Paper Bag Crafts for Kids: Creative Fun for Every Age

Brown paper bag crafts are surprisingly versatile and incredibly affordable. These simple paper bag crafts for kids work for every age – from toddlers who think everything is edible to elementary schoolers who suddenly think they’re “too cool” for crafts (spoiler: they’re not).

The beauty of paper bag arts and crafts lies in their simplicity. Most of these easy paper bag crafts use something you already have on hand, making them perfect for last-minute activities, budget-friendly fun, and creative play without a trip to the store.

Paper Bag Crafts for Toddlers (Ages 2-3)

Toddlers are fascinating little creatures who can go from “helping” you organize kitchen cabinets to creating wall art in minutes. These paper bag crafts for toddlers focus on sensory fun with minimal frustration and maximum mess (they always find a way to get paint in their hair).

1. Simple Paper Bag Animals

Kids's paper bag crafts.

Materials:

  • Brown paper bags (lunch size)
  • Non-toxic washable markers or crayons
  • Construction paper scraps
  • Child-safe glue sticks
  • Safety scissors (for adult use)
  • Large googly eyes

Instructions:

  1. Let your toddler scribble on the brown paper bag with markers – this is their “fur” or “skin.”
  2. While they decorate, cut simple shapes from construction paper for ears, beaks, or legs.
  3. Help them glue on googly eyes and paper shapes to create their animal.
  4. Add dots with markers for nose and mouth.
  5. Show them how to put their hand inside to make the animal “talk.”

This craft teaches basic motor skills while letting imagination run wild. You’ll find yourself having full conversations with a paper bag dog later, and somehow that feels completely normal.

2. Textured Sensory Bags

A sensory paper bag for toddlers.

Materials:

  • Brown paper bags
  • Textured materials (cotton balls, sandpaper, fabric scraps, bubble wrap)
  • Child-safe glue
  • Masking tape

Instructions:

  1. Let your toddler explore each textured material first.
  2. Help them glue different textures onto their paper bag.
  3. Once dry, tape the bag closed securely.
  4. Let them squeeze and explore their sensory bag.

This is pure gold for restless days. These simple crafts for kids double as calming tools – I’ve seen cranky toddlers completely zen out while touching different textures.

3. Paper Bag Drums

A paper bag craft for kids.

Materials:

  • Paper bags (various sizes)
  • Dried beans in sealed containers
  • Tape
  • Markers or stickers
  • Wooden spoons

Instructions:

  1. Let your toddler decorate their bag with markers or stickers.
  2. Place the sealed container inside the bag.
  3. Fold and tape the top securely.
  4. Show them how to tap gently with wooden spoons.

Fair warning: this will test your patience and your neighbors’ tolerance. But watching your toddler discover rhythm makes the temporary noise totally worth it.

Paper Bag Crafts for Preschoolers (Ages 4-5)

Preschoolers are at that sweet spot where they follow simple instructions but still think you’re the coolest person ever. These paper bag crafts for preschoolers use their growing fine motor skills while keeping things achievable and fun.

4. Paper Bag Puppets with Stories

A paper bag puppet.

Materials:

  • Brown paper bags (lunch size)
  • Construction paper in various colors
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Glue sticks
  • Markers or crayons
  • Yarn for hair
  • Small fabric scraps
  • Googly eyes

Instructions:

  1. Help your preschooler decide on their character (expect “rainbow unicorn princesses” or “dinosaur firefighters”).
  2. Cut basic shapes for facial features from construction paper.
  3. Glue features onto the bottom flap of the bag.
  4. Add yarn for hair and fabric scraps for clothing.
  5. Encourage them to create stories with their new puppet friend.

These paper bag crafts diy projects develop storytelling skills. Don’t be surprised if your preschooler insists on putting on shows for everyone, including the mailman and family cat.

5. Bee Puppet

A bee puppet made with a paper bag.

Materials:

  • Yellow paper bags (lunch size)
  • Black construction paper
  • White paper
  • Markers
  • Glue
  • Pipe cleaners

Instructions:

  1. Cut strips of black construction paper
  2. Glue the strips onto the yellow bag to create bee stripes
  3. Cut wings from white paper and attach to the sides
  4. Add a face and antennae at the top of the bag
  5. Insert hand and create a buzzing puppet show!

