A simple yet amazing craft using paper cups! An idea that’s also great for independent research projects.
We’re introducing paper cup crafts that will make you think, “I can make this myself!” With paper cups, you can create surprisingly professional projects like clocks, pinhole cameras, and even tyrannosauruses.
They might seem difficult at first, but the methods are actually very simple.
Here, we’ve gathered lots of fun paper cup crafts you can make with everyday materials.
It’s perfect for anyone who loves crafting, from adults to children.
Use this as a guide to create wonderful pieces with paper cups!
A simple yet amazing craft made with paper cups! Great idea for a science project, too (1–10)
push-type trash can
Here’s a fun gimmick: an idea for making a push-style trash can out of a paper cup.
You know the push-style trash cans, right? The ones with a pedal at the bottom that opens the lid when you step on it.
We’ll make the body of that kind of trash can with a paper cup, and the lid and pedal with construction paper.
Once finished, the push-style trash can can also be used as a small storage container.
You can also customize it by drawing an illustration on the underside of the lid.
Try coming up with ideas that will surprise people when it opens.
Using summer-themed motifs could be nice, too.
Paper Cup UFO Catcher
The “Paper Cup UFO Catcher” is a popular DIY recreation idea you can enjoy with elementary school kids.
Cut eight slits into a paper cup to make tentacle-like arms, then insert a straw through the center to move it.
Place another paper cup over the top and move it up and down—this opens and closes the arms.
The moment it grabs the target is super exciting! It’s easy to make with everyday materials, yet the movement feels authentic and makes it really fun to play.
Figuring out the controls is part of the charm, and it gets even more exciting when friends compete.
It’s a recommended activity that combines the joy of crafting with the sense of achievement from a game.
crane game
Many people love crane games, don’t they? That thrill of not knowing whether you’ll grab the prize or not is addictive.
There’s actually a way to make a DIY crane game using paper cups.
First, cut eight slits into a paper cup and remove four of them.
That gives you four arms.
Next, insert a straw through the bottom and connect it to another paper cup, and you’re done.
The closing motion when the arms retract into the paper cup recreates the grabbing action of a crane game.
boomerang
Let’s make a quirky boomerang using paper cups, paper clips, chopsticks, and rubber bands.
It’s easy to build: for the main body, place two paper cups bottom-to-bottom and tape them together, then attach paper clips to the sides.
Next, connect two rubber bands end to end and tape them to a chopstick.
Decorate the main body with pens or stickers, and you’re done.
To play, hook the rubber band onto a clip, wind the band around the body, and let go.
The body will gently lift off and fly.
If you adjust the launch angle, it will come back toward your hand—keep trying until you can catch it!
Parachute
Make a simple parachute with a paper cup! First, use a pair of chopsticks, one short chopstick, and a rubber band to make a slingshot.
Next, cut four slits in the bottom part of a paper cup that’s been cut in half, attach a rubber band, mount it to the slingshot, and your launcher is ready! Then, take a plastic bag cut in half and attach four pieces of kite string to the closed end, and tie them together.
Add a weight made of aluminum foil where the strings are gathered, and your parachute is complete! Put the parachute into the paper cup, launch it like a slingshot, and have fun playing.
paper cup manga
Have you heard of paper cup comics? They’re comics where you stack paper cups with square cutouts and spin them to advance the story! Structurally, three paper cups are stacked: the outermost cup serves as the frame, the second cup handles the foreground elements like characters and dialogue, and the third cup provides the background.
First, draw your comic within a predetermined frame size.
Then attach the comic to the second cup and cut out the background areas; on the third cup, attach a background that fits into those cut-out sections.
The process is a bit tricky, but once you finish, the sense of accomplishment is huge.
If you enjoy drawing or are good at detailed handiwork, give it a try!
Well-spinning paper cup top
This is a spinning top made with a paper cup that spins well and is fun to watch because of its colorful look.
All you need are a paper cup and two plastic bottle caps.
First, cut slits into the paper cup and spread them out like propeller blades, then attach an axle made by combining the two caps.
That’s enough to complete the basic shape, but it’s recommended to decorate the “propellers” with an eye toward how it will look while spinning.
The impression changes depending on whether you spread the propellers before decorating or decorate first and then cut the slits, so try out various patterns.
Gumball machine
You know those gumball machines you often see in department stores and arcades? There’s actually a way to make one using paper cups.
First, cut a square out of the rim area of a paper cup.
Doesn’t it start to look like the part where the gum comes out? Next, use a plastic cup to create the section that holds the gumballs.
Combine the two and you’re done.
If you want a more authentic look, cut out pieces from a gum package and stick them onto the plastic cup section.
It will look just like a dedicated machine.
Cute crafts for the kitchen
This is a craft project where you use everyday materials like paper cups, paper napkins, and water balloons to make small, play-kitchen-style items.
The book features recipe-style crafts focused on cute sweets such as ice cream, cupcakes, and pudding, making it feel as fun as flipping through a cookbook.
One especially noteworthy method is making a dome-shaped cup by pasting paper napkins onto a water balloon, letting it dry, and then popping the balloon.
Add toppings made from felt or origami to finish it off so it looks like a real dessert.
You can also customize paper plates and drink cups to create displays that look like a charming little shop.
It’s a visually delightful craft that sparks creativity.
A flying octopus? Tako-copter
It’s a toy that combines paper cups and a round chopstick to spin like a bamboo-copter and soar into the sky.
By spreading “wings” that catch the wind and coloring it mainly red, it takes on a curious form—a flying octopus.
You’ll use two paper cups and a round chopstick: attach the chopstick and the octopus’s facial parts to a paper cup with only the bottom left to create a launcher.
Then cut slits into the other paper cup, spread it out to form propeller-like blades, and attach it to the launcher to finish.
Fine-tune the propeller angles to make your octopus fly even higher.