practice runs to achieve this affect. But not so, it really is quite simple. Note that this is my attempt, not a child’s, but it is my first attempt.

	Pop your black paper in a box to protect the general surround from paint, or head outside. Then to make the milky way background – splatter some white paint onto a black piece of paper by flicking it on with an old toothbrush
	Start off your planets by drawing some circles on your paper and then use a rag or a piece of sponge to drag paint on in a curve. Use one color from one side and then use a different color from the other side. The colors will mix up a bit but that just adds to the effect.
	Then put this bit of paper in a box to contain the splatters, and splatter some contrasting colors onto the planets.
	Once everything is dry, cut out the planets and arrange them on the milky way for a very effective space scene. Now you just need a few space crafts or Martians.