Paper Crafts for Kids: 30 Ideas With Printer Paper

The best paper crafts for kids need nothing more than printer paper, scissors, glue and pens, and the 30 ideas below run from no-cut folds for 3-year-olds to cube nets for 9-year-olds. Each lists the age, the adult help needed and clear steps.

Every one of these paper crafts for kids works with A4 (210 by 297 mm) or US Letter (8.5 by 11 inch) sheets, and several use free graph, dot grid, isometric or story sheets from our printable paper collection.

Paper crafts for kids by age: quick picks

Numbers match the crafts below. Adult help means: Low = set up and stay nearby; Medium = help with one tricky fold or cut; High = an adult does one step, such as pushing in a pin.

Making a square: many folding crafts start from one. Fold a short edge down to meet a long edge, cut off the leftover strip and open. A4 gives a 21 cm square; Letter gives an 8.5 inch square.

Folding paper crafts for kids (no scissors needed)

These folding paper crafts for kids are the easiest start: the main skill is lining up edges and pressing sharp creases.

1. Classic dart paper plane

Ages 5+ · Low adult help. You need: one sheet.

1. Fold in half lengthways and open.
2. Fold the top corners to the centre line.
3. Fold the slanted edges to the centre line again.
4. Fold in half, then fold each wing down level with the bottom edge.

2. Paper fortune teller

Ages 6+ · Medium adult help. You need: a square, pens.

1. Fold both diagonals and open.
2. Fold all four corners to the centre, turn over and repeat.
3. Write colours outside, numbers inside and messages under the inner flaps.
4. Fold in half and push your fingers into the pockets.

3. Origami cup

Ages 5+ · Low adult help. You need: a square.

1. Fold into a triangle, fold at the bottom.
2. Fold the right corner across to the left edge, then the left corner across to the right edge.
3. Tuck the front top flap into the pocket; fold the back flap the other way.
4. Open the top.

4. Accordion fan

Ages 3+ · Low adult help. You need: one sheet, crayons, tape.

1. Colour the whole sheet.
2. Fold 2 cm forwards, then 2 cm back, all along the short side.
3. Pinch one end and tape it as a handle.

5. Teddy-sized paper hat

Ages 4+ · Low adult help. You need: one sheet.

1. Fold in half, short edge to short edge, fold at the top.
2. Fold the top corners down to meet in the middle.
3. Fold the bottom strip up on each side.

6. Paper boat

Ages 6+ · Medium adult help. You need: a finished paper hat.

1. Open the hat from the bottom and flatten it into a diamond.
2. Fold the bottom corner up to the top on both sides.
3. Open into a diamond again and gently pull the top points apart.

7. Monster corner bookmark

Ages 6+ · Medium adult help. You need: a 10 cm square, pens.

1. Fold into a triangle.
2. Fold the front top point down to the bottom edge.
3. Fold the side corners up to the top point, unfold and tuck them into the pocket.
4. Add eyes and paper teeth.

8. Accordion spring

Ages 5+ · Low adult help. You need: two long strips, glue stick.

1. Glue the strip ends together at a right angle.
2. Fold each strip over the other in turn until you reach the end.
3. Glue the last fold, stretch, and add a face.

9. Origami dog face

Ages 3+ · Low adult help. You need: a square, pens.

1. Fold into a triangle, point at the bottom.
2. Fold the side corners down as ears.
3. Fold the bottom point up a little and draw a face.

Cut and paste crafts for scissor practice

These cut and paste crafts build scissor control, from straight strips to fiddly snowflake notches. If a child is still learning to cut, our cut and paste worksheets give guided practice first.

10. Paper chain

Ages 3+ · Medium adult help. You need: strips about 2.5 cm wide, glue stick.

1. Decorate the strips.
2. Loop the first strip and glue the ends.
3. Thread the next strip through and glue it. A printable countdown calendar pairs well with a one-link-a-day chain.

11. Six-point paper snowflake

Ages 6+ · Medium adult help. You need: a square, scissors.

