If you’re looking for a bright and cheerful craft idea that’s easy to set up and full of color, this paper plate hot air balloon craft is such a fun one to try. It’s a fantastic idea for kids of all ages, from young children right through to older kids who might enjoy adding their own creative twists. With a simple design and a free printable hot air balloon template, this activity is perfect for home, classrooms, or even as part of lesson plans.
This hot air balloon craft is a great way to explore color, patterns, and creativity while making something that can double as a decorative piece or even hot air balloon decor for a bulletin board.
Materials Needed for your Paper Plate Hot Air Balloon
You won’t need anything complicated for this paper plate hot air balloon craft, which makes it ideal for busy days or quick craft activities. Gather a paper plate, a popsicle stick, some construction paper, and paint in bright colors like blue, yellow, orange, and red. You’ll also need scissors, glue, and some cotton balls to create the dotted effect on the balloon.
If you’d like to mix things up, you can also swap in tissue paper or colorful paper for different designs, depending on what you have at home.
How to Make a Paper Plate Hot Air Balloon
This paper plate hot air balloon DIY is simple enough for young kids but still engaging for older kids too. It’s a great way to build fine motor skills while having much fun creating something unique.
Start by cutting the bottom part of the paper plate to create your hot air balloon shape. This will form the top of your balloon.
Next, dip your cotton balls into the paint and use them to stamp colorful dots all over the paper plate. Alternate between colors like blue, yellow, orange, and red to create a bright and eye-catching hot air balloon design. Let the paint dry fully before moving on.
Cut out the free printable hot air balloon template from white paper. Use a black marker pen to draw lines and details onto the template to make the basket stand out.
Cut your popsicle stick into two smaller pieces, then glue them onto both sides of the basket. These will connect your basket to the balloon.
Finally, attach the painted paper plate to the top of the popsicle sticks to complete your hot air balloon paper plate craft.
Paper Plate Hot Air Balloon
A colorful paper plate hot air balloon craft that’s easy to make, uses a free printable template, and is perfect for kids of all ages to get creative with paint and textures.
Materials
- Paper plate
- Popsicle sticks
- Construction paper
- Paint (We used Blue, yellow, oranger, and red but you can use any mix of colors)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Cotton balls
Tools
- Printer if using the template
Instructions
- Cut the bottom part of the paper plate.
- Paint dots on the paper plate using the cotton balls. Paint the colors however you like.
- Cut the template then draw lines using the marker.
- Then cut the popsicle stick into two then attach it on both sides.
- Then attach the paper plate.
This balloon craft is a great way for kids to explore colors, patterns, and different ways of creating texture using cotton balls. The stamping technique is especially enjoyable for young kids and helps develop fine motor skills in a hands-on way.
It also encourages creativity, as children can experiment with different designs, color combinations, and even add extra craft materials like a piece of string for hanging.
What Age Is This Craft Good For?
This paper plate hot air balloon craft works really well for kids of all ages. Young children will enjoy the painting and sticking, while older kids can take it further by designing more detailed hot air balloon shapes or even turning their creations into invitation cards or a party decoration.
With adult supervision for cutting, this is a safe and engaging activity that can easily be adapted for different skill levels.
Download Hot Air Balloon Free Printable Template PDF
The printable template makes this craft even easier to set up. Simply print the free PDF onto white paper for personal use, cut out the basket, and you’re ready to go.
Ready to get started? Grab your free printable hot air balloon template and enjoy creating your own colorful designs.
This printable template is perfect for quick craft activities at home or in the classroom, and it’s designed to be simple to use while still giving plenty of room for creativity.
Terms of use: Our hot air balloon template is free for personal use and classroom use.
This paper plate hot air balloon craft is such a fun and easy project that kids will love making again and again. It’s simple, colorful, and full of opportunities for creativity, making it a great way to spend time together.
More Paper Plate Craft Ideas
If your kids enjoyed this paper plate hot air balloon craft, there are so many other paper crafts to explore. Paper plate crafts are a great way to turn simple materials into something imaginative, and they work well for everything from animals to seasonal decorations.
- Paper Plate Robot Craft
- Paper Plate Flower Wreath Craft for Kids
- K Pop Demon Hunters Derpy Paper Plate Craft
- Paper Plate Pokeball and Pokemon Craft
- Paper Plate Unicorn Craft (with Free Printable Template)
More Hot Air Balloon Activities for Kids
Hot air balloons and kites are such a fun theme to build around. You can extend this activity with hot air balloon coloring pages, hot air balloon cutouts, or even simple science discussions about how air balloons work as part of general science or physical science learning
- 3D Hot Air Balloon Craft for Kids
- Super Cute and Easy Heart Shape Hot Air Balloon Card
- DIY Kids Kite Craft + Printables
- Kite Roll and Draw Patterns Printable game
- Paper Plate Kite Craft for Kids
- Torn Paper Kite Craft With Free Printable Template
If you try this hot air balloon paper plate craft, be sure to share it on social media or pin it to save for later.
