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A hot air balloon is one of the easiest shapes for a child to make. It is a circle on top, a square on the bottom and a few lines in between, and it looks cheerful in almost any color.
These crafts also use things most homes already have: paper plates, cupcake liners, tissue paper, cardboard tubes and yarn. Most take 10 to 30 minutes, so they fit a rainy afternoon, a classroom hour or a party table.
This list runs from preschool-friendly painting to projects for older kids, such as origami and papier-mache. If you want finished balloons for the walls, our hot air balloon decor ideas show what to do with them, and the airplane activities for kids keep the afternoon going.
01. Paper Plate Balloon
What it is A 9-inch (23 cm) paper plate painted in stripes, with a half-cut paper cup or cardboard square glued below as the basket and two pieces of yarn as ropes. The whole craft is about 12 inches (30 cm) tall.
Why it works The plate is already the perfect round envelope, so small hands only need to paint and glue. It dries in under an hour, which suits a short attention span.
How to get it Use washable tempera paint and let the stripes dry before gluing on the basket. Cut the yarn into four 4-inch (10 cm) pieces and tape them behind the plate first, then glue the basket over the ends. Punch a hole at the top and add a loop of yarn to hang it on a wall or window. Pair it with printable airplane coloring pages for a full craft hour.
02. Cupcake Liner Balloon
What it is A flattened, fluted cupcake liner turned upside down on a sheet of blue construction paper, with a small paper basket and four marker lines connecting them. Rainbow liner packs often have both solid and patterned papers.
Why it works The ruffled edge looks like the gores of a real balloon, and the craft needs only glue and a marker. Preschoolers can finish one in about ten minutes.
How to get it Press the liner flat with a book, then glue it to the page with a glue stick. Cut the basket from brown card and draw the ropes with a ruler or freehand. Add a cotton ball cloud in a corner so the page feels like a scene.
03. Handprint Balloon Keepsake
What it is A single painted handprint, fingers pointing up, with a small paper basket glued under the palm so the fingers fan out like the top of a balloon. Done on 8 by 10 inch card stock, it fits a standard frame.
Why it works It records how small a hand was at a given age, so it doubles as a keepsake. Parents and grandparents tend to keep these for years.
How to get it Brush washable paint on the palm and fingers, press firmly on card and lift straight up. Let it dry for 30 minutes, then add the basket and ropes with a marker. Write the child’s name and the date on the back, since the front fills up fast.
04. Tissue Paper Collage Balloon
What it is A balloon outline on 9 by 12 inch paper covered with 1-inch (2.5 cm) squares of tissue paper, layered with watered-down white glue. The overlaps create new colors where two sheets meet.
Why it works Tissue paper is thin, light and very forgiving, so there is no wrong way to lay it down. The finished piece looks like stained glass when taped to a window.
How to get it Draw the outline in pencil first, brush a thin layer of glue inside it and press the squares down, overlapping them slightly. Add one more coat of glue on top to seal the edges. Hang it in a sunny window and the colors glow.
05. Coffee Filter Balloon
What it is A white basket-style coffee filter colored with washable markers, lightly misted with water so the colors blend, and left to dry flat. A cardboard basket and two lengths of string finish it.
Why it works The bleeding colors make every balloon different, and kids see a small science effect as the ink spreads. Coffee filters cost very little.
How to get it Flatten the filter on a plate, color a few stripes and mist it lightly with a spray bottle. Let it dry overnight, then pinch the bottom and tie it with a rubber band to form a rounded shape. Glue the basket under the pinched end.
Quick tip
Always cut the basket from a heavier paper than the balloon so it does not curl as the glue dries.
06. Toilet Paper Roll Balloon Basket
What it is A bathroom tissue tube painted brown or wrapped in woven paper, with a round striped paper circle slit onto the top so the balloon stands upright. A small toy or paper person can ride inside.
Why it works It uses what most homes recycle, and it becomes a toy children can play with after the craft is done.
How to get it Cut two slits on opposite sides of the tube top and slide a 6-inch (15 cm) paper circle into them. Paint the tube brown and add a strip of corrugated card around the middle for a woven look. Give a clothespin doll or toy figure a seat inside. If your child prefers planes, try these paper airplane designs next.
07. Hanging Balloon Mobile
What it is Five 4-inch (10 cm) paper or felt balloons, each at a different thread length, tied to a 10-inch (25 cm) wooden embroidery hoop. The hoop hangs from three threads joined in a knot.
Why it works Movement catches the eye, and balloons that hang at different heights feel like they are floating. It is a craft that quickly becomes room decor.
