15 Best Paper Cup Craft Ideas for Kids: Fun DIY Activities to Try

Looking for a fun and creative way to keep your kids engaged? Paper cup crafts activities are the perfect solution! Children are fascinated by vibrant colours and love to interact with objects like mugs, cups, baskets that are made from paper. This can be a great way to gift them a hobby that not only encourages creativity but also keep them engaged for a long time. These simple, budget-friendly projects transform ordinary paper cups into imaginative art pieces, offering hours of entertainment while encouraging hands-on learning and creativity. If you have a little one at home, check out these amazing paper cup art for kids that will delight him to no end.

Easy Paper Cup Crafts for Children

Many parents search online to find out how to make paper cup craft that are both fun and educational for their kids. These DIY paper cup craft are an assured way of stimulating your child’s creativity and get those creative juices flowing. They can be made from stuff that is available at home and is an inexpensive way of giving your little one an engaging past-time.

1. Paper Cup Crown

Your child can now wear this adorable crown on his head and play the king in his imaginary kingdom.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Need

• Paper cup
• Colourful pom-poms
• Glue
• Scissors
• Alice band

How to Do it

Using the scissors, help your child cut a series of tiny triangles along the edge of the paper cup. Stick colourful pom-poms at the top end of every triangle. Make two tiny holes on opposite sides slightly above the cup’s base and thread it with the Alice band.

2. Paper Cup Easter Chicken

Help your child create a cute Easter chicken who is always ready for playtime.

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What You Need

• A tall paper cup
• Polystyrene ball
• Orange craft foam
• Yellow food colour
• Paintbrush
• Yellow feathers
• Wiggle eyes
• Glue
• Scissors

How to Do it

Using yellow food colour and paintbrush, ask your kid to paint the paper cup and ball all over. The orange foam can be used to create a pointed beak. Now place the cup upside down so that its base is up. Glue the polystyrene ball to the top of the cup and the beak on the ball. Glue the wiggle eyes on the ball to create the chick’s eyes and the yellow feathers at the back of the cup.

3. Paper Cup Garland

This beautiful paper cup garland is all that you need to add fun and joy to your little one’s day.

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What You Need

• Two dozen colourful paper cups
• Thread
• Bamboo skewer
• Glue

How to Do it

Give the same-sized paper cups to your kid and ask him to make a hole at the base of every cup using the bamboo skewer. String the long thread into the cups while alternating directions of each one. By doing so you will find that some cups have their tops facing each other while some have their bottoms together. Stick the bottoms together if you want to impart a bit of rigidity to the garland. Organise a little ceremony to welcome your little one into the room and then put the garland around his neck.

4. Sunflower Burst

This dazzling sunflower burst will be your child’s favourite display item for a long time to come.

What You Need

• Three paper cups
• Paint and paintbrush
• Paper
• Glue
• A pair of scissors

How to Do it

First, paint the paper cups with yellow colour and the bases with brown colour and allow them to dry. Use the scissors to cut the paper cups to resemble petals. Spread the paper and stick the paper cups on it. Paint leaves and stalks in green using fingers or the paintbrush. Place it where others can see it and let your little one bask in the glory of being its creator.

5. Chinese Lantern

Here is a wonderful decorative piece for your child’s room he will love and adore.

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What You Need

• Two paper cups
• Red paint
• Plastic rod
• Red thread
• Plastic rod
• Scissors
• Glue

How to Do it

Ask your little one to cut one of the paper cups from its edge to the base so that one end is connected to the base while the other is hanging. Cut the circular base of the other cup and glue it to the open ends of the first paper cup. This will form the structure of a lantern. Paint the cup red using the colour and brush. Drill holes at the base and top of the lantern using the rod and push the thread through both the holes. Tie the thread ends together and hang this bright red Chinese lantern at a convenient place in your child’s room.

6. Paper Cup Wreath

Watch your child create a masterpiece from simple items and show it off with pride.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Need

• 40 small paper cups
• Ribbon
• Twine
• Hole punch

How to Do it

Hand over the paper cups to your child and help him to make a hole through each of the cup using the hole punch. Make a circular pattern out of the cups y arranging them one into other so that it resembles a wreath. Ask your little one to thread the twine through the holes in the cups so the circular shape is retained. Tie the ribbon at the top of the paper cup wreath to give it the perfect look.

7. Paper Cup Wind-Chime

This elaborate wind chime is an assured crowd-puller, be it your relatives or friends.

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What You Need

• One paper cup
• String
• Cord
• Beads
• Stickers
• Sequins
• Washers
• Hole punch

How to Do it

Using the hole punch, make holes at a gap of one centimetre each across the paper cup rim. For every hole, cut a six-inch long string and thread these strings through each hole. Tie one end of the strings to the top of the cup and thread colourful beads into the strings. At each of the ends hanging out, tie a washer to give it weight. Make a hole onto the base of the cup and insert the cord through it. Tie a large knot at the inside end so that it does not slip out. Attach stickers, sequins and other decorative items to the cup. Now hang the paper cup upside down near a window. This useful and practical wind chime is one of the simplest paper cup crafts for preschoolers.

8. Paper Cup Ghost Craft

Here is a funny ghost your child will love to have by his side, day and night.

