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Our family’s latest toddler art craze uses contact paper for no-mess, low prep crafts.  Contact paper provides a unique sensory experience as well as an easy way for my toddler to express her creative side.  Plus, contact paper crafts are wonderful independent and playdate activities!

Materials

• Construction Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Marker
• Tissue Paper (various colors)
• Clear Contact Paper

Prep Work

1.  Cut a hot air balloon in the middle of a piece of construction paper. First, fold the paper in half vertically and draw half of a hot air balloon on one side.  (The folded edge should be the middle of the hot air balloon.)  Then, cut out the balloon starting and ending along the folded edge.
2. Cut contact paper to same size as your construction paper.
3. Peel off the backing on the contact paper and affix to your construction paper.  The sticky side should be on the “back” of the hot air balloon.
4. Draw a basket on the non-sticky side of the picture.  (Or, cut out a basket shape and glue it on.)
5. Lay the contact paper backing over the sticky part until you are ready to give this craft to your child.
6. Either lay out some colorful pieces of tissue paper for your child to tear up or tear it up yourself.  For playdates, I usually tear it up to keep things moving.

Toddler Craft Instructions

1. Announce that you have a super exciting craft for you kiddo.  Play it up!  Get your kid(s) excited about craft time!
2. Lay out the craft, identifying the balloon, tissue paper, and contact paper.  Encourage your child to touch the sticky contact paper and the crinkly tissue paper.
3. Show your child how to stick the tissue paper to the contact paper.
4. Offer some praise, and encourage your toddler to continue sticking tissue paper to their hot air balloon until they fill up the balloon, or they are simply ready to move on to another activity.

My toddler will play with contact paper crafts on and off for several days, so I usually leave the craft on a tray in the kitchen.  I offer her the craft tray during quiet time or while I’m cooking.

My hot air balloon craft also lends itself to some fun, themed reading activities!  Check out these hot air balloon books at your local library or click on their title below to buy them on Amazon.

• Curious George and the Hot Air Balloon by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey
• I Miss You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore
• Oh, Baby!  Go, Baby! by Seuss

I hope that you and your kids enjoy this creative craft and sensory activity!  Pass on this fun craft by sharing my post on social media or pinning it.