Paper Cup Crane Party Craft
Hi friends! It’s Sydney here, one of the craft loving members of the Breezing Through team. I have become the dedicated craft center leader at every one of my second grader’s class parties. We’ve done cardboard easy haunted house, Christmas trees and most recently a crane game that was a huge hit with the kids at the Valentine’s party. This is fun, requires only a few supplies, very little prep and can be customized for any party, or just to combat boredom with your kiddos. Let me show you how I did it!
Paper Cup Crane Party Craft | Supplies
Paper cups (plastic work too, just be aware the edges will be slightly sharp)
Plastic Straws
Stickers and Markers
Cardstock paper
Pencil
Scissors
Gluegun
Small wrapped candy
Paper Cup Crane Party Craft | Prep
For classroom parties you only have a short amount of time. I prepped things so it went fast/smooth but if you’re doing it at home, you can do it all at once, just account for hot glue drying time. First, grab one of the paper cups and punch a hole through the bottom it with a pencil. Use a marker to mark 7 lines along the top of the cup.
Follow that guide and cut up the cup towards the seven lines so you are left with 8 strips along the cup. Then, push the cup down so you have what looks like a cup fan. Fold along the seams so there is a hard crease along the top of each strip.
Grab a straw, stretch it out fully and cut off the bendy top part. Use your scissors to cup 3 small slips into the end of the straw. Put the straw through the hole at the bottom of the cup so the end that is cut is on the inside of the cup. Push the cut parts of the straw down and then hot glue over the top. Cut a small square of paper and press it firmly over the glue. Flip the cup over and glue over the top to make sure that straw is really secure. Take another cup and poke a hole through it as well.
Paper Cup Crane Party Craft | At the Classroom
Have the children start by decorating the cups that only have a hole in the bottom. Like I said before, we did this for a valentines party but you could do it for any holiday.
Then help the kids to cut every other strip on the “fan” cup so that you are left with 4 strips total.
After they are cut, fold the bottom of each strip about an inch and a half toward the center so it forms a claw. Put the straw from the “fan” cup through the hole in the decorated cup and you’re done! I brought candy for the kids and set a timer to see how many the kids could get and then let them keep the candy. You “open the crane” by pushing it down over the candy and then add the decorated cup on top and lift up. It took a little bit of practice but once the kids got the hang of it they had a blast! Hopefully you can use this craft when you’re in a pinch for a school party or just a fun kids activity. I promise, you won’t regret it!
