Easy-Make Quick Craft Ideas

Craft ideas that take only basic materials and less than an hour. Ideas using paper!

Here are some quick craft ideas about embellishing your everyday objects using just paper and glue, If you are already using a plain jar, folder or box, why not jazz it up a little? The following ideas are not difficult and require very little in the way of equipment, expertise or even time. So why not have a little fun and brighten up your home!

Decorate a Candle Holder with Tissue

You will need:

Glass candle holder
Tissue paper
Scissors
Glue stick
Varnish

candle holder

Cover the outside of the glass with the glue stick. Apply a lighter colored tissue in large pieces to cover the entire area. Apply more glue as required.

Cut decorations in the darker color and apply. Cover the entire outside in clear varnish (spray varnish is the easiest).

The candle flame will glow through the tissue as the candle burns down. After the original candle is used up you can place tea lights in the bottom of the jar to create the same effect.

lit votive

But if you do have decoupage paste this allows you to apply much thicker layers of tissue to get more textured effects. Pale colored tissue will crate the best effect as light will pass through it more easily.

You can twist different colors of tissue together and them apply, or embed paper, beads or other embellishments between layers of tissue.

You should still provide a final layer of varnish or lacquer. Be careful to avoid paper or varnish getting in the interior of the jar as it may create a fire hazard. (Never leave a candle burning unattended).

Second Example

Cover a Sundries Box with Wrapping Paper

Cardboard box
Wrapping paper
Cut-out pictures
Glue stick
Varnish
Rustoleum

cover with wrapping paper

If you are already using some convenient box to hold household or office items, why not dress it up. This can be done in just a few minutes.

Cover the outside of the box with the glue stick and cover in wrapping paper folding some over the top and into the interior of the box. Spray the inside of the box with Rustoleum.

Glue pictures to the outside to decorate. Finish with clear varnish.

finished box

Storage Box with Window

You will need:

Shoe box
Paper such as wrapping paper
Clear plastic
Scissors
Decoupage paste or glue
Strong glue (e.g. super-glue)
Varnish

covered box: base

Cover the box and the lid with paste or glue and torn strips of paper. (Or you can go for a neater effect if you like, I prefer a more textured look).

Cut a window in one end. Glue clear plastic to the inside with strong glue.

Finish with varnish.

You can easily see what is in the box but the contents are still protected!