All you need is paper and imagination to make this cute idea for a kid's craft or decoration! This tutorial is all about using paper to create fun little decorations perfect for fall and Halloween. The pumpkin works all season long, and a cute little spider or bat are ideal for Halloween. Of course, these are great any time of year to enjoy with the kids. Everyone needs a fun and happy spider or bat in their life and this will do the trick!
Paper Strip Fall Kids Craft Ideas
Sometimes it is important to get your kids working with their hands. They may feel like it's boring at first, but soon, they will see cutting little strips of paper and shaping them into something cute like this is amazing. Who knew you could use basic paper to really make a cute little pumpkin, bat, or spider? I sure did and am excited to share with you how I make these.
Paper and crafting go hand in hand, and I love sharing these kind of ideas with you. If your kids like creating fun little things like this, then they will absolutely love making this paper plate witch, a fun little smiling paper plate pumpkin, or even a cute little spooky spider magnet.
How Can I Customize Paper Pumpkin?
Pumpkins are pretty common with orange paper and green stems, but you can definitely make them a bit more special with a few little additions. Paper and pipe cleaners create a cute pumpkin, but there are more to pumpkins than that. You can turn these into something truly unique with just a few additions.
- Use scrapbook paper for a patterned pumpkin.
- Instead of orange, use red, yellow, or brown paper.
- Use brown paper for the leaves instead of green.
- Add glitter on the paper to make it sparkle.
- Glue sequins around the top for a sparkly green leaf or stem base.
How Can I Customize My Paper Bat?
Bats are typically pretty ordinary creatures. They are simple, sometimes kind of ugly, and not usually what I would call cute. Making them with purple paper is adorable, but what else can you do to create a cute bat for Halloween? Below are some fun ways to customize your bat.
- Use different colors of paper to create black, brown, blue, orange, purple, or green bats to fit the Halloween theme.
- Add glitter to make the bat sparkle.
- Create bigger wings and hang it from the ceiling so it looks like it is flying.
How Can I Customize My Paper Spider?
In our house, spiders are a favorite creature to see crawling around. We have had pet spiders and well, I just love how intelligent they are and how beautiful they can be. Their creations are astounding and so, I think this paper spider can and should be special. Below are some ideas you can use to make your spider even more special.
- Use sparkly tinsel as the spider legs instead of paper.
- Add sequins to the spider body to look like the layers on a real spider.
- Use fishing line to hang your spider from corners or ceilings is ideal for making it feel more real in your house.
What Paper Should I Use for These Crafts?
I prefer using construction paper for this project. It's just easier to use than craft paper because it is a bit stiffer and it is so much more affordable. Plus, when working with kids, you sometimes want something easier and cheaper to keep on hand.
You could also use scrapbook paper for these to give them a bit different look. These aren't just for the kids. They can be used as part of your holiday decorations for Halloween or Thanksgiving. When doing that, use any color or pattern of paper you prefer and make it special or unique for your family.
Supplies Needed
- Orange paper
- Green paper
- Purple paper
- Black paper
- White paper
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Dowel
- Black marker
- Green marker
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue sticks or hot glue rope
How to Make a Paper Strip Pumpkin
Measure and trace 20 lines onto a piece of orange paper that are ¼" wide and around 10" long.
Cut the paper strips apart.
On each end of the paper, punch a hole using a round hole punch.
Slide a paper strip over the dowel through the hole you just punched.
Add a bit of glue to the paper right at the base of the dowel, then slide a second piece of paper on top and glue in place on top of the first paper but at an angle.
Continue this process until you have added all 20 strips of paper onto the dowel and they are glued together spread around the dowel an inch or so apart to create a circle of paper strips.
Trim the dowel rod to about 5" tall.
Bring the end of paper that is loose up and thread over the top of the dowel.
Glue the paper strip in place at the top of the dowel so that it stays in place at the top.
