17 of Our Favorite Paper Crafts

When it comes to crafting, originality in the materials we use can make all the difference. One item known for being versatile is paper—and the diverse options in color, texture, and size can allow for almost any project. Along with cutting and punching paper to a three-dimensional design, you can also use stamping, coloring, folding styles such as origami, dyeing, and other techniques to beautiful effect.

With all of these limitless options, where should you begin? You can start with some of our past ideas, which are perfectly fit for crafting year-round. Nothing says fun like projects fit for the whole family. This means crafts that the little ones can enjoy, and adults can also join in on the entertainment. Projects like paper kites can take flight with just the help of paper, straws, string, and tape. And the excitement doesn't have to stop there. More intricate ideas like paper animal masks will also keep children interested and allow creativity to flow between anyone who participates.

This gallery will continue to guide you in your paper crafting needs with ideas ranging from paper stars to origami paper containers. These timeless projects encourage crafters young and old to think outside the box and pick up inexpensive, easy hobbies. Not an experienced crafter? Don't fret, because these ideas are fit for beginners and the most experienced makers, alike.

The crafts ahead are easy ways to spruce up ordinary décor and creating each one is a good way to mix up your crafting expertise. While paper may appear to be an ordinary material, inspiration will soar as you create your next masterpiece.

You won't have to wait for sunny days to enjoy creating kites. This craft will be just as colorful as it will be fun to make. The washi tape and acrylic paint will add extra flair to the kite paper to make this project come alive. Begin by tracing the template onto decorative paper, and cut out. Cut dowel into one 19-inch piece and one 16-inch piece. Cross dowels; lash together by wrapping and tying twine around the point where they intersect. Place dowels on back side of one piece of paper (use the 19-inch dowel for the vertical, and the 16-inch one for the horizontal). Brush glue on smaller pieces of paper, and adhere them over the dowels to larger piece of paper at each of the four corners; let dry. Cut another piece of twine to the desired length for hanging kite. Poke a small hole through paper where dowels intersect; thread twine through for hanging. To create tail, cut a long length of twine, and cut crepe paper into four by one-and-one-half strips. Twist crepe strips at center, and tie in knots along tail about eight inches apart. Tie tail to bottom tip of dowel. Brush glue along back edges of paper; adhere second piece of paper, patterned side up; let dry.

Shop Now: Bright Dolls Handmade Paper, $5, papersource.com. Woodworks Ltd. Wooden Dowel, 3/16" by 36" , $3.50 for 10, craftparts.com. Regency Natural Chef-Grade Cooking Twine Refill, $10, surlatable.com. Creativity Street Crepe Paper Fold Assortment, from $17.99, michaels.com.

Charming punched-paper medallions can be used to brighten a door, wall, or window. Or string a few together for a garland or mobile. The layered collage effect is a terrific way to highlight favorite special papers (or use up scraps destined for the recycling bin).

Start with a punched circle as your base, embellishing as desired. You may decide to leave the base as is (see large gold and small pink medallions) or back it with another piece of paper (see medium medallion backed with fringed metallic gold paper). Create the medallion center: Measure the area within your punched circle, then cut a circle of printed paper to fit within it; adhere the medallion center to the punched circle. If desired, cut out additional silhouettes from illustrated papers and collage them overlapping the center circle of the medallion. Create a hanging loop by attaching a length of metallic cord to the top of the medallion with a brass grommet. Create an anchor for the medallion base—beads, small crystals, or stones thread on cord add a little extra weight beneath a medallion to keep it from flapping in the breeze—and finish the anchor with a handmade tassel.

Shop Now: Magical Glitter Paper Pad by Recollections, $12, michaels.com. Circle-Edge Punch, from Martha Stewart Crafts, $16, amazon.com. Dritz 5/32" Brass Eyelets, Pack of 100, $6, michaels.com. Estella Floral Scrapbook Paper, 12" by 12", $0.25, hobbylobby.com.

Let your imagination roar by creating paper animal masks. This easy-to-follow project starts things off with a paper template that kids will love. The best part of this craft? It produces little mess, allowing little ones to take part in a creative venture that will have less limits. The colors in each mask also allows for an eye-catching creation that will leave anyone who participates with a worthwhile paper design.

Make this multidimensional décor your own with easy steps starting with a printable template and colorful cardstock. The other simple materials for this project solely include scissors, a glue stick, and your choice between gold glitter, baker's twine, or monofilament for the finishing touches. These decorations will take flight and allow your excitement to soar. The key element of layering pieces of cardstock paper with different color varieties will be sure to meet your satisfaction.