I’m always amazed by the creative storytelling that comes from making puppets. Kids at this age love giving their bee puppets unique voices and personalities! Explore more fun bee crafts for kids.

6. Paper Bag Monsters

A kids made paper craft monster.

Materials:

  • Brown paper bags
  • Tempera paint in bright colors
  • Paintbrushes
  • Construction paper
  • Safety scissors
  • Glue
  • Various sized googly eyes
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Cotton balls

Instructions:

  1. Let your preschooler paint their bag in wild color combinations.
  2. While paint dries, cut shapes for monster features – teeth, ears, spiky hair.
  3. Once dry, glue on features wherever makes them giggle.
  4. Add googly eyes in unexpected places.
  5. Use pipe cleaners for antennae and cotton balls for monster fluff.

The best part about monsters is there’s no wrong way to make them. Every wonky eye and crooked tooth makes them more perfectly monstrous. Besides, this is one of the easiest Halloween crafts for little kids.

7. Paper Bag Duck

A paper bag duck.

Materials:

  • Small paper lunch bag
  • Yellow paint or construction paper
  • Orange construction paper
  • Googly eyes or white paper circles
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Feathers (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Paint the paper bag yellow or cover the front with yellow construction paper
  2. Cut an orange triangle for the beak and orange webbed feet
  3. Glue these onto the bag
  4. Add googly eyes or make eyes from paper
  5. Optional: glue a few feathers to the back
  6. Let your child put their hand inside to make a duck puppet

Explore more farm animal crafts that teach and entertain.

8. Paper Bag Capybara Puppet

A paper bag capybara.

Materials:

  • Brown paper lunch bags
  • Brown construction paper
  • Glue sticks
  • Scissors
  • Black markers
  • Crayons or colored pencils

Instructions: Turn the paper bag upside down so the folded bottom becomes the head. Cut out ear shapes from construction paper and glue them to the top. Draw or color facial features on the folded part – the mouth will be where the bag opens and closes.

Kids love capybaras—explore these 15 easy and fun capybara crafts they’ll enjoy!

9. Paper Bag Pufferfish

A papar bag pufferfish.

Materials:

  • Small paper lunch bag
  • Newspaper or scrap paper
  • Orange or yellow paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Construction paper (orange or yellow)
  • Googly eyes
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Black marker

Instructions:

  1. Crumple newspaper and stuff it into a small paper bag.
  2. Twist the bag closed and secure with glue.
  3. Paint the bag orange or yellow and let dry.
  4. Cut small triangles from construction paper for the fins and spikes.
  5. Glue the triangles all around the bag to create the pufferfish’s spiky appearance.
  6. Attach googly eyes.
  7. Draw a small mouth with black marker.

This is one of the cutest paper bag crafts. Explore more sea animal crafts that kids will love!

10. Paper Bag Dog Puppy

A paper bag dog.

Materials:

  • 1 brown paper lunch bag
  • Brown construction paper (for ears)
  • Black construction paper (for nose, tongue backing, and spot)
  • Red construction paper (for tongue)
  • Large googly eyes (2)
  • Child-safe glue stick
  • Safety scissors
  • Pencil (for tracing shapes, optional)

Instructions:

  1. Lay the bag flat with the flap facing up—this will be the dog’s face.
  2. Glue on the eyes near the top of the flap.
  3. Add a black nose just below the eyes.
  4. Cut and glue brown ears on each side of the flap.
  5. Make a tongue by gluing a red shape on top of a black one, then stick it under the flap so it looks like it’s hanging out.
  6. Add a black spot on the bottom part of the bag for decoration.
  7. Let it dry, then let your child put their hand inside and make the paper bag dog puppet talk!

Check out here for more dog crafts for kids.

11. Paper Bag Cat Puppets

A paper bag cat.

Materials:

  • Paper lunch bags
  • Construction paper
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Markers or crayons
  • Yarn (optional for whiskers)

Instructions:

  1. Place the paper bag with the flap at the bottom
  2. Decorate the flap area as the cat’s face
  3. Cut ears, eyes, and other features from construction paper
  4. Glue all pieces to create your cat face
  5. Let dry, then insert hand to make your puppet talk

Your kids will surely enjoy making these other easy cat crafts.

12. Paper Bag Houses and Buildings

A house crafted with a paper bag and colorful construction paper.

