Paper Crafts for Children

I love that this craft has a useful purpose as well as looking great in the kiddies rooms, and you get to do some recycling too.

You need a sturdy shoebox, 2 or 3 empty card rolls, newspaper torn into small strips, glue and paint.

Cut the card rolls into thirds and place on your shoe box lid in two lines. If your box is smaller you may think two rows of three looks better.

Secure the toilet rolls to the lid using some of the strips of newspaper dipped in glue. Use long thin pieces to cover the top of the toilet rolls making sure you smooth them down well. Continue to cover the rest of the lid with the strips of newspaper until you have three layers over the entire lid. I don’t wait for each layer to dry as I am too impatient. I think of this as a basic form of papier mache.

Make sure you don’t fold the paper under the rim of the lid as you will make it smaller and it won’t fit on the box.

Leave to dry thoroughly.

Paint the box and lid with a good craft paint (if you are going to use a light coloured paint, you may like to use white paper on your last layer of papier mache so the words won’t show through). Leave to dry. To make it even hardier, and also if you have used a cheaper poster paint, you might also want to seal it with a craft varnish.

This is a great craft for an older child to create – they will be very very proud of their results

Pippi Pipecleaners made this beautiful egg, but her first attempt was a bowl using this technique – unfortunately she didn’t use any petroleum jelly. Turns out that is quite important – so we have no bowl to show you but we had a good laugh though! With Easter around the corner she had another go – worked perfectly I think.

You need a water balloon, white tissue, flowers, white glue, cling film and petroleum jelly! You might also want to use a balloon pump and have a clothes peg handy.

Inflate the water balloon. Don’t over inflate so you can squeeze the balloon into an egg shape.

Cover the balloon in petroleum jelly and then the cling film. Make sure the cling film sits as flat as possible. Twist the end of the cling film and secure with a clothes peg. The cling film adds an extra layer of strength to your egg without blocking out light and the petroleum jelly stops the balloon sticking to the cling film.

Cut the white tissue into small pieces – if the pieces are too big they won’t sit flat against the balloon.

Dilute the white glue so it is a consistency similar to pouring cream. Paint some of the balloon with the glue and then stick on the tissue. Smooth out any pieces of tissue that are sticking up. Cover your balloon with two coats of tissue.

Stick your flowers to the balloon brushing down with the glue brush. If you are using fresh flowers, make sure you select flat flowers as any air will cause the flowers to decay.

Coat with one coat of tissue.

Leave to dry thoroughly. I used the peg to clip it out of the way.

Pop the balloon and snip off the extra cling film.

Decorate with a ribbon to hide the hole.

This example of papier mache is probably a bit of a big project for young children, but it is a great example of how durable papier mache can be.

I first made this hat over 15 years ago and between fancy dress outings for it, it is stored in our cold garage. It was a lot of fun to make, so I am really glad it has lasted this long – and it shows no sign of wearing out or coming apart yet. I go into some more detail about how to make this sort of item at my What is Papier Mache page. I enjoy both the process of making papier mache as well as the variety of things you can make, which is just about anything!

For the hats latest outing, I accompanied it with brushed hair and some spooky make-up – it was lots of fun!

The classic finger puppet has to be a papier mache one! It is pretty simple to make as long as you are not too fussy about details.

	The basic puppet is made with a roll of paper for the neck and then just a scrunched up ball of paper coated with a few stips of glued paper to make the rough head shape.
	Paint on some features.
	And for the simplest of puppet bodies just attach a piece of fabric like a scarf, to the neck with a rubberband. Simple is good!

This eggy paper craft reminds my crafty friend of the Royal Icing Eggs she was given at Easter when she was a child. You will need a balloon pump to blow up the water balloon – apparently the crafty lass tried to do it herself and just about passed out!

As well as some water balloons and a balloon pump, you will need the usual papier mache ingredients – newspaper and white glue – or paste if you prefer. You will also need some tissue paper for this craft.

Blow up the water balloon using a balloon pump. Make it any size you wish but do not over full as it may pop while drying. Tear the newpaper into small squares.

Mix the white glue with water so it is about the consistency of pouring cream. White glue dries harder than paste but paste can be used if you wish.

Dip newsprint in the glue and place on the balloon until covered. You will need to do at least three layers.

Leave to dry.

Once dry, hold the balloon by the knot (don’t let go) and pop it with something sharp. As the balloon deflates, it will come away from the sides. Remove the balloon and throw away.

Draw a design on the egg shape. Keep it simple.

Tear the tissue paper into pieces. Screw up the small pieces of tissue dip in the PVA and stick it on the egg. It is best to start with the designs first and then fill in the rest last.

Yum – that looks so good – I hope Easter Bunny brings me one of those icing eggs!