7 Easy Paper Crafts Using Basic Supplies

A sheet of paper can become a bookmark, a party decoration, or a card someone keeps. These seven easy paper crafts use familiar supplies and a few repeatable skills: folding, cutting, looping, and gluing. Each project includes a small visual guide, step-by-step instructions, and a fix for a common beginner mistake.

Gather Your Basic Supplies

Keep these within reach:

• Plain or colored paper
• Scissors
• A glue stick or clear tape
• A pencil and ruler
• Colored pencils or markers
• String for the garland

Ordinary printer paper works well for folding. Slightly thicker paper helps cards stand upright. Clean envelopes and wrapping-paper offcuts are useful, too: the US EPA’s reuse tips recommend saving packaging and colored paper for arts and crafts.

The times below are approximate hands-on times. Allow extra time for glue to set, and help younger children with cutting.

1. Folded Corner Bookmark

Materials: One 15 × 15 cm paper square; markers for decorating
Time: 5–10 minutes

This bookmark slips over the corner of a page. Start with thin paper so the finished pocket stays easy to fold.

The sketch shows the triangle after your first fold. A is the top point; M is the middle of the bottom edge.

          A
         / \
        /   \
       /     \
      B---M---C

1. Fold the square diagonally in half. Position the triangle with its long edge at the bottom.
2. Bring only the front layer of point A down to M. Press the crease firmly.
3. Fold B upward to meet the remaining top point. Repeat with C, creating a diamond shape.
4. Tuck both raised tips into the pocket behind the downward-folded flap. Flatten gently.
5. Add a face, initials, or a small pattern. Slide the pocket over a page corner.

Common mistake: Folding both layers of A downward closes off the pocket. Separate the layers with your fingertip before making that fold.

2. Mini Paper Flag Garland

Materials: Six paper rectangles measuring 6 × 14 cm, approximately 80 cm of string, scissors, pencil, ruler, glue stick
Time: 15–20 minutes

Alternate two colors, or use patterned scraps for a cheerful mix.

Each folded rectangle becomes a double-layer flag. The diagonal lines below show where to cut; keep the central triangle.

       Folded edge
       +---------+
       |\       /|
       | \     / |
       |  \   /  |
       |   \ /   |
       +----V----+

1. Fold each rectangle in half, bringing its short edges together. Each folded piece should measure 6 × 7 cm.
2. Place the fold at the top. Mark the midpoint of the bottom edge.
3. Draw a line from each top corner to that midpoint.
4. Cut through both layers along the lines.
5. Open each flag, place the string along its central fold, and glue the two halves together around it.
6. Leave small gaps between flags and enough loose string at each end for hanging.

Common mistake: Cutting across the folded edge separates the two halves. Preserve that top fold so each flag can wrap around the string.

3. Handmade Candle Card

Materials: Half a sheet of paper or lightweight cardstock, colored scraps, scissors, glue stick, markers
Time: 10–15 minutes

Three paper strips become birthday candles. Uneven heights make the design feel playful, so careful matching is unnecessary.

    Card front
  +-------------+
  |   *  *  *   |  ← drawn flames
  |   |  |  |   |  ← paper candles
  |   |     |   |
  | Happy       |
  | Birthday!   |
  +-------------+

1. Place your half-sheet horizontally and fold the left edge over to meet the right edge.
2. Cut three colored strips approximately 1 cm wide and 4–6 cm long.
3. Arrange them on the front, leaving room for your greeting.
4. Glue the strips down.
5. Draw a short wick and a yellow or orange flame above each candle.
6. Add a greeting and write your message inside.

Common mistake: Decorating before deciding where the greeting will go can leave cramped lettering. Lightly pencil in the words before attaching the candles.

4. Accordion Paper Fan

Materials: One sheet of printer paper, glue stick or tape
Time: 5–10 minutes

Accordion folding means folding one way, turning the paper over, and folding back the other way.

Pleats viewed from the side:

   /\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Fold the closed stack at its midpoint,
then spread the two halves into a fan.

1. Start at a short edge of the sheet. Fold a strip approximately 1.5 cm wide.
2. Turn the paper over and fold another strip of the same width.
3. Continue alternating until the whole sheet forms a narrow accordion stack.
4. Keep the stack closed and fold it in half end to end.
5. Bring the two inner edges together and secure them with glue or tape.
6. Gently spread the outer pleats to open the fan.

Decorate the paper before folding if you want stripes or dots across the finished fan.

Common mistake: Uneven pleats make the fan twist. Mark the first few fold widths lightly with a ruler to establish a steady rhythm.

5. Colorful Paper Chain

Materials: Ten paper strips measuring approximately 2 × 15 cm, glue stick or tape
Time: 10–15 minutes

Paper chains are useful paper crafts for beginners because the same easy action builds the entire decoration.

Flat strip       First loop       Linked loops

----------   →      ( )       →    ( )—( )—( )

1. Curve one strip into a loop.
2. Overlap its ends by approximately 1 cm and secure them.
3. Thread the next strip through the first loop.
4. Join the second strip’s ends to close it.
5. Repeat, alternating colors or adding a handwritten word to each strip.

Try a chain of favorite activities, encouraging messages, or family members’ names.

Common mistake: Pulling on freshly glued links opens the joins. Press each overlap firmly and let it hold before adding the next link. Tape makes assembly quicker.

6. Looped-Petal Paper Flower

Materials: Eight paper strips measuring 2 × 12 cm, two paper circles approximately 5 cm across, scissors, glue stick
Time: 15–20 minutes

These rounded petals are made from loops rather than complicated folds.

          ()
      ()      ()
   ()     O      ()
      ()      ()
          ()

() = looped petal
 O = paper center

1. Bring the short ends of one strip together, overlapping them slightly.
2. Glue the ends together while keeping the opposite end rounded. Avoid pressing the loop flat.
3. Repeat with all eight strips.
4. Arrange the joined ends around the edge of one paper circle, with the loops pointing outward.
5. Glue the joined ends onto the circle.
6. Glue the second circle over them to cover the joins and finish the flower’s center.

Use the flower as a gift decoration or attach it to a folded card.

Common mistake: Attaching petals as you make them can leave uneven gaps. Arrange all eight before gluing, then adjust their spacing.

7. Woven Paper Square

Materials: One 20 × 20 cm paper square, eight contrasting strips approximately 2 × 22 cm, scissors, ruler, pencil, glue stick
Time: 20–25 minutes

Paper weaving creates a checkerboard pattern by alternating which paper passes over the other.

        Across the paper bands
Strip 1: OVER  under  OVER  under
Strip 2: under OVER   under OVER
Strip 3: OVER  under  OVER  under

1. Fold the square in half, bringing the top edge down to the bottom edge.
2. Draw a guide line 2 cm from the open edge.
3. Starting 2 cm from one side, cut from the folded edge toward the guide line. Repeat every 2 cm, stopping each cut at the line.
4. Unfold the square. It should have parallel slits surrounded by an intact border.
5. Weave one contrasting strip through the slits, passing over one paper band and under the next.
6. Weave the next strip in the opposite pattern. Slide the rows together gently.
7. Continue with the remaining strips. Glue their ends onto the side borders and trim any overhang.

Common mistake: Repeating the same over-under sequence on every row produces stripes instead of a checkerboard. Start each new row opposite the one above it.

Keep the finished square as paper artwork, or cut a section to decorate another handmade card. Save the leftover scraps in an envelope—they are ready-made supplies for your next simple paper projects.