You’ve got a closet full of glue sticks, paper plates, and half-used markers. And a Sunday school class that needs something to do besides poke each other.
I’ve been there. One rainy Wednesday, I dug through our supply closet and realized we had zero “craft kit” stuff. But we had construction paper, felt scraps, and a mountain of popsicle sticks.
So here are 31 crafts that use exactly what you already have. No trips to the store, no fancy anything. Just you, the kids, and that slightly dusty closet.
1. Paper Plate Lion Mask
Cut the center out of a paper plate, leaving the ridged rim as the mane. Then glue on orange and yellow paper triangles around the edge for fur.
2. Popsicle Stick Cross
Glue two popsicle sticks together in a cross shape. Let the kids decorate the cross with markers, then wrap a piece of yarn around the center for a pop of color.
You can also add a small paper heart cut from red construction paper. Just glue it right in the middle. My class once made a whole pile of these for a mission project.
If you have leftover felt, cut a small rectangle and glue the cross on top. It makes a great bookmark. The kids love giving these to their grandparents.
3. Cotton Ball Sheep
Draw a sheep shape on construction paper or a paper plate. Then glue cotton balls all over the body.
4. Felt Bookmark With Bible Verse
Cut a strip of felt about two inches wide and six inches long. Use markers or a thin paintbrush with glue to write a short Bible verse like “God loves you.”
Let the kids fringe the ends by cutting small slits. They can glue on buttons or yarn scraps for extra flair. I had a kid once cover his entire bookmark in glitter glue – it took a week to dry, but he was so proud.
If you have hole punch and ribbon, punch a hole at the top and tie a loop. These make awesome gifts for church volunteers. You can also layer two different colors of felt by gluing them together.
5. Paper Chain Prayer Chain
Cut construction paper or bulletin paper into one-inch strips. Each strip gets one prayer request written on it.
Loop the strips into a chain, gluing or stapling each link. Hang the chain in your classroom and have kids remove one link each day to pray for that person.
This craft takes a little patience, but the kids love watching the chain grow. One Sunday we made a chain so long it touched the floor. We had to pray for the whole congregation.
You can also color-code the strips – blue for healing, green for thanks, yellow for friends. By the end, you’ll have a visual reminder of how many prayers you’re lifting up.
6. Pipe Cleaner People
Bend two pipe cleaners together to form a body, arms, and legs. Twist a third pipe cleaner into a circle for the head.
Use tiny paper scraps to glue on a face or clothes. These little people are great for acting out Bible stories. David and Goliath? Absolutely.
7. Paper Bag Puppet (Jonah)
Take a small paper lunch bag. Glue on blue construction paper waves at the bottom flap (that’s the whale’s mouth opening).
Draw a face on the main part. When you open and close the bag, the whale “eats” a tiny paper Jonah. My kids giggled for ten solid minutes.
8. Bulletin Paper Origami Fish
Use an old church bulletin or newsletter – the thin paper works perfectly. Fold it into a simple origami fish shape.
You can find a basic “fold in half, then triangle” pattern online, but even just crumpling the paper into a fish shape and taping it works. Draw on eyes with marker and hang them from the ceiling with yarn.
9. Handprint Dove
Trace each child’s hand on white construction paper. Cut out the handprint, then glue the thumb and pinky finger together to form a wing shape.
Add a small yellow paper beak and an eye. Write “Peace” on the dove. Line them up on a bulletin board – it looks like a flock flying to heaven.
10. Button Cross On Felt
Cut a cross shape from felt or heavy paper. Then let kids glue on buttons of all colors and sizes.
No buttons? Use paper circles punched from scraps. This is a quiet, focused craft for a rowdy day. I once used this to calm down a class after a sugar-filled snack time.
You can also add a yarn loop to hang it. The texture makes it feel special even though it’s just buttons and glue.
11. Cup And String Telephone
Poke a small hole in the bottom of two paper cups. Thread a long piece of yarn through both holes and tie a knot inside each cup.
Pull the yarn tight and talk into one cup while a friend listens from the other. Use this to teach about prayer – God always hears us, even through a “string.”
12. Sponge Painting Shapes
Cut a cleaning sponge (new, please) into simple shapes – heart, cross, fish. Dip the sponges in a shallow dish of diluted glue mixed with a drop of food coloring.
Stamp the shapes onto construction paper. The kids go crazy for the squishy texture. Just keep a roll of paper towels handy.
13. Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars
Tape two empty toilet paper rolls together side by side. Decorate with markers or wrap in construction paper.
Punch holes on the outer sides and tie a yarn strap. Go on a “God’s creation” hunt around the church building. Look for leaves, windows, or smiling faces.
14. Yarn Wrapped Cross
Cut a cross shape from cardboard (an old cereal box works). Wrap yarn around and around until the cardboard is covered.
Tuck the end under a few wraps. This is a great fidget-friendly craft. One kid wrapped his so tightly the cardboard bent – we called it the “squishy cross.”
15. Paper Cup Lantern
Take a paper cup and cut slits down the sides, stopping about an inch from the bottom. Fold each slit outward to create a lantern shape.
Glue on small tissue paper squares or just color with markers. Place a battery tea light inside (if you have one) or just enjoy the paper sculpture.