Materials:

  • Various sized paper bags
  • Construction paper
  • Markers or crayons
  • Safety scissors
  • Glue sticks
  • Stickers
  • Small boxes (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Choose what building to create – house, castle, spaceship, or pizza shop.
  2. Cut windows and doors (adults handle cutting).
  3. Let them decorate with construction paper details.
  4. Create small paper furniture or people for inside.
  5. Set up multiple buildings for a paper bag city.

This craft becomes hours of imaginative play. These diy crafts for kids easy projects become foundations for elaborate storylines about construction paper families.

Paper Bag Crafts for Elementary Kids (Ages 6-10)

Elementary kids have the motor skills for complex projects and patience for multi-step processes. These paper bag crafts for kids challenge them while staying achievable and enjoyable.

13. Complex Paper Bag Puppets with Moving Parts

A puppet made with a paper bag.

Materials:

  • Brown paper bags (various sizes)
  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue or double-sided tape
  • Markers, colored pencils, or paint
  • Googly eyes
  • Yarn, fabric scraps, or felt
  • Paper fasteners (brads)
  • Popsicle sticks

Instructions:

  1. Plan the puppet character, discussing which features will move.
  2. Create basic puppet structure using the paper bag as body.
  3. Cut separate pieces for arms, legs, or other moveable parts.
  4. Attach moving parts using paper fasteners.
  5. Add clothing, facial features, and accessories.
  6. Create a cardboard box stage for puppet shows.

These kids arts and crafts projects introduce basic engineering while maintaining creative fun. Kids love figuring out how to make puppet arms wave or legs kick.

14. Paper Bag Books and Journals

A journal with a cover of painted paper bag.

Materials:

  • Brown paper bags (flattened)
  • White paper
  • Stapler or hole punch with yarn
  • Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
  • Stickers or decorative elements
  • Ruler (for neat lines)

Instructions:

  1. Cut paper bags to create book covers.
  2. Cut white paper to fit inside as pages.
  3. Staple or tie together with yarn through punched holes.
  4. Design and decorate the cover together.
  5. Encourage them to write and illustrate their own stories.
  6. For younger kids, they can dictate while you write.

These paper crafts bag projects become treasured keepsakes. There’s something special about a book that’s completely their own creation from cover to content.

15. Paper Bag Pilgrim Puppet for Thanksgiving

Paper bag puppet for Thanksgiving Day crafts.

Materials:

  • Brown paper lunch bags
  • Construction paper in various colors
  • Scissors
  • Glue sticks
  • Crayons or markers
  • Cotton balls (for pilgrim hats)

Instructions:

  1. Keep the bag folded flat with the flap at the top
  2. The flap becomes the face – draw or glue on eyes, nose, and mouth
  3. Cut out pilgrim hat shapes from black paper
  4. Glue hat to the top of the flap
  5. Add a buckle cut from yellow paper
  6. Decorate the body of the bag with pilgrim clothing
  7. Use cotton balls to add texture to the hat brim

This cute paper bag puppet is one of 14 Thanksgiving crafts, perfect for keeping kids busy during the holiday.

16. Paper Bag Masks and Costumes

A colorful mask made with paper bag.

Materials:

  • Large brown paper bags
  • Scissors
  • Paint or markers
  • Construction paper
  • Glue
  • Elastic string or ribbon
  • Decorative materials (feathers, sequins, fabric scraps)
  • Cardboard for reinforcement

Instructions:

  1. Carefully cut eye holes in the paper bag, aligning with your child’s face.
  2. Plan the mask design – animal, superhero, fantasy creature, or abstract art.
  3. Paint or color the base of the mask.
  4. Add construction paper details for features.
  5. Attach elastic string or ribbon for wearing.
  6. Create matching costume pieces using additional bags.

These diy crafts for kids often spark elaborate dress-up sessions lasting weeks. The mask becomes the foundation for complete character development with backstories and special powers.

Tips for Success with Paper Bag Crafts

These paper bag arts and crafts prove the best activities don’t need expensive materials. Sometimes the most meaningful creative experiences come from simple supplies and willingness to see where imagination leads.

In our digital world, these hands-on paper bag crafts for kids offer something different – the satisfaction of creating with your own hands and precious screen-free time together. That’s worth way more than the few dollars spent on supplies.

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