Kids will love this tissue paper hot air balloon craft. This hot air balloon craft for supervised little ones or older kids is made with items you probably already have around the house. Make this colorful hot air balloon craft project at home or in the classroom. Hanging the finished hot air balloons from the ceiling is a lovely and festive decoration too!

A colorful tissue paper hot air balloon craft with straws and a paper cup.
Tissue paper hot air balloon craft.

Hot Air Balloon Craft for Kids

Make a few hot air balloons and hang them from your bedroom or playroom roof. These finished hot air balloons make pretty decorations. This fun craft project is for kids of all ages.

  • Younger kids (preschool, Kindergarten & early grade school) will need help with cutting the tissue paper and assembling it.
  • Older kids (even tweens and teens will love this craft) can get more creative with patterns, or solid colors for their balloons.

Most of the craft 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.

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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.

Related: Easy Paper Mache for Kids and How to Make a Basket with Paper: Easy Coiled Basket Craft

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

Instructions for making a tissue paper hot air balloon

Step 1

Step 1 - Hot air balloon craft - Colorful tissue paper cut into squares for making a paper mache craft with kids.
Colorful tissue paper squares

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.

Step 2

Step 2 - Hot air balloon craft - A blue cup with pink straws glued inside to make a hot air balloon basket.
Glue straws inside a paper cup.

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.

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

Step 3 - Hot air balloon craft - A purple balloon being covered in white tissue paper using paper mache glue.
Paper mache a balloon using tissue paper.

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.

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

Step 4 - Hot air balloon craft - A latex balloon being covered in tissue paper using paper mache glue to make a hot air balloon.
Paper mache colored tissue paper to a balloon.

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

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

Step 5- Hot air balloon craft - A paper mache balloon using tissue paper.
Remove the popped balloon from inside your tissue paper hot air balloon.

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

Step 6

Step 6 - Hot air balloon craft - A strip of fringed tissue paper hanging around a tissue paper hot air balloon.
Add fringed tissue paper around your paper mache hot air balloon.

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.

Yield: 1

DIY Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloon Craft

DIY Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloon Craft
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

Or if your child enjoys balloon painting, here are 22 balloon painting activities.

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



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