Are you addicted to paper as much as we are?
We cannot help it and even though we have a stack of it, we crave more…We thought it would be fun to ask our team to come up with 10 simple paper craft projects you can do in a snap. They are perfect for the classroom, entertaining or to have around when you need to wrap a quick gift. The team chose a fun tropical theme for all the projects, but you can do them in your favorite theme, holiday or no theme at all. We grabbed one of the new packs from Scrapbooker’s Painted Pages (South Beach) because of the diversity in background prints, icons and colorful art and it was perfect. You can choose from a wide range of papers from Canvas Corp (DIY style), 7gypsies (vintage style) or Tattered Angels (mixed media style.) Choose a paper collection that speaks to you or use up papers you have tucked away.
Here are 10 different simple projects you can create on a rainy day, with a group or for a quick little something.
- Bookmarks – what a terrific idea for a class to make for Mother’s Day, teacher’s gifts the kids can help make or a wonderful paper that inspires you to slip in-between the pages of the book you are reading. We hear that books are coming back and we love to see that. There is nothing like the feel of a good book in your hands and now you can make a wonderful bookmark to go with the book. You might even take them to a local library and share them with fellow book lovers.
Fussy cut art that is long and thin like these hand painted glasses from Scrapbooker’s Painted Pages South Beach Paper Pack or cut a piece about 2″ wide and 6″ long. Add a hole and ribbon or cord and you are ready to go.
2. Handmade Gift Tags – You can spend a fortune on gift tags for the holidays or for a package of them when you just need one for a birthday or housewarming gift. They are so easy you won’t every want to make them again. Use a permanent Sharpie Marker to write on the front or a pen for the back. You can even use fun colorful markers that coordinate.
Fussy cut our designs or use your favorite punch. Add a hole and ribbon or cord. The back is white so it is easy to write your to and from. Canvas Corp has a wide range of awesome colors of jute that are perfect for tags – Lime Green and Turquoise.
3. Make Cards – many papers have terrific designs that you can just cut them and make cards. You will want to choose paper that is printed on one side to give you a blank inside to write just what you want to say. You can prepare a number of these for birthdays, holidays or just because. Cut them 10″wide x 7″ tall – they will fold down to 5″x7″ and fit into a standard envelope or make them smaller to fit into envelopes you might have hanging around. Add a punch or fussy cut piece to the back of the envelope to make a set.
4. Place Cards or Food Cards – use Canvas Corp Place Cards that are the perfect size and scored for you or make your own cards and add a fun icon to the front. Leave room for a name or the food name. This is also a fun idea to use in the classroom for the first day of class putting each students name on a card and place it at their desk. You can even pick a fun theme for the first day of school.
5 & 6. Placemats and Silverware Rings – make them for a night at home with the family and surprise everyone or make a ton for your next get together. They are so easy you can make a bunch. The placemats are just 12×12 pieces of paper, nothing to do there and the silverware rings are almost as simple. Use your favorite punch, then punch 2 holes slip the plasticware behind and tie with jute or ribbon. You can make them ahead of time and slip them into a basket or set each place.
7. Simple Gift Wrapping – so no bag, no wrapping paper, let the gift look this good when you present it. This is great for bottles of wine, beer or other beverages or maybe a vase filled with flowers from your garden. To make the wrap use a strip of fluted paper from Canvas Corp that is just a bit too small to wrap all the way around. Punch 2 holes on each side that match. Tie it together like you would a shoe and add a fun icon like this palm tree or something that fits the gift or the theme of your event.
8. Mini Art – what a fun little gift, place card or gift to give to Mom that each student or Girl Scout can make. This little gem is 2″x2″ and you can add little piece of art to the front and back and even a name or short staying – 2×2 stretch canvas and burlap.
9. Make A Guest Book – for a party, beach house or shower – they are blank with plenty of space for your guests to jot down a few works or many words. It is a great keepsake for a party or to keep as you welcome guests to your vacation home. Wrap a blank journal like the 7gypsies Starter Journals with a fun paper cover and you are ready to go. Choose a variety of different papers that work well together and you can tie them together in a bundle as a piece of decor on a shelf when they are filled up. Great memories to read every now and then.
10. Handmade PostCards – these are fun to make and take on your trip and send to friends and family, perfect to use for party invitations or turn them into tags you can give with a gift. Add a fun colorful paper to the front and decorate and fill in the back. You can mail anything, but you might want to stick to paper and paint when mailing these cards so they travel well. No need to put them in an envelope, let the art travel for all to see. We don’t send enough mail these days, so make a few and mail them to someone who needs a smile. This is a great idea for a class, troop or make and take project to make a ton of postcards and send them to residents of a nursing home, troops over seas or to children across the country. – by the sheet Canvas Corp 12×12 Postcards or packaged Canvas Corp White PostCards
So next time you are shopping for paper, going through your stack at home or school and you need some ideas to do to keep your hands busy, for the kids to be creative or for a group activity you are organizing. Pull out some of your tried and true tools such as paper cutters, punches, scissors and a bit of paint and you are read to go just add glue.
Happy Creating!!!
'10 Quick and Easy Paper Crafts For the Classroom, Rainy Day, A Party or Just For Fun' has no comments
Be the first to comment this post!