Keep your kids engaged for hours with over 30 paper bag crafts for kids. You’ll find fun new puppet ideas, stuffed bag crafts and even a musical instrument!
Paper bags can be found in almost every household. Whether you have kid’s lunch bags, grocery bags, gift bags, or retail shopping bags, there’s often a random cabinet or pantry spot stuffed with them.
These everyday items, often relegated to the realms of grocery hauling or sandwich carrying, are in fact a goldmine for imaginative minds, especially for the little artists in our homes.
Remember the days of our childhoods (at least mine, anyway), when the brown paper bag was your go-to for covering school books? It was a canvas for doodles and a shield against scuffs.
And maybe you used them in school for some simple crafts, too. I remember bringing to life a lunch bag puppet, complete with button eyes and a yarn smile and hair.
Well, buckle up because we’re about to elevate those nostalgic moments into a whole new realm of creativity with these unique paper bag crafts!
In this post, I’m thrilled to unfold (quite literally!) over 30 ingenious crafts that kids can create using paper bags.
I’ve meticulously curated these ideas and split them into two sections. To kick things off, we have a lineup of 12 absolutely adorable puppets. Each is waiting to be discovered and brought to life by your kids’ imaginative hands.
Following this puppet extravaganza, I present to you 20 additional craft ideas that push the boundaries of what you thought possible with paper bags.
These crafts are perfect for rainy days, birthday parties, or just those moments when you want to engage in a fun activity with your kids.
So, grab those paper bags from the back of your cupboard, set up your crafting space, and prepare to be amazed by what you and your children can create.
I can’t wait to hear about the amazing creations that emerge from your crafting adventures! Please let me know in the comments!
Paper Bag Crafts for Kids
Whether you want to use up your bags from the grocery store or create fun new puppets, you will find some awesome ideas on this list!
Paper Bag Puppets
Get over ten ideas for making puppets using paper bags.
The Mighty Chewbacca
Looking for a fun Star Wars craft? This fun Chewbacca puppet is one that kids are going to love making. What other galactic characters will they enjoy making?
Sneaky Ninja
Your kids will love that this ninja puppet has repositionable arms and legs! That makes it easier to sneak up on people.
Wise Owls
These owls are made with paper bags and handprint wings! Stef even provides a template so you can easily make this craft on your own.
Summer Pineapple
Learn how to make a handprint pineapple puppet and then head over to the strawberry puppet tutorial. I love the handprint top on this adorable fruit!
Adorable Giraffe
Use a paper bag to make this adorable giraffe puppet. Oh, and you have to check out Sam's nails in the tutorial photos — love it!
Mystical Mermaids
This adorable mermaid puppet craft is a great way to use up some scrap craft supplies! I love the scales with the glitter glue outlines.
Bald Eagle
Use a paper bag and construction paper to make this adorable eagle hand puppet! If you prefer, you can download the free template to make yours look exactly like the photo.
Frog with a Tongue
Combine a handprint and paper bag craft into one cute frog puppet. I love the curly tongue!
Hippopotamus
This is a combination paper bag and paper plate craft! Those cute teeth? They are mini marshmallows.
Puppy Dog Pals
I don't know about your house, but we love pugs around here! Either way, paper bag puppets are one of the best boredom busters. Kids can make them and then host their own puppet show.
Butterflies
Kids will love making this paper butterfly craft! This project features paper bag bodies and colorful handprint wings.
Other Fun Paper Bag Crafts for Kids
Sea Otter
Look at that cute little baby sea otter! Download the template to make this mamma and baby yourself!
Turkey with Colorful Feathers
Learn how to make a paper bag turkey with kids this Thanksgiving! This craft is great for preschool age and up.
Acorn Portraits
These stuffed bag acorn portraits are a fun activity for kids. Cut out paper shapes to create a funny face.
Cute Lil' Apple
This apple core is able to stand upright because it is attached to a stuffed paper bag! I'm sure kids will think of a bunch of other ideas to make this way.
Origami Bear
Brown bag, googly eyes, a marker and some time for a little fun is all you need for this origami bear idea!
Mini Notebook
This is a great craft for kids and adults! Everyone could use an extra notebook, right? I like that you hand-sew the binding of the book.
Snowy Owl
Add these white paper bag snowy owls to your winter kids craft ideas. I love the book page wings.
Colorful Octopus
Paint your paper bags whatever color you want for your silly octopus! The googly eyes are the perfect fun touch.
Floral Tiara
Teach your preschooler to use a low temp glue gun with this cute woodland theme tiara craft. They'll love making it their own!
Ice Cream Ornaments
Tissue paper ice cream scoops in a grocery bag cone! These were made as Christmas ornaments, but they would also make great birthday party decorations!
Pretend City
Have your kids create a whole pretend city and then they can have some dramatic play time with little townspeople!
Fireplace
This fireplace craft is perfect for winter. Kid's can use it as a decoration in their playroom, or as a gift bag (with marshmallows and cocoa or a scarf and mittens). Those twig "logs" are perfect!
Animal Masks
Learn how to make these adorable fox, owl, and panda masks along with fall leaf crowns!
Grass Crown
What is better than a grass crown to celebrate Earth Day? An upcycled grass crown made from a paper bag!
Turkey Leg
I love this brown bag craft for keeping kids busy on Thanksgiving, or a fun thing to take to a renaissance fair!
Bunny Gift Bag
Looks like this bunny might be hopping away with the loot he's holding! Kids can give a treat to friends in these bags or they could open it and put the eggs they find in it.
Valentine Holder
It may seem weird to turn a paper bag into a bag, but these Valentine holders wouldn't look as cute if they weren't heart-shaped! I like this as an alternative to a Valentine box. Plus, kids can practice lacing/hand sewing.
Maracas Noisemakers
Create these fun noisemakers for Cinco de Mayo or any day you could use a little shaking fun!
Did you enjoy this list of crafts to make with paper bags? Let me know in the comments! I’d love for you to check out these other fun kids craft collections with various supplies and themes:
4th of July • Animals • Candy Cane • Christmas • Christmas Trees • Coffee Filters • Cotton Balls • Easter • Fall • Flowers • Frozen • Ghost • Halloween • Love Bugs • Macaroni • Mickey Mouse • Minions • Monsters • Moon • Mummies • Nature • Paper • Paper Cups • Pine Cones • Pipe Cleaners • Pokemon • Popsicle Sticks • President’s Day • Pumpkin • Reindeer • Santa • Snowflakes • Snowmen • St. Patrick’s Day • Stars • Straws • Summer • Super Mario • Valentine’s Day