Anyone who likes to do crafts regularly knows that in principle you can use any materials and a wide variety of objects to create interesting projects. And maybe you still have some drinking cups left over from the last garden party and would like to create something interesting with them. But what can you make with plastic cups? Here too, the variants are very diverse. When you craft with cups you can let your imagination run wild.
Crafts with cups for children
Projects for and with children as well as more complicated versions for adults are suitable for crafting with cardboard and plastic cups. Some ideas are great for children to play with, while others have a decorative or utilitarian purpose. We have put together some interesting ideas and instructions that you can try out right away. Give yourself or others a special treat!
Design animals
You don't need any special materials or a lot of experience or talent for crafting. Gather acrylic paints, brushes, googly eyes and paper for any other body parts. Place a white paper cup upside down. If the animals are designed this way, they will stand more securely later.
We would like to show you how to paint a cow. First draw the nose or mouth approximately in the middle of the cup. It is best to use two shades of pink for this purpose. Before applying the second color, allow the first to dry thoroughly. If you want to paint drinking cups, we recommend that you use paper cups.
Next, paint the cow's spots with black paint. There are no rules here. You can also use a brown or gray color or create a purple Milka cow. Once you're done, let the paint dry thoroughly so that it doesn't smear when you touch it again.
In the meantime, you can craft the remaining body parts. Use colored paper for this. You need ears and eyes, although you can simply use googly eyes for the latter. Glue the ears to the sides of the drinking cup.
Make safari animals
Apart from a whole farm, you can also enjoy making wild animal crafts so you can create a zoo or a safari with your child. Ears and tails can also be easily made using plush wire. The advantage here is that the wire can be shaped and bent as desired.
Lamp made of transparent cups
Transparent plastic cups are perfect for such a lamp. It can be used for the ceiling, but also for a side table. The cups are simply stapled together and equipped with a string of lights. You can find out exactly how to create these in the following video.
Make a string of lights
You can not only make a lamp out of cups, but also a pretty garland with fairy lights. You will need paper cups, colored paper from which you cut curved strips, a string of lights, scissors and tape. Get everything ready and get started with this easy craft project.
Since the white cups are quite boring for a garland, first stick the prepared strips on them. That's the first step. Of course, you can also paint the cups instead or buy colorful cups. That's up to you. The number of cups required depends on the number of bulbs in the string of lights.
Poke holes in the middle of the bottom of the cups. This should ideally be in the shape of a cross in order to be able to hold the light bulbs well. The advantage is that the final product will be very light in weight. Insert the lights into the holes and hang the garland anywhere you like.
DIY Pflanzturm
This impressive tower is made entirely of plastic. Get a plastic bottle and plastic cups. We also recommend using bright colors when crafting with cups. Use scissors or a utility knife to cut holes in the bottle into which you can then insert the cups. Before filling the cups with soil and plants, add holes. The excess water can then drain into the bottle.
Costume idea
If you have bought a princess costume but still need the right accessory for the head, you can make one again with cups. The topic “Frozen” is currently very popular. Make a matching crown using a paper cup and headband.
Crowns traditionally have spikes and you can add these to the cup without much effort. You can also draw the pattern on the mug with a pencil in advance to make sure it will be straight. Then cut out triangles that you no longer need and can throw away.
You can then decorate the finished spikes as you wish. Use pom poms, beads, homemade stars, hearts or rhinestones and glue them to each spike. You can also decorate the rest of the crown however you like. As a theme for the crown, you can come up with whatever you or your daughter would like.
Now add holes slightly above the bottom of the cup to put the headband through. Be careful not to accidentally tear the cup. A good alternative to this idea is to use a rubber band instead of a headband. However, the headband is a little more stable.
Make a vase
If you like to create dry bouquets, we have a great idea for you to display your works of art. You can decorate an ordinary drinking cup nicely by creating a weaving pattern out of yarn, wool or another thicker thread. The cup can be made of plastic or cardboard and can be of any size.
Our example is just a suggestion and can be modified as desired. Cut the cup as shown. The strips obtained can have a different width. This also makes the pattern look more interesting. You can also choose the colors for the yarn yourself.
Now you can with thatOn the webstart. Place the thread behind the first strip and in front of the next strip. So you keep changing. Whenever you decide, you can switch to a different color. This way you slowly work your way up. You can also use a larger yogurt cup for this.
If you decorate the rooms with these vases, you can also create groups and display several dried bouquets or other things at the same time. With a little practice you can create interesting patterns. We wish you lots of fun and success crafting with cups!