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What You Need

• Paper cup
• White tissue paper
• Paper fastener
• Thread
• Black marker
• Scissors

How to Do it

Place the cup upside down with the base up. Ask your child to cut two equal-sized squares from the white tissue paper. Place the tissue paper squares crossway on the top of the cup in a manner so that they cover the cup entirely. Push a paper fastener through the bottom of the cup and the two squares and open up its head inside the cup. Tie a thread to the top end of the fastener, draw an imaginary ghost face on the tissue papers and your paper cup ghost craft is now ready.

9. Polar Bear Puppet

Watch your child use fine motor skills to create this cute little polar bear puppet.

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What You Need

• Styrofoam cup
• Cotton
• Wriggly eyes
• Black craft paper
• White craft paper
• Glue
• Black marker
• Scissors

How to Do it

This is the simplest form of polar bear your little one can make out of stuff that is readily available at home. Cut the arms, ears and head portion of the bear from the white craft paper. From the black craft paper cut out the bear’s nose and an elongated mouth. Cut a small circle from the cotton round and fix it on to the head using the glue. On the cotton round, affix the black nose and the mouth too. Fix the ears to the head and the wriggly eyes on the head. The arms can be glued to the side of the cup.

10. Cup Shakers

Add long hours of fun and entertainment and watch your kid revel in it for hours.

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What You Need

• Two Paper cups
• food colours (green and purple)
• golden star colour stickers
• paint brush
• dried rice
• sticky tape
• scissors
• glue

How to Do it

Assist your child in mixing up paint in a palette and help him to paint one cup with green colour while the other cup should be painted yellow. Let the cups dry for a while before using them. Fix the golden star colour stickers on the cups using the glue. Place the green cup on the table bottom down and fill it up with dried rice till one-third of the cup is filled. Now place the purple paper cup over the green cup upside down so that their rims meet each other. Now use the sticky tape to secure the rims together. Your cup shaker is now ready to shake, shake, shake and enjoy.

11. Paper Cup Bunny

A cute bunny to brighten up any child’s day.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Need

• Paper cup
• White and pink paper
• Googly eyes
• Cotton ball
• Glue
• Black marker
• Scissors

How to Do it

Cut out bunny ears using white and pink paper. Glue them to the inside of the cup’s rim. Add googly eyes, a small pink circle for the nose, and draw whiskers and a mouth. Stick a cotton ball on the back as the tail.

12. Paper Cup Flower Pot

A floral delight that doubles as a decoration.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Need

• Paper cup
• Paint or markers
• Artificial flowers or paper flowers
• Glue
• Decorative stickers

How to Do it

Decorate the cup with paint, stickers, or markers. Fill it with paper or artificial flowers to make a lovely flower pot.

13. Paper Cup Fish

An underwater friend that’s easy to make and decorate.

What You Need

• Paper cup
• Paint
• Construction paper
• Googly eyes
• Glue
• Scissors

How to Do it

Cut a triangle out of the cup’s side and glue it on as a tail. Paint the cup like a fish. Add a fin, googly eyes, and details.

14. Paper Cup Snowman

A frosty friend perfect for winter crafting.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Need

• White paper cup
• Black and orange paper
• Googly eyes
• Buttons
• Glue
• Scarf (fabric or ribbon)

How to Do it

Use a white cup as the snowman’s body. Add paper hat, carrot nose, eyes, and buttons. Tie a small scarf around the base for a cosy touch.

15. Paper Cup Drum

Turn craft time into a musical jam session.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Need

• Paper cup
• Balloon
• Rubber band
• Markers or paint
• Sticks or pencils

How to Do it

Cut the balloon and stretch it over the cup’s opening. Secure with a rubber band. Decorate the sides and use sticks to play it like a drum.

It is very important to help your child develop his creative skills and the simplest way to do so is by encouraging him to try crafts made from paper cups. It is a brilliant method of allowing him to think creatively and using craft material that is simple to use. Make sure you are around while your child is handling scissors and paper cutters. Alternatively, encourage the use of plastic scissors and rulers to cut paper shapes to avoid accidents. Make art and craft with paper cups a fun activity for your little one so he will look forward to these sessions and bond with you.

FAQs

1. Why are paper cup crafts good for kids?

Paper cup crafts are a fantastic way to encourage creativity, fine motor skills, and hands-on learning in children. They are simple, inexpensive, and can be made using materials commonly found at home or in classrooms. Plus, they offer an eco-friendly alternative to plastic craft supplies.

2. What age group are paper cup crafts suitable for?

Paper cup crafts can be adapted for children of all ages. Preschoolers and kindergartners enjoy simpler designs like animals or puppets, while older kids can take on more complex crafts involving cutting, painting, or assembling moving parts.

3. How do I store finished paper cup crafts?

Store them in a dry, cool place, like a shelf or storage box. Avoid stacking them tightly to prevent squishing, and if they include delicate parts like pipe cleaners or glued pieces, handle them gently.

Craft using paper cups are fun and keep kids engaged, but these alone won’t ensure your child’s overall development. A great way to boost all-round development is by subscribing to a kid’s activity box such as the Intellikit! With puzzles, storybooks, craft activities, and much more, this will cultivate not just your child’s interest in arts and craft, but also sharpen other areas and skills through various types of play. Keep your child occupied with fun learning all month long by grabbing a box, today!

Also Read:

Animal Crafts for Kids
Origami Crafts for Children
Cardboard Crafts for Kids
Plastic Bottle Crafts for Kids