One of the most fun materials to work with when crafting is tissue paper. It is light, colorful, and easy to use. Tissue paper crafts are also great for kids because there is so much to do with it. You can fold it, twist it, crinkle it, and cut it! 

We’ll be showing you how to make two different tissue paper crafts ideas: a snail and a flower. For both projects, the clean-up will be minimal. No messy paints or markers this time! All of our color will be added with the tissue paper. Let’s get started!

Supplies Needed

• Tissue Paper
• Construction Paper
• Glue 
• Scissors 
• Pencil
• Sharpie
• White Printer Paper
• Something round such as a bowl or wide drinking glass top

How To Make The Snail Tissue Paper Craft

Step One: Draw the Snail Body and Shell

Place your round object (bowl or drinking glass) upside down on the white printer paper. Trace a circle for the shell. For the body and head, draw a circle that extends into a small body. It may look similar to a music note. Then trace both with the Sharpie.     

Using the black line as a guide, cut out both shapes. Then glue them both on construction paper with the shell just above the body. 

Step Two: Decorate The Body And Shell With Tissue Paper

Here is the creative part! Decide which colors you want to use for the body and shell. You might do a color pattern or you might choose to do your own rainbow of colors. For the body, cut out the tissue paper according to the shape of the body that you want to cover and glue it flat on the body.    

For the shell, cut the tissue paper into squares that are about one and a half inches. 

Twist each square into a small twirl. Put a small dab of glue on the bottom of each twirl and glue it on to the shell. Start on the outer rim of the shell, then glue the next twirl down and so forth in a circular pattern until you work your way to the center of the shell. This will take a fair amount of time depending on how big your shell is. It is fun to see the color pattern form!  

Step Three:  Add Details to the Snail And Background

What a fun shell you have now! Kids will like the texture of the twirled tissue paper. Using your Sharpie, draw the antennae, eyes, and smile.  

For the final step, add in whichever background you would like: clouds, sunshine, grass, trees, flowers, etc. I cut and layered tissue paper squares to make grass and sunshine. You can even add these easy fingerprint flowers around your snail. Explore with layering, twirling and crinkling the tissue paper to see what effects you can come up with!   

How To Make A Simple Tissue Paper Flower

For our next craft using tissue paper, we’re going to make a simple, fun spring flower. 

Supplies Needed

• Tissue Paper
• Scissors
• Stapler

Step One: Fold And Cut Tissue Paper Into Square Shape

Lay four to six sheets of tissue paper down on top of each other. Match up the corners.  

Fold the right to the left making a crease on the right side.  

Fold the bottom to the top making a second crease. You now have a square. Cut along this second crease that you just made. 

You will notice in the two sets of squares that you have just cut, there is the first crease you made.  Cut that crease as well.  Then you  will have two sets of squares.  Each set can make a flower.  

Step Two: Accordion Fold the Square Set

Take one of the sets, and start an “accordion fold”.  An accordion fold is when you fold one way, then flip the paper over and fold the other way, then flip back and fold the first way and continue this pattern until the paper looks like an accordion. I break the accordion fold down below.     

Make a fold on the bottom.  

Then, staying with that fold, flip the paper over. Add a fold on this side of the paper. Continue the pattern by flipping and folding until you have an “accordion”. 

Staple right smack dab in the center of the accordion. It is important to staple right in the middle so both sides of the flower can be as even as possible when you start fluffing the flower. 

Step Three: Cut The Petals And Fluff the Flower

Take your scissors and cut both ends in the shape you would like your petals to be. I cut a round shape on one, and I added another example where I cut small strips on the end. You will see how cutting different petals will make a different type of flower.  

My favorite part is fluffing the flowers! Take each tissue paper layer and “fluff” or lift the layer up.  You will start to see your flower bloom. 

The flower on the left is the round cut petals while the flower on the right is the one with the ends cut in strips. Not only are these fun and easy crafts for kids, these tissue paper flowers also make great decor for parties, events, and even weddings. Also if you enjoy DIY decor, check out our tutorials for making a macrame plant hanger and this beautiful Easter wreath.     

Tips And Tricks

• When twisting the squares to make the twirls for the shell on the snail, use the eraser side of a pencil to twirl up the paper. This will help keep a tight twirl. It also helps give a solid base to dab the glue on. 

• You do not have to twirl the tissue paper on the shell. If the twirl is not working for your kiddos, they can glue the tissue paper flat just like you did on the body of the snail.  
• Celebrate your child’s art by putting it on the fridge or bulletin board. Remember each time you see this picture that you are celebrating your child’s unique creativity! 

FAQs

What other crafts can I do with tissue paper?

So many! You can make cute little monsters in the same way that you made the simple tissue paper flowers. After you have your flower, you can add eyes, mouth and even teeth with construction paper. See my example for monster inspiration.