When your children are bored and you’re looking for a fun craft activity, teach them how to make a woven paper bag. It’s quite easy!
My daughters Possum (aged 7 years) and Boo (aged 4 years) love paper crafts, absolutely, love, love, love them.
So when Possum said she wanted to teach me how to make a paper bag I wasn’t expecting this wonderful fine motor weaving activity that results in a seriously cool bag. Almost as good as our woven place mats!
Recommended age : 5 years +
(Strict and active supervision required at all times)
To give this paper craft bag a try, you’ll need –
- 1 x A3 coloured paper
- Various A4 coloured paper sheets
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Ruler (optional)
- Sticky tape or stapler
- Fold your A3 piece of paper in half
2. Using your pencil and ruler, draw lines from the folded end of the paper to about 2cm before the opposite end.
3. Cut along these lines to create a fringe.
Boo had a wonderful time with this activity. Even though there were moments she felt were challenging, it was an opportunity to talk about persistence and giving things a go.
4. Open out your A3 piece of paper.
5. Cut long strips of coloured paper from your A4 sheets and begin weaving them between the larger A3 sheet of paper. Over and under, over and under.
6. You can secure each strip of paper that has been woven with a staple or sticky tape.
7. Fold your A3 paper, which is now looking wonderfully woven, in half. Fold over the unwoven ends for a touch of glamour.
8. Secure sides with sticky tape or staples. You can pinch in the sides if you’re wanting it sit up when finished.
9. Attach some cute little paper handles from the left over strips of paper and you’re done!!
These bags are surprisingly strong enough for small toys or a decent handful of figurines.
Making these bags is certainly great for developing those fine motor skills and your child will be keen to make all sorts of different bags in a variety of colours.
What colour bag do you think your child would make?
nice