How to get it Trace a balloon shape on card, cut ten pieces and glue them back to back around a thread. Tie the five threads at spaced points on the hoop, then balance the hoop by sliding the knots. Hang it away from direct drafts so it turns gently.
08. Pom Pom Balloon
What it is A yarn pom pom, about 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide, wrapped in several colors, with four strands tied underneath and a small paper cup basket at the bottom. A mini version fits on a keychain.
Why it works Yarn has the right fluffy, rounded look, and wrapping yarn around a fork or cardboard template is easy to teach to older kids.
How to get it Wrap yarn around three fingers or a fork about 60 times, tie the middle tightly and cut the loops. Trim the ball into a round shape. Tie on four strands and glue them inside a small cup to make the basket.
09. Salt Dough Balloon Ornament
What it is A flat balloon shape cut from salt dough, about 4 inches (10 cm) tall and 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick, baked until hard, then painted and sealed. A straw hole at the top holds a twine loop.
Why it works The finished ornament is sturdy enough to hang on a tree or wall for years, so it works as a gift.
How to get it Mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt and 1 cup water, roll it out and cut a balloon shape with a cookie cutter or a paper template. Poke a hole at the top and bake at 250 F (120 C) for about two hours until hard. Paint with acrylics once cool and brush on a clear sealer.
10. Popsicle Stick Balloon
What it is Craft sticks glued onto two cross sticks to form the balloon, with shorter sticks trimmed at the sides to make the curve. A tiny cube of stick-built basket hangs underneath.
Why it works Sticks need no scissors, so it is a safe craft for seven-year-olds, and the finished balloon stands up well on a shelf.
How to get it Lay out eleven sticks and glue two cross sticks over them. Trim the outside sticks shorter for the rounded shape using safety scissors made for craft sticks. Paint stripes and glue on a small basket made from four sticks.
11. Paper Lantern Balloon
What it is A store-bought paper lantern, 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm), decorated with stripes cut from craft paper and a basket made from a small paper cup. Four twine lines run from the lantern to the cup.
Why it works It looks impressive for very little work, so it suits a party or classroom wall.
How to get it Glue strips of colored paper in vertical stripes from top to bottom. Poke four holes in the cup rim, thread twine through and tie each to the lantern wire. Hang from the ceiling with clear line and a LED tea light inside.
12. Mason Jar Balloon Lantern
What it is A pint-size jar covered in tissue paper stripes using craft glue, with a wire handle and a mini basket made from cardboard. A battery tea light sits inside.
Why it works Real balloons glow at night festivals, and this captures the same light in a hand-sized object.
How to get it Brush a glue and water mix on the jar, press tissue strips on and seal with another coat. Wrap thin wire around the neck as a hanger. Use an LED tea light only, never a real flame.
13. Sponge Painted Balloon Scene
What it is A sheet of white paper with a blue sky, sponge-stamped balloon shapes in different colors and a green hill strip painted at the bottom. Each balloon gets a stick basket drawn in marker.
Why it works Sponge printing builds a full scene quickly, and the repeated shape teaches layering and overlap.
How to get it Cut a kitchen sponge into a balloon shape, dip it lightly in paint and press down. Let each color dry before the next overlaps it. Add ropes and baskets with a thin black marker once the paint is dry.
14. Origami Hot Air Balloon
What it is A balloon folded from a 6-inch (15 cm) square of paper, finished by blowing into a small opening at the bottom so the shape puffs up. Patterned origami paper looks best.
Why it works Folding is quiet, screen-free and cheap. Older kids and adults enjoy the puffing step at the end.
How to get it Fold the paper into a water bomb base, then fold the flaps into the center and tuck them. Blow gently into the hole at the bottom to inflate it. Draw a basket with a marker if you want one. For more drawing practice, see our easy airplane drawing ideas.
15. Balloon Bookmark
What it is A 2 by 6 inch (5 by 15 cm) card with a hand-drawn balloon, laminated or covered with clear tape, and a yarn tassel at the top. A hole punch at the top holds the yarn.
Why it works A bookmark gets used daily, so it is a gift the child can make for a grandparent or teacher.
How to get it Cut cardstock to size and draw or glue on a small balloon in a few colors. Cover it in clear self-adhesive sheet to protect it, then punch a hole and loop yarn through it. Trim the tassel to 2 inches (5 cm).
Party tip
Make a few balloons ahead and set up a craft table so guests can add their own to a shared sky.
16. Paper Balloon Garland
What it is Eight to twelve paper balloons, each about 5 inches (13 cm) tall, glued over a length of twine or clipped with mini clothespins. The strand is 6 feet (1.8 m) long.
Why it works It is a repeat craft that suits groups, and everyone can add their own balloon to the strand.
