Make a paper character - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Make a paper character

Fold, cut, and decorate a movable paper character using cardstock, scissors, and brads; design features, color clothing, and create simple jointed movement.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a movable paper character

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Paper Craft Tutorial: Paper People

What you need

Cardstock, scissors, brads or paper fasteners, hole punch, pencil, colouring materials, ruler, adult supervision required

Step 1

Gather all your materials and clear a flat workspace so you have room to fold and cut.

Step 2

Fold one sheet of cardstock in half vertically so the fold will be the center line of your character.

Step 3

Draw the outline of the character body and head along the folded edge so the shape will be symmetrical when cut.

Step 4

Cut the drawn shape out through both layers of the folded cardstock to make a symmetrical body.

Step 5

Unfold the body and lay it flat on your workspace so you can add details and joints.

Step 6

Use a separate small piece of cardstock and draw simple arms and legs sized to match your body.

Step 7

Cut out the arms and legs carefully along your drawn lines.

Step 8

Decorate the body and each limb with colouring materials to add faces clothes and fun patterns.

Step 9

Decide where the shoulders hips and neck joints should be and mark small dots on the body and the matching ends of each limb.

Step 10

Punch holes at each marked dot using the hole punch making sure the holes line up between body and limb.

Step 11

Attach each limb to the body by pushing a brad through the aligned holes and bending the brad prongs open flat but loose enough so the joint can move.

Step 12

Take a photo and share your finished movable paper character on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use if we don’t have cardstock, a hole punch, or metal brads?

Use heavy printer paper or glue two regular sheets together in place of cardstock, make holes with a thick needle or sharpened pencil if you lack a hole punch, and attach limbs by threading string, using small safety pins, or securing with tape instead of metal brads when following the folding, cutting, and joint steps.

My holes don’t line up or the limb joints are too stiff—how can I fix that?

Before punching, mark matching dots on the folded body and each limb and test-align them, then widen holes slightly with an awl or pencil and bend brad prongs only flat enough to hold but loose enough so the attached limbs can move freely.

How can I adapt this activity for younger kids or older kids?

For younger children, pre-fold and pre-cut the body, pre-punch holes, and use stickers or tape instead of brads for joints, while older kids can draw more complex symmetrical outlines, add extra jointed limbs, and use a craft knife for finer cuts under supervision.

How can we make the paper character more durable or more personalized?

Make the character sturdier by gluing a second cardstock layer or laminating the body, improve joint movement with small washers or beads on the brads, and personalize it with layered paper clothes, googly eyes, or a decorated background before taking the photo to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make a movable paper character

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How to Make A Paper Dolls OC | Easy CRAFT Tutorial | DIY

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Facts about paper crafts for kids

✂️ Paper dolls have entertained kids for centuries — versions date back to the 1700s when people cut paper figures by hand.

🎨 Cardstock is thicker and sturdier than regular paper (often around 200–300 gsm), perfect for characters that move and last longer.

🧷 Brads (split pins) act as tiny pivoting joints so paper arms and legs can swing and rotate.

🤸 Movable paper figures called "jumping jacks" were a popular European folk toy and use simple joints or strings to animate.

♻️ Upcycling cereal boxes or old folders into cardstock is a cheap, eco-friendly way to make durable paper characters.

How do you make a movable paper character by folding, cutting, and decorating?

Start by folding a sheet of cardstock in half and sketching a character so the fold creates a symmetrical body. Cut out the main shape, then design separate arms, legs, or a head on extra cardstock and cut them free. Punch small holes at joint points and attach parts with paper brads so they rotate. Decorate clothing and features with markers, crayons, stickers, and adjust hole size for smooth movement.

What materials do I need to make a movable paper character?

You’ll need heavyweight cardstock (or sturdy construction paper), child-safe scissors, paper brads (split pins), and a hole punch or awl. Also gather pencils and erasers, markers/crayons/colored pencils, glue or tape, a ruler, and optional stickers or googly eyes. Adults may choose a craft knife and cutting mat for precision. Keep small parts like brads and googly eyes away from very young children; supervise as needed.

What ages is this movable paper character activity suitable for?

This craft suits different ages with supervision and adaptations. Ages 4–5 can design, color, and help with simple cuts while an adult does the tricky cutting and hole-punching. Ages 6–8 can cut basic shapes and attach brads with some help. Ages 9+ can plan joint mechanics and decorate independently. Always supervise scissors and small parts for younger kids and simplify steps to match ability.

What are some fun variations for a movable paper character?

Try turning the character into a hand puppet by gluing a popsicle stick to the back, or stack several characters for a flip-book animation effect. Make accordion-folded limbs for stretchy movement, layer cardstock for 3D clothing, or swap brads for ribbon or string for looser motion. Older kids can theme characters (animals, heroes) and build small scenes to act out stories with their paper figures.

Ready to create?

All Activities

Make a paper character

Fold, cut, and decorate a movable paper character using cardstock, scissors, and brads; design features, color clothing, and create simple jointed movement.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a movable paper character

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Paper Craft Tutorial: Paper People

What you need

Cardstock, scissors, brads or paper fasteners, hole punch, pencil, colouring materials, ruler, adult supervision required

Step 1

Gather all your materials and clear a flat workspace so you have room to fold and cut.

Step 2

Fold one sheet of cardstock in half vertically so the fold will be the center line of your character.

Step 3

Draw the outline of the character body and head along the folded edge so the shape will be symmetrical when cut.

Step 4

Cut the drawn shape out through both layers of the folded cardstock to make a symmetrical body.

Step 5

Unfold the body and lay it flat on your workspace so you can add details and joints.

Step 6

Use a separate small piece of cardstock and draw simple arms and legs sized to match your body.

Step 7

Cut out the arms and legs carefully along your drawn lines.

Step 8

Decorate the body and each limb with colouring materials to add faces clothes and fun patterns.

Step 9

Decide where the shoulders hips and neck joints should be and mark small dots on the body and the matching ends of each limb.

Step 10

Punch holes at each marked dot using the hole punch making sure the holes line up between body and limb.

Step 11

Attach each limb to the body by pushing a brad through the aligned holes and bending the brad prongs open flat but loose enough so the joint can move.

Step 12

Take a photo and share your finished movable paper character on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use if we don’t have cardstock, a hole punch, or metal brads?

My holes don’t line up or the limb joints are too stiff—how can I fix that?

How can I adapt this activity for younger kids or older kids?

How can we make the paper character more durable or more personalized?

Watch videos on how to make a movable paper character

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How to Make A Paper Dolls OC | Easy CRAFT Tutorial | DIY

4 Videos

Facts about paper crafts for kids

✂️ Paper dolls have entertained kids for centuries — versions date back to the 1700s when people cut paper figures by hand.

🎨 Cardstock is thicker and sturdier than regular paper (often around 200–300 gsm), perfect for characters that move and last longer.

🧷 Brads (split pins) act as tiny pivoting joints so paper arms and legs can swing and rotate.

🤸 Movable paper figures called "jumping jacks" were a popular European folk toy and use simple joints or strings to animate.

♻️ Upcycling cereal boxes or old folders into cardstock is a cheap, eco-friendly way to make durable paper characters.