Give your invitations a creative twist with a hot air balloon design. Begin by printing out your own template, and cut out the balloon shape. Stack five sheets of colorful cardstock and cut out the template using scissors. (Tip: Stack different colors or subtly different shades of a single color to add dimensionality to each balloon.) Using a bone folder and ruler, score a straight line down the center of each balloon cut-out. Remove the ruler and reinforce the scored line, smoothing it down with the bone folder. Glue each folded balloon cut-out back to back, so each half connects to another half of a differently colored cut-out, along the fold line. Cut a small square of paper (this will be the hot air balloon basket). Cut a short length of twine, tie into a knot, and loop behind the basket cut-out (this will be the line that connects the hot air balloon to the basket). Glue both parts to the paper. Glue balloon cut-outs onto paper backing of invitation and unfurl. Tie card invitation with matching satin ribbon if desired.

Shop Now: Assorted Cardstock Paper Pack, $4.49, hobbylobby.com. Satin Ribbon by Celebrate It, $4, michaels.com. LUXPaper A4 Invitation Envelopes, $10.95, amazon.com.

With this creative endeavor, a shooting star won't seem too far from reach. Making stars has never been so easy, all you need are scissors and decorative paper for an out-of-this-world creation. The excitement doesn't have to end there. Add a fun element to this project by picking out colorful paper of your choosing. This could include anything from bright pinks to electric yellow shades to let your stars shine bright and catch your attention any time they cross your path.

Keep your crafting simple with these decorative paper-bag flowers. Load up on scissors, a hole punch, double-sided tape, string, and gusseted paper bags of any size to make this craft your own. These flowers can hang from ceilings for a stunning view of the colorful paper crafts. Try out bright hues like yellow and orange for a special pop of color. In the end, your result will be high-flying creations that kids and adults alike will enjoy making and hanging up for parties or year-round décor.

Set your sights on a paper project sure to impress. These paper origami containers will add a unique element that will make your table settings pop. The project will also allow you to put your folding skills to the test. Unlike more intricate projects, this crafting experience can be rather easy. The instructions will walk you step by step to ensure you nail down the origami containers to your liking so you can fill them with your favorite snacks.

Make a flower bouquet next on your crafting to-do list for a beautiful rendition to a typical arrangement. You can start off by making the ferns. Attach one wire to an adhesive back of fern and secure with hot glue. Cover the wire with floral tape and apply glitter. To make the sticker flowers, use pliers to twist the tip of the wire into a spiral and bend the spiral 90 degrees. Add hot glue to the flower sticker and the platform. To make the cupcake-wrapper flowers, repeat the spiral wire technique stated previously with one spiraled wire per flower. Use the screw punch to punch a hole in the center of three mini and two standard cupcake liners. You can add more liners for a more voluminous flower.

Insert the end of the wire through the three mini liners. Apply hot glue on the spiral (the top of the wire). Pinch, twist, and crinkle the bottom of the liners to start forming your flower shape. Add the two large liners under the minis. Apply hot glue at the base of the mini liners and adhere one large liner. Pinch, twist, and crinkle into desired shape. Add more glue to the new base and add another large liner. Continue as so until you have desired effect. Secure the pinched end with floral tape and continue wrapping to the bottom of the wire. Combine all for a beautiful bouquet.

Shop Now: Ashland Floral Tape, $2.59, michaels.com. Signature Extra Fine Glitter by Recollections, $9.49, michaels.com. Eoonfirst Standard Size Baking Cups, $9, amazon.com.

Make these flowers part of your next craft challenge. Start by cutting card stock into five-inch squares. Fold a square in half, then fold in half again. Open square, and crease diagonally, reversing direction of fold; repeat to make another diagonal crease. fold square back up along original creases. Trace petal template onto square. cut out along open edges. Snip off a tiny bit of pointed tip; unfold flower. With an unused pencil eraser and green ink, stamp small marks at indents on each petal. Use a starburst-style stamp to mark center. Cut out leaves from green card stock. Secure flowers and leaves to branches with clear craft glue.

Shop Now: Assorted Cardstock Paper Pack, $4.49, hobbylobby.com. Dye Ink Pad by Craft Smart, $4, michaels.com. Decora Floral Pattern Round Wooden Rubber Stamps, $6, amazon.com.

Add a glittery touch to your next paper craft with this creation. To begin. print template for bird one, two, three, or four. Enlarge or reduce to desired size. Adhere template to mat board with Xyron or spray adhesive. Cut out bird shape with craft knife. Using ballpoint glue pen, apply glue to parts of the bird you'd like to glitter. Sprinkle glitter and shake off excess. Edge entire bird with gold-paint pen. Print template for base and brace, enlarging or reducing to the same percentage as bird, if necessary. Trace base and brace that corresponds to bird from template onto mat board. (Note: For bird one, a brace is not necessary.) Glue bird onto base with craft glue. Glue brace onto back of bird.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Super Fine Glitter, $7, michaels.com. Martha Stewart Felt Tip Glue Pen Set, $7, michaels.com. Martha Stewart Craft Knife, $8.49, michaels.com.