How to get it Trace the template on colored card, cut it out and fold each in half. Glue the back halves around the twine and press shut. Hang the strand with removable adhesive hooks.
17. Papier-Mache Balloon Pinata
What it is A pinata built over a real balloon with three layers of papier-mache, painted in stripes and given a cardboard basket. A hole at the top holds candy and a string for hanging.
Why it works It gives a party a centerpiece and a game in one object. Making it is a good weekend project for a group.
How to get it Blow up a round balloon and cover it with strips dipped in flour and water paste, three layers thick. Let it dry for 48 hours, then pop the balloon and paint. Fill it with candy and stickers before you tape the hole closed.
18. Balloon Suncatcher
What it is A balloon shape cut from clear self-adhesive paper, covered in colored tissue pieces and sealed with a second sheet. The outer edge is trimmed with a black paper frame.
Why it works Suncatchers need no glue, so the finished piece stays tidy. The glow at midday is the payoff.
How to get it Peel the backing off a sheet of contact paper, press tissue pieces onto it and cover with a second clear sheet. Cut out the balloon shape and add a basket from black paper. Stick it to a window using tape or a clear hook.
19. Plastic Bottle Balloon
What it is A rinsed 16-ounce (500 ml) bottle painted in stripes with the bottle cap serving as the basket, hung from a screw eye with four cords. It stands about 8 inches (20 cm) tall.
Why it works It is a recycling craft, and the finished balloon is tougher than paper versions, so it survives outdoor use.
How to get it Scrub the label off, then paint with acrylic paint, two coats. Attach a screw eye to the bottle and drill four tiny holes in the cap for cords. Hang it from a tree branch or covered porch.
20. Shoebox Balloon Diorama
What it is A shoebox on its side with a painted sky background, paper hills at the base and small balloons hanging from the roof by thread. Cotton ball clouds finish the scene.
Why it works It builds depth and teaches scene-setting, and the finished box displays well on a shelf.
How to get it Paint the inside of the box blue and glue torn green paper along the bottom. Tape three balloons on threads of different lengths to the top. Add cotton clouds with glue last, as they are the easiest to dislodge.
21. Hot Air Balloon Cookies
What it is A round sugar cookie, about 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide, iced in stripes, with two pretzel sticks as ropes and a caramel or chocolate square for the basket. Royal icing glues the parts together.
Why it works It is a craft you can eat, which is an easy way to keep a party busy and fed.
How to get it Bake or buy plain round cookies, pipe stripes with colored icing and let it set for an hour. Use extra icing to stick on pretzel sticks and a chocolate square. Store in a single layer so the ropes do not snap.
22. Sock Balloon Plush
What it is A knee sock stuffed with polyfill and tied at the ankle end, with felt basket and ribbon ropes. It stands about 8 inches (20 cm) tall.
Why it works It has the soft, huggable feel of a plush toy and needs very little sewing.
How to get it Fill the sock to the heel with polyfill, tie off with a ribbon and tuck the leftover cuff under. Sew four ribbon ropes to a felt basket and stitch it to the bottom. Skip small buttons for toddlers and use felt shapes instead.
23. Pop-Up Balloon Card
What it is A folded card with a pop-up balloon glued on a paper tab, with a basket on the card base and a painted sky inside. It is made from 8.5 by 11 inch (22 by 28 cm) paper.
Why it works A pop-up card surprises the person who opens it and works for birthdays, thank-you notes and farewell cards.
How to get it Fold the card in half and cut two parallel slits across the center fold, then push the strip inward to make a box tab. Glue a balloon cut-out to the front of the tab. Add the sky and write your note behind it.
24. Gel Window Cling Balloons
What it is Balloon shapes made by outlining and filling window gel in a zip bag or on a plastic sheet, dried for a day and peeled off. Each one is 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 13 cm) tall.
Why it works They add color to a window without tape or glue, and kids can rearrange them whenever they like.
How to get it Draw the outline in black gel, let it set, then fill with colors and dry for 24 hours. Peel gently and press onto clean glass. Wipe the window first so they stay put.
25. Felt Balloon Play Set
What it is Six felt balloons with detachable baskets and eight cloud shapes, sized 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm), meant for a flannel board or a play mat. Each has felt stripes glued on.
Why it works Felt sticks to flannel, so children can build and rebuild scenes without a mess. Teachers use these for color and counting games.
How to get it Cut the shapes from stiff felt and glue on stripes with fabric glue. Use a flannel-covered cardboard sheet as the board. Store them in a zip bag with the board so none go missing.
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About the Author
Hanna writes AeroCorner's aviation-lifestyle and decor guides, turning a love of flight into ideas for your home, celebrations, and gift lists.