Kids love crafting with paper, and the best part is it doesn’t cost much! All you need is coloured paper and a few crafting tools.

From classic paper lanterns and scary monsters to adorable animals, the only limit with paper craft is your imagination and the will to give it a go.

What you need

For paper craft, we recommend the following items:

• Coloured paper in multiple colours
• Coloured card
• Paper plates
• Toilet paper rolls
• Scissors
• Pencils
• Rulers
• Stapler
• Glue stick
• Craft paint
• Wiggly eyes
• Ribbons
• Dry markers
• Glitter
• String
• Foam pieces

You probably won’t use all of these but having them means unlimited possibilities!

Below, we’ve listed our favourite coloured paper craft ideas for kids so you can host a cheap and cheerful fun-packed hour or two. We’ll start with a classic.

Colourful Paper Lanterns

What you need:

• Two sheets of coloured paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Stapler

A bonified classic, paper lanterns are easy to make with minimal materials. You can use different colours for the lantern and handle to make it unique and draw decorations on the lantern for occasions like Halloween and Chinese New Year.

Moving Caterpillar

What you need:

• Coloured paper
• Marker pen
• Straw

Our favourite paper craft is the simplest to make! The moving caterpillar requires nothing more than paper and a marker pen, with a straw to move the caterpillar. Anyone can make this craft with a single sheet of paper.

Paper Strip Rainbow

What you need:

• Coloured paper (six colours of the rainbow)
• Stapler
• Cotton balls
• Scissors

Paper strip rainbows are great for teaching colours, and they’re easy to make! Our favourite paper rainbow goes beyond sticking strips down onto a sheet of paper with a handheld craft that’s freestanding. Rainbows have never looked better.

Accordion Flowers

What you need:

• Three pieces of different coloured paper
• Glue stick
• Scissors (to cut out three circles)

A fantastic present on Mother’s Day, accordion flowers are simple to make with three pieces of circular paper and a glue stick. You can use different paper colours and textured paper to create beautiful paper flowers.

Racing Cars

What you need:

• Toilet paper tubes (one per car) or thick card
• Stapler (if using a thick card and not toilet paper tubes)
• Black cardboard for the wheels
• Paint
• Scissors
• Glue
• Metal pins

Racing cars are great for kids of all ages. After all, who doesn’t love a cute car! Paint transforms this paper craft into something everyone can enjoy. Best of all, the wheels will move so long as they are held on with pins.

Paper Monsters

What you need:

• Coloured paper multipack
• Scissors
• Glue
• Craft accessories

To create paper monsters, you only need a piece of coloured paper / foldable card and paper and accessories like felt to create the eyes, teeth and mouth. Paper monsters make a fantastic gift card, and anyone can make them.

Have more great ideas?

If you have more coloured paper craft ideas for kids, share them with us, and we’ll consider adding them to our list of ideas.

Have fun!