Sculpt with paper
Create 3D paper sculptures by folding, cutting, curling, and gluing scrap paper to make animals, flowers, or abstract shapes while exploring texture and form.
Step-by-step guide to sculpt with paper
6 DIY paper crafts | Paper toys
Step 1
Lay out all your materials on a clear table so you can reach everything easily.
Step 2
Decide whether you will make an animal a flower or an abstract shape and imagine its basic form.
Step 3
Cut a base shape from the cardboard or a thick scrap paper to hold your sculpture.
Step 4
Cut or tear scrap paper into a variety of pieces like strips squares and circles for different textures.
Step 5
Wrap paper strips around the pencil or dowel and slide them off to make curled pieces.
Step 6
Fold some paper pieces into fans pleats or cones to create volume and interesting shapes.
Step 7
Put glue on one large piece and stick it to the cardboard base to start the sculpture.
Step 8
Add more pieces by gluing them slightly overlapping to build height and texture one layer at a time.
Step 9
Cut tiny paper details like eyes petals or spots and glue them onto your sculpture for character.
Step 10
Let your sculpture dry completely so the pieces stay in place before you move it.
Step 11
Take a photo and share your finished paper sculpture on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don’t have cardboard or thick scrap paper for the base?
Use a flattened cereal box panel, a thin piece of wood, or stack and glue several sheets of scrap paper together to make a sturdy cardboard base.
My sculpture keeps flopping over or layers slide—how do I make it hold its shape?
Press each glued piece firmly onto the cardboard base, add extra glue under overlapping layers, and insert small folded tabs or a taped dowel for extra support while the sculpture dries.
How can I change this activity for different ages?
For ages 2–4, pre-cut large shapes and let them glue or tear pieces onto the base; ages 5–8 can cut strips and wrap them around a pencil, and ages 9+ can add tiny details like eyes or pleats and build taller layered textures as described.
How can we make the sculpture last longer or look fancier before sharing it on DIY.org?
Paint or varnish the dry paper sculpture, reinforce tall parts with a thin wire or glued dowel inside the layers, and add tiny cut details like petals or spots before photographing.
Watch videos on how to sculpt with paper
7 DIY paper crafts | Paper toys
4 Videos
7 DIY paper crafts | Paper toys
How to Make a Paper Sculpture | Tate Kids
9 DIY paper crafts | Paper toys
9 DIY paper crafts | Paper toys
Facts about paper sculpture and paper crafts for kids
♻️ Sculpting with scrap paper is upcycling — recycling one ton of paper can save about 17 trees, so your art helps the planet!
✂️ Kirigami adds cutting to folding so artists can create pop-up and 3D effects that plain folding can’t always do.
📚 Folded paper can be surprisingly strong — clever folds and shapes can support much more weight than a flat sheet.
📝 Origami comes from the Japanese words 'ori' (folding) and 'kami' (paper) — it’s literally 'folding paper'.
🎭 Papier-mâché has been used for centuries to make masks, festival props, and large sculptures around the world.
How do I sculpt with scrap paper to make 3D animals, flowers, or abstract shapes?
What materials do I need to sculpt with paper at home?
What ages is paper sculpting suitable for and what supervision is needed?
What are the benefits of making 3D paper sculptures with my child?
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