16. Sticker Scene On Paper
Grab a sheet of construction paper and a pile of stickers from the supply closet. Encourage kids to create a Bible scene – Noah’s ark, the garden, or a simple “God made me” picture.
Add marker drawings to fill in the gaps. This is zero-mess and perfect for the kid who says “I’m not creative.” Stickers do the heavy lifting.
You can also use stickers as rewards. Finish the craft? Pick three stickers. My class once used so many stickers that the paper gained an extra pound.
17. Rubber Band Guitar
Stretch rubber bands around a empty tissue box or a small cardboard box. Slide a ruler or popsicle stick under the rubber bands as a bridge.
Pluck the bands to make music. Sing a Sunday school song while strumming. It sounds terrible but the kids feel like rock stars.
18. Paper Clip Chain Angel
Bend paper clips into loops and connect them to form a chain. For the head, bend a paper clip into a small circle and attach it at the top.
Add wings by taping on folded paper triangles. This is a great fine-motor workout. And FYI, you can make about thirty angels from one small box of clips.
19. Index Card Memory Verse
Give each child an index card. Write one word of a memory verse on separate small paper squares, then have them glue the words in order onto the card.
Decorate the border with marker doodles. Fold the card in half to stand it up on a desk. Quiz each other during snack time.
20. Envelope Pocket For Prayer Requests
Take a standard envelope and seal it. Cut off one short end to create a pocket. Decorate the outside with stickers or drawings.
Use this pocket to store written prayer requests. You can even glue a small paper heart on the flap. I made one of these years ago and still find little notes inside.
Let kids exchange pockets and pray for each other. It builds community without any complicated steps. If you have yarn, punch holes and make it a necklace pouch.
21. Cotton Ball Cloud With Rainbow
Draw a cloud shape on blue paper. Glue cotton balls inside the cloud. Then cut thin strips of colored paper (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) and glue them arching down from the cloud.
This is a Noah’s ark classic. One kid asked if the cotton balls were sheep clouds. I said yes, absolutely.
22. Ruler Pencil Holder
Glue four popsicle sticks or small rulers together to form a square base. Then glue more sticks standing up around the edges to make a box.
Use it to hold crayons or markers. You can also wrap yarn around the outside for color. This took my class a full hour, which was a blessing.
23. Paper Fan With Bible Verse
Fold a sheet of construction paper back and forth like an accordion. Staple one end to hold the folds together.
Write “Jesus calms the storm” or another short verse on the fan. Use it to cool off after a game of duck-duck-goose. The kids will fan each other and laugh.
24. Staple And Tape Bracelet
Cut a strip of paper long enough to wrap around a wrist. Staple the ends together (careful of little fingers). Cover the staple with tape.
Decorate the bracelet with marker dots, stickers, or tiny paper shapes. Make a new one every Sunday. My daughter once wore seven of these at once.
You can also layer two different colored strips. Add a felt heart in the center. The best part? When it falls apart, you just make another.
25. Hole Punch Confession Cross
Punch a bunch of small circles from colored paper using a hole punch. Glue the circles onto a cross shape drawn on paper.
Each circle represents something to confess or thank God for. Write a word inside a few circles before gluing. It’s like a secret prayer journal.
26. Paper Plate Tambourine
Take two paper plates and decorate the bottoms. Place a handful of dry beans or rice on one plate (if you have them – otherwise skip and just clap).
Staple the plates together face-to-face. Shake to make noise. I once forgot the beans, so we just clapped the plates together. Still worked.
27. Felt Finger Puppets
Cut small felt rectangles and fold them in half. Glue the sides, leaving the bottom open for a finger. Add button eyes or yarn hair.
Act out the story of David and Goliath. The puppet with the biggest button wins. No sewing required – glue sticks work fine on felt.
28. Paper Clip Rosary (Non-Catholic Friendly)
String paper clips together by hooking them end to end. Count ten clips, then add a different colored clip as a marker.
Use this to count prayers or blessings. It’s not a real rosary, but kids love the clicking sound. You can also bend clips into a circle to make a prayer ring.
29. Construction Paper Crown
Cut a long strip of yellow or gold paper. Cut zigzag shapes along one edge. Staple or tape the ends to fit a child’s head.
Glue on small paper jewels or stickers. Wear it while singing “Jesus is King.” I had a boy refuse to take his crown off for the rest of the day.
30. Tape Resist Cross
Tear small pieces of masking tape and stick them onto paper in a cross shape. Then color all over the paper with markers or crayons.
Peel off the tape to reveal a white cross. This is pure magic for kids. They’ll want to do it again with different shapes.
31. Rubber Band Ball
Collect rubber bands from the closet (old ones work fine). Wrap them around each other until you form a bouncy ball.
That’s it. A simple stress ball that also teaches how many small things can become one big thing – like the church body. Squeeze it during prayer.
Conclusion
You don’t need fancy kits or a trip to the craft store. The church supply closet is already packed with everything you need to keep kids busy, learning, and laughing.
I’ve used these crafts on crazy Sundays, rainy Wednesdays, and even during a VBS meltdown. They work because they’re simple, cheap, and use what you already have.
So next time you open that closet, don’t groan. Grab some paper plates and pipe cleaners. Your kids will thank you – probably with a slightly sticky, very crooked, absolutely perfect craft.