Let’s Make a Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloon Craft

By: Tonya Staab

Kids will love this tissue paper hot air balloon craft.

Made with items you probably already have around the house, this tissue paper hot air balloon craft is a wonderful project for kids. Make a few hot air balloons and hang them from your bedroom or playroom roof; they make pretty decorations.

Tissue paper hot air balloon craft.

This fun craft project is for kids of all ages. Younger kids will need help with cutting the tissue paper and assembling it. Older kids can get more creative with patterns, or solid colors for their balloons. Most of the supplies you probably already have at home, but if you don’t, this craft will cost under $10. Look in the dollar bin in craft stores for supplies such as straws and cups.

How to make a tissue paper hot air balloon

This tissue paper hot air balloon craft will be made over a few days so you can allow for drying time between the paper mache layers. I recommend starting it in the morning, then leaving it for 24 hours before picking it up again.

Supplies needed to make a tissue paper hot air balloon

• Tissue paper
• Paper cup
• Straws
• Balloon
• Scissors
• School glue
• Hot glue gun
• Paintbrush

Instructions for making a tissue paper hot air balloon

Step 1

Cut your tissue paper into squares about 1.5 inches in size. You’ll need 5 times the amount of white tissue paper squares because you’ll be pasting five layers over those compared to one layer of the colored ones.

Colorful tissue paper squares

Step 2

Attach four straws on a slight angle inside the cup. You can use either a glue stick or hot glue to do this. The reason you need them on a slight angle is the balloon will sit inside them and it’s much wider than the cup.

Glue straws inside a paper cup.

Tip: I initially did this with the glue stick, but it was taking a little bit long to dry so I used the hot glue gun.

Step 3

Blow up your balloon. Mix half a cup of water with half a cup of school glue in a disposable bowl or cup. Using a brush, paint a layer of glue in small sections on the balloon. Place a white tissue paper square over the top, and brush a coat of glue over it. Repeat until the entire balloon is covered. Try to overlap your tissue paper pieces a little as you go. Repeat this two more times so you have three layers of tissue paper. Set aside to dry overnight.

Paper mache a balloon using tissue paper.

Tip: Leave a space of about 1.5 inches around the end of the balloon that is tied. You will need this to pop the latex balloon and pull it out of the paper mache balloon.

Step 4

Add two more layers of white tissue paper the next day, and then add a layer of colored tissue paper using the same method.

Paper mache colored tissue paper to a balloon.

Tip: The more tissue paper layers you add, the sturdier your hot air balloon will be when you pop the latex balloon. We tried this with only two layers and the hot air balloon deflated once the latex balloon was popped.

Step 5

Once your paper mache is completely dry you can pop your balloon and pull it out through the opening.

Remove the popped balloon from inside your tissue paper hot air balloon.

Step 6

Sit your paper mache balloon between the straws and use hot glue to secure it in place. Cut strips of white tissue paper and add fringing to them then glue them from straw to straw around the balloon. You can also add a strip around the cup ‘basket’ too.

Add fringed tissue paper around your paper mache hot air balloon.

Yield: 1

Prep Time 30 minutes

Active Time 2 days

Total Time 2 days 30 minutes

Difficulty Medium

Estimated Cost $15-$20

Materials

• Tissue paper
• Paper cup
• Straws
• Balloon
• School glue

Tools

• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Cut tissue paper into squares about 1.5 inches in size. You'll need 5 times the amount of white tissue paper squares than colored ones.
2. Attach four straws on a slight angle inside the cup using glue.
3. Blow up your balloon.
4. Mix half a cup of water with half a cup of school glue in a disposable bowl or cup.
5. Using a brush, paint a layer of glue in small sections on the balloon. Place a white tissue paper square over the top, and brush a coat of glue over it. Repeat until the entire balloon is covered. Overlap your tissue paper pieces a little as you go. Repeat this two more times so you have three layers of tissue paper. Set aside to dry overnight.
6. Add two more layers of white tissue paper the next day, and then add a layer of colored tissue paper too.
7. Once your paper mache is dry, pop your balloon and pull it out through the opening.
8. Glue the paper mache balloon between the straws using hot glue.
9. Cut strips of white tissue paper and add fringing to your balloon and basket.

More tissue paper crafts from Kids Activities Blog

Did you make a tissue paper hot air balloon? What colors did you use?

Source: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/170421/tissue-paper-hot-air-balloon/

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