Make the most of this paper craft with eccentric colors for an enchanting forest. Use a craft punch to create paper circles in graduated sizes (the ones shown here have six-, seven-, eight-, and nine-inch diameters). Cut the circles in half, roll them into cones, and secure them with double-sided tape. Cut a skewer to accommodate them. 

Shop Now: All-Purpose High Temperature Mini Hot Glue Gun, $4, hobbylobby.com. Scotch Double Sided Tape, $3.32, walmart.com. Fiskars X-Large Lever Punch Scalloped Circle, $11.89, joann.com.

Top off the perfect gift with a unique paper design. Start by cutting a feather shape out of the paper and fold in half. Fringe each side of the feather with the precision scissors. Attach the feather to the gift box with string.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Detail Scissors, $12.49, michaels.com. Spritz Gift Box, $3.59, target.com. White Relief Floral on Gold Handmade Paper, $5, papersource.com.

Try out a craft that can set sail. To create, fold butcher paper in half width-wise, with folded edge away from you. Mark middle of folded edge with a crease. Fold in two top corners of folded edge to meet at middle, forming a triangle with a double-layer flap sticking out underneath. Fold front layer of flap up to front; fold back layer flap up to back. Take hold of center front and back of triangle and pull apart, pushing in opposite corners so they lie flat against each other, creating a diamond shape. Fold front and back bottom corners of diamond up front and back, respectively, to meet at top corner. (You should now have an open-bottomed triangle.) Pull triangle open, flattening into a diamond as in step four. Pull wings at top gently apart, forming half of ship. (You may need to pop up the center and smooth the sides to form the boat.). Snip center of ship and slip in dowel for mast (use a dab of clay to stick dowel to table). Cut out square scrapbook-paper sails; make slits in top and bottom, and slide them onto dowel. Top mast with a scrapbook-paper flag; secure it with double-stick tape. Tie on twine covered in triangular scrapbook-paper flags: Fold scrapbook paper, cut out triangles, and adhere to string with a small dot of glue.

 Shop Now: 1/8" x 12" dowel, $2.25 for 25, craftparts.com. Scotch Double-sided Tape, $3.29, target.com. Scrapbook Paper by Recollections, $0.79, michaels.com.

Make this multidimensional craft to get you thinking outside of the box. Begin by printing out a template (one for each raindrop in the garland). Stack five sheets of blue card stock and cut out the template using scissors. Tip: Stack subtly different shades of blue to add dimensionality to each raindrop. Secure raindrop cut-outs with paper clips. Using a pencil and ruler, draw a straight line down the center of stacked raindrop cut-outs (this will guide your machine stitch). Thread your sewing machine (blue will match the color of paper raindrops). Set your machine on a straight stitch with a long length. Line up a single raindrop bottom-end first under the needle and machine-stitch along the drawn line, continuing to sew for spacing between raindrops; repeat this step until you have a complete garland of raindrops. Once you have reached desired length, snip with scissors and knot the end. Petal out the drop facets before hanging.

Shop Now: Blue Heavyweight Cardstock Paper Pack, $4.49, hobbylobby.com. Martha Stewart Detail Scissors, $12.49, michaels.com. SINGER 60013 All Purpose Polyester Thread, $2.89, amazon.com.

Add some ambience lighting with these easy-to-create decorations. To make one, cut two small pillow box templates on a cutting mat using the pillow gift box tool. Using the paper punch, punch two designs out of each of the longer sides of the template. (Tip: Draw a centered rectangle as a guide before punching.) Gently fold the scored bottom and top tabs, and long edges. Assemble the luminary by double-stick taping the tabs together to form a four-sided box. Place LED tea light and display.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Pillow Gift Box Tool, $18, acherryontop.com. Circle-Edge Punch, from Martha Stewart Crafts, $16, amazon.com. American Crafts Pink Self-Healing Cutting Mat, $20, michaels.com.

Take a creative approach to packaging for your next convections. To start, follow template instructions for cutting, and align edges of pie box to the left side of the Mini Scoring Board. Score. Align tabs and score as well. Punch along the top and sides of the box with the Edge Punch. Form box and adhere sides together with double-sided tape. To make the tag, punch the full shape from off-white paper. Then punch an outer ring from craft paper. Glue the two pieces together.

Shop Now: Bira Craft 12-by-12 inch Multi-Purpose Scoring Board, $20, amazon.com. Scotch Double Sided Tape, $3.32, walmart.com. Fiskars X-Large Lever Punch Scalloped Circle, $11.89, joann.com.