Easy Crafts

A few paper scraps, some yarn, and a little table space can be enough to start making something. These easy crafts introduce simple folding, arranging, and wrapping techniques, with useful tips to help you finish your first project.

Start With Supplies You Have

Check your drawers before buying materials. Old greeting cards, clean packaging, leftover wrapping paper, and short lengths of yarn can all find a place in a project. Gather the supplies for one craft at a time so your workspace stays manageable.

Three Projects to Try

Make a Collage Greeting Card

Practice arranging shapes and colors while creating a card you can give someone.

Materials: A sheet of card, paper scraps or magazine pages, scissors, a glue stick, and a pen.

1. Fold the card in half and press firmly along the crease.
2. Cut or tear your scraps into simple shapes, such as leaves, circles, or triangles.
3. Arrange the pieces on the front before attaching them. Try a cluster in one corner or a repeating border.
4. Glue each piece down, smoothing the edges.
5. Let the glue dry, then write your message inside.

Try next: Use just two colors to explore different arrangements. For another approach, follow the National Gallery of Art’s collage activity inspired by Romare Bearden.

Fold an Accordion Paper Fan

This project gives you practice making even folds and turns a single sheet into a colorful decoration.

Materials: A rectangular sheet of paper, markers, and a glue stick.

1. Decorate the paper with dots, stripes, or loose doodles.
2. Starting at a short edge, fold a strip about 2 cm wide.
3. Turn the sheet over and repeat, folding back and forth until you reach the other end.
4. Fold the finished accordion in half lengthwise, bringing its two ends together.
5. Glue the two inner edges together and hold until secure.
6. Gently spread the outer folds into a semicircle.

Helpful tip: Thin paper is easier to fold than thick card.

Wrap a Yarn Tassel

Use a tassel to decorate a gift or add color to a bag.

Materials: Yarn, scissors, and a small rectangle of sturdy cardboard.

1. Wrap yarn around the cardboard about 20 times.
2. Slide a separate piece of yarn beneath the loops at the top and tie tightly.
3. Slip the bundle off the cardboard.
4. Tie another strand around the bundle, about 1 cm below the top, to form a small head.
5. Cut through the bottom loops and trim the ends evenly.

Keep your first attempt small. Once you understand the steps, change the colors, dimensions, or patterns to make another version your own.