Imaginative Toys Made from Paper and Cardboard
Paper toys are popular with children and adults. The simple appeal of taking a flat sheet of paper and turning it into a toy with 3 dimensions is a universal past-time enjoyed by all generations.
As a child I spent hours drawing and cutting out paper dolls and animal toys, making dioramas and cardboard villages, folding origami ornaments, and putting together tab and slot paper toys for myself and 5 siblings.
My most ambitious paper toy projects were wearable toys made from 2 cardboard boxes and a broomstick. These "broncos" had heads that moved, reins to hold and openings in the saddle area for our legs to step through.
Lens Contents
- Techniques for Making Paper Toys
- Origami Video How-Tos
- Simple Paper Toys
- Pirate Hat and Eye Patch
- Masks, Hats & Disguises
- Paper Toys and Paper Sculptures
- Paper Dolls - Flat Paper Toys
- Paper Animal Toys
- Model Buildings to Make from Paper
- Big Toys Made from Paper and Cardboard
- Paper Toys
- Free Paper Toy Projects & Printables
- Paper Toys Amazon Voting (Plexo)
- Mobiles & Hanging Paper Models
- Paper Toys That Can Fly
- Kinetic Paper Toys - Paper Toys with Moving Parts
- Illusions and Tricks
- Amazing Moving Paper Toy Illusion - YouTube
- 3-Dimensional Fun - Puzzles and Lacing Cards
- Printable Paper Craft Resources
- Paper Toy Lenses
- Your Paper Toy Thoughts
- Paper Toy Blog Posts
- Paper Crafts - Del.icio.us
Techniques for Making Paper Toys
You can create paper toys using a variety of techniques: folding, cutting, notching or gluing. Complex paper toys are small engineered models or sculptures. Simpler constructions may be equally appealing and have elaborate designs or decorations.Some paper toys are delicate while others are quite durable. The selection runs from paper dolls and origami folded structures to replicas of famous buildings, machines and creatures.
The most interesting, and possibly the most difficult paper toys to craft are paper toys that move - kinetic paper sculptures.
Origami Video How-Tos
Folded paper toys
Fold a paper peace crane, Hawaiian shirt and a heart with a pocket
Simple Paper Toys
Get them started young - these projects are best for small fingers
- Arts & Crafts: Paper Toys
- Want simple projects to keep little fingers busy? Instructions to a whole bunch of boredom busters that mostly require a sheet of paper and an active imagination.
- Printable Craft Masks, Star Shaped Eyeglasses Groovy Goggles Craft Sheet
- Printable masquerade craft sheet star shaped eye glasses free mask craft activity to cut and paste.
- Printable Thanksgiving Craft Sheet-Turkey and Feathers Cutting Page
- Printable Thanksgiving turkey craft sheet to cut and paste, a free paper crafts kids activity sheet.
- Folded Paper Fortune Teller
- The perennial kids paper folded toy favorite. Sometimes known as the cootie catcher ...
- African Animal Crafts for Kids
- African Animal Crafts for Kids to make: Giraffes, lions, rhinoceros, Zebras, elephants and a hippo.
- Animal Cube Puzzle
- 4 cubes in a little box tray. Match up the pictures to make a scene.
- Printed Pinwheels - The HP Community Wiki
- Printed Pinwheels for play or package decor
- Origami Finger Puppets
- Choose from three cute and easy paper finger puppets.
Pirate Hat and Eye Patch
For play time, pirate party or Halloween dress up
It's easy and lots of fun to make paper pirate hats.You can make a tried-and-true classic folded newspaper hat, or you can cut out a simple pirate hat shape from black paper, then glue on a white skull and bones emblem to the front.
Paper Pirate Hat Directions
Measure the child's head and add 2 inches or so. Cut a 1 inch wide strip of black paper as long as the head measurement, then attach the hat to the strip, matching the bottom of the hat shape to the bottom of the strip and centering the hat in the middle of the head band lengthwise. Place on child's head and tape ends of the headband together.
Paper Pirate Eye Patch Directions
To make a pirate eye patch, trace around a drinking glass onto black paper. Cut out the circle and trim off about a fourth of the circle shape, starting from the top if desired.
Using the child's head measurement, cut two ribbon or yarn lengths for eye patch fastening ties. Fasten ties to each side of the eye patch with tape or by punching holes and threading a tie through on each side of the eye patch. Place eye patch over one eye and tie ends loosely around child's head to hold the patch in place.
Pirate Hat and Eye Patch Paper Craft Pattern
Masks, Hats & Disguises
- Medieval Helmets
- 3-D mask helmets: knights and gladiators full face coverage.
- Zombie Mask
- Sometimes watching your favorite zombie movie just isn't enough. Sometimes you want a little more personal involvement...