1. Fold into a triangle, then in half again.
2. Fold into thirds like a narrow cone and cut off the uneven tails.
3. Snip notches along both edges, leaving part of each fold uncut.
4. Unfold gently.

12. Paper doll chain

Ages 6+ · Medium adult help. You need: half a sheet cut lengthways, scissors.

1. Fold back and forth into five equal sections.
2. Draw a person whose hands touch both folded edges.
3. Cut round it without cutting the hands, then open.

13. Paper lantern

Ages 5+ · Medium adult help. You need: one sheet, tape, scissors.

1. Fold in half lengthways.
2. Cut slits from the fold every 2 cm, stopping 2 cm from the edge.
3. Open, roll into a tube with the slits upright and tape.
4. Add a strip handle.

14. Spinning helicopter

Ages 6+ · Low adult help. You need: a 5 by 21 cm strip, a paper clip, scissors.

1. Cut 8 cm down the middle to make two blades.
2. Fold one blade forwards and one back.
3. Fold the lower sides in, fold up the bottom and clip it.
4. Drop it from a height.

15. Hanging spiral snake

Ages 5+ · Medium adult help. You need: one sheet, scissors, thread.

1. Draw a large circle with a spiral inside.
2. Colour it and add a face in the middle.
3. Cut along the spiral.
4. An adult makes a hole in the head and ties on thread.

16. Pinwheel

Ages 5+ · High adult help. You need: a square, a pencil with an eraser, a pin.

1. Cut from each corner towards the centre, stopping 2 cm short.
2. Bring every other point into the centre.
3. An adult pushes the pin through the points into the eraser, loosely enough to spin.

17. Woven paper mat

Ages 6+ · Medium adult help. You need: two sheets in different colours, glue stick.

1. Fold one sheet in half and cut slits from the fold, leaving a 2 cm border.
2. Cut the other sheet into strips.
3. Weave over and under, starting each row the opposite way.
4. Glue the ends.

18. Rolled finger puppets

Ages 4+ · Low adult help. You need: 7 by 5 cm rectangles, tape, pens.

1. Draw a character.
2. Roll it loosely round a finger and tape the seam.
3. Add ears or a hat from scraps.

19. Zigzag paper crown

Ages 4+ · Medium adult help. You need: two long strips, tape, scissors.

1. Cut zigzag points along one edge of each strip.
2. Draw on jewels.
3. Tape the strips together to fit the child’s head.

20. Hoop glider

Ages 7+ · Low adult help. You need: one long and one short strip 2.5 cm wide, a paper straw, tape.

1. Tape each strip into a loop.
2. Tape the loops to opposite ends of the straw, on the same side.
3. Throw gently, small loop first. NASA’s ring wing glider activity turns this into a design test.

21. Pop-up card

Ages 7+ · Medium adult help. You need: two sheets, scissors, glue stick.

1. Fold a sheet in half and cut two 3 cm slits, 2 cm apart, into the fold.
2. Open and push the tab through to the inside.
3. Glue a drawing to the tab.
4. Glue the card inside a second folded sheet.

22. Paper strip sculpture

Ages 4+ · Low adult help. You need: a base sheet, strips, glue stick.

1. Fold the ends of each strip into small feet.
2. Glue strips on as arches, loops and zigzags.
3. Build up layers.

Crafts that use graph, dot and story paper

These crafts mix making with maths and writing. Set your own grid in the printable paper generator.

23. Pixel art on graph paper

Ages 5+ · Low adult help. You need: printable graph paper, felt tips.

1. Pick a simple picture such as a heart or a cat face.
2. Colour whole squares only, one row at a time.
3. Older children can mirror a design.

24. Cube from a net

Ages 8+ · Medium adult help. You need: graph paper, ruler, scissors, glue stick.

1. Draw six 5 cm squares in a cross: four in a column, one each side of the second square.
2. Add glue tabs.
3. Cut out, fold every line and glue.

25. 3D drawings on isometric paper

Ages 9+ · Low adult help. You need: isometric dot paper, three colours.

