Paper Plate Hot Air Balloon Craft

This paper plate hot air balloon craft is such a fun and colorful project for kids. I have always loved the beautiful sight of bright hot air balloons floating across the sky. They look so cheerful and magical as they drift high above.

So why not let kids create their own colorful version? With just a few simple supplies like a paper plate, buttons, and watercolor paint, this craft is easy to set up and enjoyable to make.

This hot air balloon craft for kids is perfect for preschoolers, kindergarten, and school age children. It is a lovely craft to display in classrooms, libraries, or to decorate kids’ rooms once finished.

It is perfect to make for Hot Air Balloon Day on June 5th. However, you can enjoy making this craft any time of the year. If you are looking for more paper plate crafts for kids, be sure to check out our collection of paper plate crafts and paper plate spring crafts.

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Supplies You Need to Make the Hot Air Balloon Craft

1. Paper plate
2. Buttons
3. Ruler
4. Craft glue
5. Hot glue (to be used by adults only)
6. Watercolors
7. Colored cardstock
8. Pencil
9. Scissors
10. Marker
11. Decorative items such as pom-poms, rhinestone stickers, etc. (optional)

Steps to Make a Paper Plate Hot Air Balloon Craft

Step 1

Start with a dinner-sized paper plate. This larger size works best because it gives kids plenty of space to decorate the craft comfortably.

Step 2

Next, take a pencil and draw a straight line just above the rim on the inside of the paper plate, going from one edge to the opposite edge.

Using scissors, carefully cut along the line we just drew and discard the smaller piece of the paper plate.

Next, fold the larger piece of the paper plate in half inward, but don’t press too hard or make a crease. Then, draw a curved line on the outside with a pencil.

Finally, cut along the curved line with scissors while keeping the paper plate folded.

Step 3

Now, open the folded paper plate. Gently straighten any creases so the plate looks smooth and even again.

Step 4

Now comes the fun part for kids. Paint the paper plate using watercolor. We started with a dark shade at the top and gradually used lighter shades toward the bottom.

We used five shades one after the other, letting the edges slightly overlap so it creates a nice transition effect. Kids can experiment with different shades or even rainbow colors to make it as bright and colorful as they like.

Apply two coats of watercolor for a richer look and let it dry completely.

Step 5

Next, let’s make the basket. Take a piece of cardstock and place it parallel to the bottom of the hot air balloon shape.

Then, use a pencil to make a small marking on one edge of the cardstock to match the approximate width of the bottom of the paper plate.

Step 6

Next, use a ruler and pencil to draw a straight line from the mark you made and form a rectangle shape.

Step 7

Next, cut out the rectangle shape using scissors. Then draw rows and columns on the rectangle to create a basket pattern.

We used a brown marker to draw the grid lines.

Step 8

Now it’s time to decorate the basket. Stick buttons along one of the longer edges of the basket.

Step 9

Now we need to attach the basket to the hot air balloon. For this, cut out a rectangular strip from cardstock, about 0.75 cm wide.

Step 10

Cut the strip into two pieces and attach them behind the paper plate using hot glue at a slight angle.

Step 11

Now, attach the top of the basket to the other end of the two paper strips.

Kids can decorate the hot air balloon any way they like. We used only buttons, but you can get creative with pom-poms, crystal stickers, doodles, or even fingerprints.

And just like that, our hot air balloon is ready to take off! Look how beautiful it turned out! You can hang it up or stick it on the wall using double-sided tape as a fun decoration for the room. It adds a bright, cheerful touch and shows off all the creativity that went into making it.

More Colorful Paper Plate Crafts for Kids

If you loved our colorful paper plate hot air balloon craft, you should check out these fun and creative paper plate craft projects for kids. They’re easy to make, full of color, and perfect for little hands to explore their creativity.

Paper plate butterfly: If you loved the hot air balloon craft, this paper plate butterfly is another fun and easy project. Kids can use watercolor, and buttons to create bright, unique designs. Once finished, these butterflies make wonderful decorations for classrooms, playrooms, or even a spring-themed display at home.

Paper Plate Merry Go Round: Create a miniature merry-go-round using paper plates and a recycled tissue roll. It’s an easy, fun craft for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and school-age kids. Kids can color, add stickers or glitter, making it perfect for summer activities or school projects.

Paper plate sun: Here’s a fun sun marionette craft that’s perfect for summer! This paper plate sun is easy to make and a great activity to do with kids. They will enjoy creating it and watching it dance! It’s a cheerful craft idea for kids of all ages.

Hot Air Balloon-Themed Books for Kids

Here are some hot air balloon-themed books for kids. They’re a fun way to keep little ones inspired and curious.

The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be: The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be follows a group of children as they each create their own hot-air balloons. The story celebrates creativity, teamwork, and individuality, showing that life is more beautiful and vibrant when everyone’s unique talents are embraced.

Curious George Up, Up, and Away: Curious George accidentally lets go of the hot air balloon rope, sending it floating away with his friend Bill. The story follows their adventurous ride and playful mishaps, with activities to explore wind direction and color a hot air balloon.

Up and Away! How Two Brothers Invented the Hot-Air Balloon: More than a century before the Wright Brothers, Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier launched a hot-air balloon with three animals in the basket. The story follows their magical first flight, celebrating the wonder of early aviation and adventure.

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More Fun Summer Crafts for Kids

Looking for a fun coastal craft to add to your summer activities? Check out this paper lighthouse craft! Kids will love building their own colorful lighthouse with this easy cut-and-paste printable that’s perfect for summer and ocean-themed fun.

Looking for a creative way to explore the ocean this summer? Check out this Ocean in a Bottle Paper Craft, where kids can layer waves and sea creatures to build their own colorful underwater scene.