- Skull-A-Day: 72. Papercraft Skull (with Articulated Jaw)
- Papercraft Skull (with Articulated Jaw)Cut & Folded Custom Paper Toy. The jaw moves via a tab that sticks out the back.
- A Magic Fairy Wand
- A fairy wand made of paper - print, cut and glue.
- Printable Star Shaped Eyeglasses Groovy Goggles Craft Sheet
- Printable star shaped eye glasses free mask craft activity to cut and paste.
- Pirate Hat
- Easy to make folded newspaper Pirate Hat
Paper Toys and Paper Sculptures
My army of paper Mechanical Men is growing, although here they look more like a...
Another pic from Lisa of her paper toy collection. Uncle Bam looks right at home...
This is a paper toy project I did at my new job. It's the first paper toy I've d...
A collection of initial maquettes, which were produced in the exploration of for...
Paper Dolls - Flat Paper Toys
Use recycled food boxes for the cardboard - glue to the printed side.
Flat Paper Toys and Paper Dolls are easy and fun to make. Designing new clothes and accessories for the dolls can occupy hours of play time.To make a basic paper doll toy, find a simple coloring book drawing, photograph or magazine picture of a person, building or animal. You can also draw your own paper doll, or use a pattern for the basic shape, then color it in yourself.
Trim away to make a general outline around the shape. Glue the picture to card stock or recycled cereal box cardboard. After glue has dried, trim the edges close to the picture.
Place a sheet of white paper over the doll and trace the basic shape of clothing pieces. Add foldover tabs to the traced shape at the shoulders, waist or legs as needed (these will form the little "ears" that hold the clothes on the doll).
Color in the clothing with markers, crayon, colored pencils or use bits sticky paper. After all coloring is done, cut out the clothing with the tabs and dress up your doll with his/her new outfit!
- Marilee's Paperdolls Page: Printable Paperdolls, Links, Books
- Three printable paperdolls, plus links to hundreds of other paperdoll sites to print or play with on-line.
- Paper Dolls & Animals to Color, Cut Out & Dress
- Kids, cats, dogs and bunnies.
- Frankenstein Bobblehead Paper Model
- Unique un-dead Valentine! He's dead but he sure is cute! Print-out, cut-out, Glue and give
- Free Paper Dolls
- Free Paper Dolls. Copyright-free Free Vintage Paper Dolls and wardrobes.
Paper Animal Toys
Use cardboard boxes to make an animal toy your child can wear! How about a rodeo horse, camel or circus elephant?
You'll need 2 large cartons made from corrugated cardboard, 1 large enough to fit around your child's body and 1 to cut up to make the head and legs.
Choose a corrugated carton large enough for the child's body to fit into. Cut away the bottom flaps, and cut a hole in the top of the box to step into. Attach fabric, yarn or lightweight rope straps to the top at the a 4 corners. Have the child step into the box and hold it at approximately waist height. Tie the straps at the shoulders.
From a second cardboard box, cut out a head with neck shape for the animal. Fold over about 2 inches at the neck end and glue the neck to the animal body box at the front.
The child's legs can be the animal's legs, or you can make cardboard legs and attach them to the bottom edges of the box. Make the legs extend only as far as your child's knees so he/she won't trip while "riding."
Make a tail from yarn or string and attach itto the back end of the animal body box.
Decorate your cardboard animal with paint, paper and other decorations to create the animal's body. When dry, have child step into the hole and place straps over shoulders.
More Paper Animal Toys
You'll need 2 large cartons made from corrugated cardboard, 1 large enough to fit around your child's body and 1 to cut up to make the head and legs.
Choose a corrugated carton large enough for the child's body to fit into. Cut away the bottom flaps, and cut a hole in the top of the box to step into. Attach fabric, yarn or lightweight rope straps to the top at the a 4 corners. Have the child step into the box and hold it at approximately waist height. Tie the straps at the shoulders.
From a second cardboard box, cut out a head with neck shape for the animal. Fold over about 2 inches at the neck end and glue the neck to the animal body box at the front.
The child's legs can be the animal's legs, or you can make cardboard legs and attach them to the bottom edges of the box. Make the legs extend only as far as your child's knees so he/she won't trip while "riding."
Make a tail from yarn or string and attach itto the back end of the animal body box.
Decorate your cardboard animal with paint, paper and other decorations to create the animal's body. When dry, have child step into the hole and place straps over shoulders.
More Paper Animal Toys
- Snap-Up Squid - Free 3D Paper Toy
- Use this quirky squid toy as a novelty bookmark or a surprise insert in a greeting card.
- Paper Box Animals
- Animals to print, cut out and fold to make free toys.
- Grevy's Zebra Paper Sculpture
- A beautifully striped Grevy's zebra to print, cut out and assemble from Yamaha.