1. Join dots to draw a cube, then stack more cubes.
2. Shade the top, left and right faces in different colours.

26. Dot grid patterns

Ages 6+ · Low adult help. You need: dot grid paper, ruler, felt tips.

1. Join dots to make repeating triangles or stars.
2. Colour in a repeating pattern.
3. Cut out the best part as a bookmark.

27. 8-page mini comic

Ages 7+ · Medium adult help. You need: one sheet, scissors.

1. Fold into eight panels (in half three times) and unfold.
2. Fold short edge to short edge and cut along the middle crease from the fold to the next crease.
3. Open, fold lengthways and push the ends together into a plus shape, then fold into a book.
4. Plan panels on a comic book template.

28. Picture book on story paper

Ages 5+ · Medium adult help. You need: story paper with a picture box, stapler.

1. Plan a beginning, middle and end.
2. Draw a scene in each box and write a sentence underneath.
3. Add a cover; an adult staples the spine.

29. Hexagon colour collage

Ages 6+ · Low adult help. You need: hexagon graph paper, scissors, glue.

1. Colour hexagons in groups.
2. Cut them out and arrange a flower or honeycomb.
3. Glue onto a plain sheet.

30. Mini flip book

Ages 8+ · Medium adult help. You need: 12 small rectangles, a stapler.

1. Sketch the action on a storyboard template.
2. Draw the object on each page, moving it a little each time.
3. An adult staples one edge; flick through.

Scissor safety by age

For paper crafts for kids under 5, England’s early years guidance, Development Matters from the Department for Education, says 3- and 4-year-olds are learning to use one-handed tools, such as “making snips in paper with scissors”. It suggests hand-over-hand help at first, reduced gradually. By the end of Reception, children work towards using tools such as scissors competently, safely and confidently.

Other rows are our practical guide; children vary. Teach three rules at every age: sit down to cut, pass scissors handle first, and put them down when talking.

For under-3s, keep paper clips, pins and googly eyes out of reach. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s small parts rule exists because objects that fit its test cylinder, sized to a young child’s throat, are a choking risk.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most paper crafts for kids go wrong for the same few reasons.

• Soft creases. Run a thumbnail or the side of a pencil along every fold.
• Starting with the hardest craft. Go dog face, cup, then fortune teller.
• Doing it for them. On Low help steps, let wobbly be fine.
• Cutting through folds on snowflakes and doll chains, so the pieces fall apart.
• No prep for groups. Pre-cut squares and strips for under-6s and fold one example in front of everyone. For fidgety children, see how to improve concentration in kids.

Related guides and printables

Pair these paper crafts for kids with:

• Graph paper sizes explained: which grid suits pixel art and cube nets
• Diwali activities for kids
• Halloween games for kids
• All free printable paper: lined, graph, dot, isometric and more

Sources

The safety facts in this guide come from these sources. Scissor skills for ages 3 to 5: Department for Education, Development Matters. Small parts and children under 3: US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Glider experiments: NASA, Ring Wing Glider.

Frequently asked questions

5 quick answers

What are easy paper crafts for kids aged 3 to 4?

Try an accordion fan, an origami dog face, finger puppets, a paper chain from pre-cut strips and a torn-paper collage. They need little or no cutting.

Which easy paper crafts for kids need only printer paper?

Paper planes, fortune tellers, origami cups, hats, boats, snowflakes, lanterns, helicopters and the 8-page mini comic, sometimes with scissors or tape.

At what age can kids start cut and paste crafts?

England’s Development Matters guidance describes 3- and 4-year-olds learning to make snips in paper, with an adult showing them and giving hand-over-hand help at first. Use blunt-tip child scissors and supervise.

Which paper crafts for kids teach maths?

Cube nets on graph paper, pixel art, isometric drawings, dot grid patterns and the six-point snowflake all use shape, symmetry or measuring.

Which crafts work well at a party?

Paper planes with a flying contest, crowns, fortune tellers and hoop gliders work well because each child finishes quickly and then has something to play with.