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!

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
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DIY Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloon Craft

Materials
- Tissue paper
- Paper cup
- Straws
- Balloon
- School glue
Tools
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Paintbrush
Instructions
- 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.
- Attach four straws on a slight angle inside the cup using glue.
- 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. 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.
- Add two more layers of white tissue paper the next day, and then add a layer of colored tissue paper too.
- Once your paper mache is dry, pop your balloon and pull it out through the opening.
- Glue the paper mache balloon between the straws using hot glue.
- Cut strips of white tissue paper and add fringing to your balloon and basket.
More tissue paper crafts from Kids Activities Blog
- A butterfly suncatcher craft made with tissue paper and bubble wrap.
- Make this patchwork heart to give to someone you love.
- These tissue paper leaves aren’t just here for fall, hang them from a branch year-round.
- Tissue paper flowers are a beautiful way to decorate your home.
- Here are over 35 tissue paper crafts that kids are going to love.
- We have 25 great paper crafts for kids!
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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