- Agreeable Sheep
- Flying Pig moving paper toys. Print, cut out and put together at home. Woolly friend agree...cut...
- Action Cow Model
- Print, cut out and assemble a genuine black and white cow with head that moves!
- Stand-up Dinsosaur Cutouts
- Print, cut out the background, fold and add the slip on stand.
- Paper Jointed Puppy Puppet
- Make this cute marionette toy dog and have fun walking him around.
- Circus Animals
- Circus Animals. Copyright-free Stand Up Circus Animal Cut Outs,
Model Buildings to Make from Paper
Simple to elaborate structures
Make simple buildings from cardboard boxes. Tape the bottoms closed, then draw on windows, doors, trim, bricks and other features. Paint or color the buildings, and if desired, cut out window openings and doors.
To make taller buildings,stack boxes one atop the other and tape together.
You can get really fancy by gluing on cardboard strips, colored paper or foam shapes to add texture or landscaping to your cardboard buildings.
More Paper Architecture Fun
To make taller buildings,stack boxes one atop the other and tape together.
You can get really fancy by gluing on cardboard strips, colored paper or foam shapes to add texture or landscaping to your cardboard buildings.
More Paper Architecture Fun
- Build a Medieval Castle
- Print, cut and assemble a model Medieval Castle
- Make a Town - Free Software for Kids to Make a Town
- Kids can create their own town with this free educational software. Build 10 houses, 8 stores and a library; arrange a town and plan how it grows.
Big Toys Made from Paper and Cardboard
Paper Toys
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Free Paper Toy Projects & Printables
- PaperToys.com
- Paper toys and custom paper models made to your specifications.
- Free Paper Toys From The Toymaker!
- Free collection of print and make paper toys, holiday cards, valentines, sun boxes, toy baskets and bags, origami and ephemera...
- Jaws-Shark- Free download cardmodel
- 3-D Paper Shark with moving mouth. JAWS!
- Canon 3D Papercraft - Toys
- Use this page to download free 3D papercraft patterns.
- Tank
- Simple tab and slot construction. Full color simple model artillery tank.
- Haunted Paper Toys
- Free haunted paper toys for you to print out and enjoy. 3D construction: masks, games, coffins ... scary stuff!
- Flying Fish Car
- Fantasy fish vehicle in full color, ready to print, cut out and assemble
- American Flag
- American Flag quilting patterns by Christine Thresh. Paper pieced pattern, foundtion pieced pattern.
Paper Toys Amazon Voting (Plexo)
Who do you love?
Paper dolls, paper airplanes, origami or pop ups - vote for your favorite, or vote down those you don't think deserve to rise to the top
The Fabulous Book of Paper Dolls (Klutz) by Julie Collings
The Fabulous Book of Paper Dolls from Klutz is the more...1 point
Great Fashion Designs of the Sixties Paper Dolls in Full Color: 32 Haute Couture Costumes by Courreges, Balmain, Saint-Laurent and Others by Tom Tierney
Bold bright colors, miniskirts, a "see-throug more...1 point
Mobiles & Hanging Paper Models
Mobiles are fun and easy paper crafts. Make a set of 4 to 6 paper ornaments decorated with feathers, glitter or other findings. Attach strings to your ornaments and then suspend them one by one from a simple dowel, stick or wire clothes hanger.- Car Mobile for Kids
- Simple race car mobile to color, cut out and assemble.
- Slide-Together Polyhedral Constructions
- Slide - Togethers
This page shows a type of paper polyhedral construction which is fun and easy to make because the pieces just slide together. - Rainbow Shamrocks Mobile Paper Craft
- Happy St. Patrick's Day mobile features green shamrocks suspended from a rainbow. Print, cut and assemble paper toy craft.
Paper Toys That Can Fly
Airplanes, helicopters, kites, balloons, mobiles
- Paper Airplane Designs
- Paper airplane designs (video and diagrams) on Alex's paper airplanes. LEARN TO FLY...
- Paper Airplanes by Jim Cornish
- This site presents a list of links to web pages related to paper airplanes.
- Ben & Jerry's Balloon Mobile
- Make a hot air balloon mobile just like the ones that decorate the Ben & Jerry's scoop shops!
- How to Make a Kite
- While kites are inexpensive to buy, making one adds to the fun. You'll be especially proud when your diamond-shaped creation takes to the sky.
- How to Make a Carp Windsock
- Gather the kids to make this fun windy-day project - fly if for Childrens Day in May, or for any windy sunny day.
Kinetic Paper Toys - Paper Toys with Moving Parts
- Chuckles Paper Toy of the Month for August
- Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, it's the lovable yet sorta creepy antics of Chuckles. Chuckles has a magic kinetic motion when his arms sway his eyes rock back and forth.
- Simple Paper Windmill
- Easy to make, vanes blow in the breeze.