Continue this process until all of the paper strips are secured and a pumpkin shape has been created.
Cut a small leaf shape from green paper.
Use a marker to draw leaf lines on the paper.
Punch a hole at the end of the leave and slip it over the top of the dowel then glue in place on top of the pumpkin.
Wrap the pipe cleaner around the top of the dowel just above the leaves leaving two hanging sides.
Curl two pipe cleaners on a pen or pencil then pull them off the pencil gently keeping the curl in place.
Display as desired.
How to Make a Paper Strip Bat
Cut a dowel 4 " long.
Measure and cut 20 strips of purple paper ¼" wide and 4" long.
On each end of the paper, punch a hole using a round hole punch.
Slide a paper strip over the dowel through the hole you just punched.
Add a bit of glue to the paper right at the base of the dowel, then slide a second piece of paper on top and glue in place on top of the first paper but at an angle.
Continue this process until you have added all 20 strips of paper onto the dowel and they are glued together spread around the dowel an inch or so apart to create a circle of paper strips.
Bring the end of paper that is loose up and thread over the top of the dowel.
Glue the paper strip in place at the top of the dowel so that it stays in place at the top.
On a piece of purple paper, draw a bat wing shape and cut out.
Trace the outline of the wing in black marker.
Glue the wings to the middle of the ball of paper strips you created.
Draw a bat head and ears on the purple paper and cut them out.
Use a black marker to outline and fill in the bat ears.
Add a smile to the bottom of the bat face.
Glue googly eyes above the smile.
Cut 2-3 small white pieces of paper into triangles and glue in place below the smile of the bat.
Glue the face onto the top of the bat.
Display or hang as desired.
How to Make a Paper Strip Spider
Cut a dowel 4 " long.
Measure and cut 20 strips of black paper r ¼" wide and 6" long.
On 16 pieces, add a hole on each end of the paper, punch a hole using a round hole punch.
For the remaining 4 pieces, add a hole in the center of the paper with the hole punch.
Slide a paper strip over the dowel through the hole you just punched.
Add a bit of glue to the paper right at the base of the dowel, then slide a second piece of paper on top and glue in place on top of the first paper but at an angle.
Continue this process until you have added 16 of the 20 strips of paper onto the dowel and they are glued together spread around the dowel an inch or so apart to create a circle of paper strips.
Bring the end of paper that is loose up and thread over the top of the dowel.
Glue the paper strip in place at the top of the dowel so that it stays in place at the top.
Once the paper is in place, fold the bottom of the pieces flat so they sit flat instead of rounded.
Glue 4 additional strips to the bottom, so the holes are slid over the dowel and there are 4 strips poking out on each side to create 8 legs.
Bend each of these strips slightly so it stands up a bit like legs.
Glue googly eyes onto the front of the spider.
Display or hang as desired.
More Easy Halloween Craft Ideas
If you want more fun ideas to make with your kids this year, look no further. I've gathered the best of the best ideas for creating fun fall and Halloween crafts with the kids. Below are a few of my favorites!
- Easy Handmade Halloween Paper Fan Decorations
- Adorable Paper Plate Bat Halloween Candy Holder
- Cute Upcycled Flower Pot Halloween Characters
- Easy Paper Halloween Hanging Garland
- Upcycled Plastic Spoon Bat Cute Halloween Decoration
- DIY Halloween Spider Web Jar Decoration
Crafting Tip
Making a lot of fun ideas for Halloween? Make sure you check out the great Halloween craft boxes and unique ideas on Etsy. I've found tons of hand assembled ideas for Halloween crafting that kids will love creating.
Simple Paper Strip Fall Kids Craft Ideas
Follow this easy tutorial for creating your own cute paper strip crafts for kids. A paper pumpkin, paper spider, and paper bat are such cute additions to your Halloween crafting and decor!
Materials
Instructions
How to Make a Paper Pumpkin
- Measure and trace 20 lines onto a piece of orange paper that are ¼" wide and around 10" long.
