Use brown paper bags as the blank canvas for kids' crafts.
Brown paper bags make a simple canvas for host of kids' crafts. You can use large paper bags from the grocery store or small paper bags for lunches. Depending on what you do to the bags and how you manipulate them, you can make a variety of items from costumes to decorations.
Stuff It
Fill the bottom half or two-thirds of a brown paper bag with crumbled newspaper. Gather the top opening of the bag, and pinch it together. Tie the bag closed with a ribbon, string or twist tie. You can then turn your paper bag into a variety of items. Paint the bottom red or orange and make apples or pumpkins for autumn. Twist the tops into long sticks and bend them over so it looks like a stem. Attach a leaf or two. Otherwise, flip the bag over and put a dowel through the small hole left at the opening. To make a puppet, glue yarn to the top for hair, glue buttons for eyes and nose and draw a mouth.
Decorate It
Decorate the outside of the bag to make a variety of items. During the holidays or before a birthday party, let children place the gifts they are giving inside a bag. Close the top, and fold it over. Secure the bag closed with tape. Attach stickers, pom-poms, sequins or yarn to create a scene on the front of the bag. Make a cake or balloons for a birthday. Turn the front into a Santa Claus, reindeer or snowman for the holidays, using notions, crayons and markers.
Cut It
Cut holes of different shapes around the sides of a paper bag. Fill the bag with an inch or sand, and place a battery-operated candle in the bottom to make a lantern. Line the walkway with them before an evening party.
Cut a line up the middle of the front panel of a large brown paper bag. Cut a large hole in the bottom and on the bottom of either side panel. Let children decorate the vest with crayons, markers, feathers, fabric and string. They can use this when they learn about pioneers, Native Americans or any time they want a snazzy vest. Make smaller versions with the small paper bags for a child's doll to wear.
Cut the bottom of a brown paper bag off the bag. Cut a slit all the way up one corner of the bag. Lay the paper bag out. You now have a large piece of brown paper. Let children color designs on the empty side of the paper. Use this to cover textbooks or boxes.
Tags: paper bags, brown paper, variety items, closed with, crayons markers, kids crafts