- Make Pinata!
- A fun filled figure of an animal found at Mexican celebrations but popular world wide for party fun. Fill with toys and treats, hang from a hook or branch, and let the kids break it open. Or, keep it as a decoration or plaything.
Illusions and Tricks
- Moving Skeleton's Skull
- Skeleton's ENTIRE HEAD will seem to turn as you walk by, following your every move.
- Monster Head-in-a-Box Illusion
- Moving Frankenstein Monster Head-in-a-Box Illusion
- Crafts: Create An Optical Illusion
- Spinning disk optical illusion toy - easy to make. Use their design with cloud and lightning bolt, or try a birdcage and a bird.
Amazing Moving Paper Toy Illusion - YouTube
3-Dimensional Fun - Puzzles and Lacing Cards
Print, cut, assemble pieces then figure out how to put the puzzle together
Lacing Cards
To make lacing cards, glue a simple picture to a piece of cardboard or laminate a colorful picture at home or at a copy shop. Punch holes spaced about 2 inches apart around the picture edges or following the general shape of the illustration. Children can lace the patterns on the cards with shoe laces or yarn pieces with ends stiffened with tape or a dot of glue.
Make Your Own Puzzles
Glue a picture to cardboard or card stock, or even a recycled cereal box. After glue dries, draw a jigsaw pattern on the back, then cut out the shapes to make a puzzle.
Puzzle Cubes
To make a multi-sided puzzle, purchase or make 4 to 6 blocks from wood or cardboard boxes. Arrange the block shapes in 2 rows, and place close together.
Select 6 pictures for your puzzle (1 for each view/side of the blocks when completed). The pictures should each measure approximately the dimension of the closely arranged boxes.
Glue a picture to cover the entire surface of one side of the arranged blocks. When dry, cut carefully along the edges of the blocks to separate,then turn each block over in the same direction and arrange the set close together again. Repeat the picture gluing and cutting apart steps until each of the 6 different sides of your boxes or wood blocks have a picture piece attached.
To make lacing cards, glue a simple picture to a piece of cardboard or laminate a colorful picture at home or at a copy shop. Punch holes spaced about 2 inches apart around the picture edges or following the general shape of the illustration. Children can lace the patterns on the cards with shoe laces or yarn pieces with ends stiffened with tape or a dot of glue.
Make Your Own Puzzles
Glue a picture to cardboard or card stock, or even a recycled cereal box. After glue dries, draw a jigsaw pattern on the back, then cut out the shapes to make a puzzle.
Puzzle Cubes
To make a multi-sided puzzle, purchase or make 4 to 6 blocks from wood or cardboard boxes. Arrange the block shapes in 2 rows, and place close together.
Select 6 pictures for your puzzle (1 for each view/side of the blocks when completed). The pictures should each measure approximately the dimension of the closely arranged boxes.
Glue a picture to cover the entire surface of one side of the arranged blocks. When dry, cut carefully along the edges of the blocks to separate,then turn each block over in the same direction and arrange the set close together again. Repeat the picture gluing and cutting apart steps until each of the 6 different sides of your boxes or wood blocks have a picture piece attached.
- Canon 3D Papercraft - Globe Puzzle
- Use this page to download free 3D papercraft patterns. Learn about the science and culture of the earth by building it yourself!
- Lace Up Cards
- Print, laminate and punch holes in these colorful alphabet cards to make easy-to-do sewing cards for children to lace up with shoelaces or yarn.
Printable Paper Craft Resources
Origami papers, model outlines and paper toy patterns
- Free Paper Models from www.ss42.com
- Our original free paper models that we have designed for your enjoyment
- Papercraft Inspirations
- Free Craft Papers & Templates
Paper Toy Lenses
Print, cut, fold and glue - wonderful paper toys.
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Free Downloadable Paper Toys
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Free paper toys, models, and projects to download. A resource for parents, teachers, and creative people who like making little toys out of paper.
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Free Printables
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My obsession for printable items has no bounds -- from printable paper toys to printable calendars, printable cards, games, and learning activities there is no end to my fascination with printable activities and the myriad of uses printables can serv...
Your Paper Toy Thoughts
What do you like to make for paper playthings? Do you like the simple pinwheel, airplane or paper dolls, or do complex 3D structures and origami make you smile?
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totalhealth
paper toys are fun to do at the same time enhances your creativity. Posted July 09, 2008 |
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Kagan_Quinn
this is a fantastically informative lens. thank you for it. Posted June 30, 2008 |
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Barkely
Cool stuff, welcome to the Fun For Kids Group! Posted June 18, 2008 |
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StephenC
My wife makes origami using the bulletin during church. Drives me crazy as she piles the little objects in my lap. Posted June 15, 2008 |
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tdove
Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory! Posted April 06, 2008 |
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