- Cut the paper strips apart.
- On each end of the paper, punch a hole using a round hole punch.
- Slide a paper strip over the dowel through the hole you just punched.
- Add a bit of glue to the paper right at the base of the dowel, then slide a second piece of paper on top and glue in place on top of the first paper but at an angle.
- Continue this process until you have added all 20 strips of paper onto the dowel and they are glued together spread around the dowel an inch or so apart to create a circle of paper strips.
- Trim the dowel rod to about 5" tall.
- Bring the end of paper that is loose up and thread over the top of the dowel.
- Glue the paper strip in place at the top of the dowel so that it stays in place at the top.
- Continue this process until all of the paper strips are secured and a pumpkin shape has been created.
- Cut a small leaf shape from green paper.
- Use a marker to draw leaf lines on the paper.
- Glue the paper to the top of the pumpkin.
- Wrap the pipe cleaner around the top of the dowel just above the leaves leaving two hanging sides.
- Curl two pipe cleaners on a pen or pencil then pull them off the pencil gently keeping the curl in place.
- Display as desired.
How to Make a Paper Bat
- Cut a dowel 4 " long.
- Measure and cut 20 strips of purple paper ¼" wide and 4" long.
- On each end of the paper, punch a hole using a round hole punch.
- Slide a paper strip over the dowel through the hole you just punched.
- Add a bit of glue to the paper right at the base of the dowel, then slide a second piece of paper on top and glue in place on top of the first paper but at an angle.
- Continue this process until you have added all 20 strips of paper onto the dowel and they are glued together spread around the dowel an inch or so apart to create a circle of paper strips.
- Bring the end of paper that is loose up and thread over the top of the dowel.
- Glue the paper strip in place at the top of the dowel so that it stays in place at the top.
- On a piece of purple paper, draw a bat wing shape and cut out.
- Trace the outline of the wing in black marker.
- Glue the wings to the middle of the ball of paper strips you created.
- Draw a bat head and ears on the purple paper and cut them out.
- Use a black marker to outline and fill in the bat ears.
- Add a smile to the bottom of the bat face.
- Glue googly eyes above the smile.
- Cut 2-3 small white pieces of paper into triangles and glue in place below the smile of the bat.
- Glue the face to the body of the bat.
- Display or hang as desired.
How to Make a Paper Spider
- Cut a dowel 4 " long.
- Measure and cut 20 strips of black paper r ¼" wide and 6" long.
- On 16 pieces, add a hole on each end of the paper, punch a hole using a round hole punch.
- For the remaining 4 pieces, add a hole in the center of the paper with the hole punch.
- Slide a paper strip over the dowel through the hole you just punched.
- Add a bit of glue to the paper right at the base of the dowel, then slide a second piece of paper on top and glue in place on top of the first paper but at an angle.
- Continue this process until you have added 16 of the 20 strips of paper onto the dowel and they are glued together spread around the dowel an inch or so apart to create a circle of paper strips.
- Bring the end of paper that is loose up and thread over the top of the dowel.
- Glue the paper strip in place at the top of the dowel so that it stays in place at the top.
- Once the paper is in place, fold the bottom of the pieces flat so they sit flat instead of rounded.
- Glue 4 additional strips to the bottom, so the holes are slid over the dowel and there are 4 strips poking out on each side to create 8 legs.
- Bend each of these strips slightly so it stands up a bit as legs.
- Glue googly eyes onto the front of the spider.
- Display or hang as desired.
Notes
Add a bit of glitter to these so they sparkle in the sunlight!
Recommended Products
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Finished Project Gallery
Add the pumpkins to your Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations for a fun look that kids will enjoy making.
Of course, when displayed with other Halloween decor, all of the bats, spiders, and pumpkins will look amazing.
I love easy kids crafts like this one for keeping the little one's busy while I am preparing dinner.
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