25 Paper Crafts For Memorial Day That Everyone Will Enjoy

various Memorial Day paper crafts arranged on a table with a star backdrop

Table of Contents

Memorial Day reminds us of the brave men and women who lost their lives in the fight for our freedom. We also remember their families who bravely gave up their loved ones in the service of the country. One way to honor them is by learning how to make paper craft for Memorial Day. 

First, prepare all your supplies and tools to make a crepe paper poppy. Assemble the poppy by gluing the pistil around the stamen and petals. Cover the stem with floral tape or crepe paper and fluff the petals to make the flower look more natural.

Continue reading to find more Memorial Day crafts that fit everyone in the family. We arranged them according to age group, so you have paper crafts for preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults.

How to Make a Crepe Paper Poppy for Memorial Day

finished crepe paper poppy for Memorial Day

The red poppy is symbolic of the bloodshed by thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in the war between France and Belgium in the early 1900s. 

It was first mentioned in the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, which commemorated the irony of pain and death with the beauty of red poppies that grew amid the rubble.

Later, several concerted efforts to raise money for war widows and orphans resulted in selling silk poppies. Madame Guérin and Moina Michael were well-known personalities to promote awareness of the evils of war and raise funds to support war heroes and their bereaved families by selling silk poppies. 

For this effort, the ladies earned their moniker as the Originator of Poppy Day and Poppy Lady, respectively.

What You’ll Need

Prepare the supplies and tools

1. Prepare the parts of the poppy by cutting the following:

a.) A 1 ½ x 3-inch oblong from an olive green crepe paper (long side cut along the grain)
b.) Six pieces of 3x4-inch red crepe paper (long side cut along the grain)
c.) A 2x8-inch black crepe paper (short side cut along the grain) 

2. You’ll also need a pair of regular scissors, a pair of pinking shears, a hot glue gun, an 18-gauge floral stem, a black marker, and a wire cutter. You may also need a roll of floral tape. 

    Make the pistil

    Preparing the pistil from black crepe paper 
    1. Cut one broad side of the black crepe paper using the pinking shears to make a jagged end.
    2. Make small cuts along the grain of the rectangle to resemble the pistil, then twist each cut into a tight roll. Set aside

    Make the stamen of the poppy  

    Make the stamen of the poppy
    1. Wrap a wad of tissue paper around the floral stem. 
    2. Slightly stretch the olive green crepe paper and wrap it around the tissue paper. Wrap the excess crepe paper around the floral stem, then glue it. 
    3. Make crisscrossing lines resembling an asterisk on the top of the green crepe paper. 

    Assemble the flower

    1. To finish the assembly, wrap the pistil around the stamen and glue it.
    2. Slightly stretch the center of each petal and pull the outer edge of the petal to give it a ruffled look. Pinch the other end of the petal. 
    3. Glue the petals to the stem, the inner three close to each other. Add the outer three petals, alternating with the placement of the inner petals. 

    Fluff to form the flower

    1. Slowly pull the petals out to spread the petals. 
    2. Wrap the stem with floral tape or a strip cut from the olive green crepe paper. 

    Here’s a video showing another method on how to make paper flowers out of tissue paper:

    Preschooler Memorial Day Paper Crafts

    You may be wondering how to make paper crafts for Memorial Day with your preschooler kids. So, we rounded up some paper crafts for them, but they may need help with the cutting and assembly.

    1. Tissue Paper US Flag

    tissue paper Memorial Day flag

    This memorial day craft is straightforward to make for a child as young as three years old. It’s never too early to let the kids know the history of their country. Making a simple craft like this tissue paper flag is a great way to teach your kids why we celebrate Memorial Day. 

    Things You’ll Need

    Directions

    1. Cut the red, white, and blue tissue paper into 1 ½-inch square.
    2. Color the stars on your flag template using the yellow marker.
    3. Crumple the tissue paper squares and glue them, alternating the red and white stripes.
    4. Do the same on the blue tissue paper and glue them on the area around the stars. 

    Pro Tip: Older kids can try putting the tissue paper squares on the tip of a chopstick, apply glue to the tissue paper, and push the chopstick into the flag template to stick. Add some yellow squares and do the same for the stars for a cleaner look. 

    2. Cardstock American Flag

    American flag made from cardstock to use for the Memorial Day parade

    Here’s another American flag craft to make with smaller kids. All you need here are some printed cardstock, or you can also download a printable US flag and have your kids color them in. 

    The cardstock and dowel assembly makes it easier for your kids to handle their flags and wave them more easily. You can also use a longer dowel to stick these flags in your lawn for a more festive look.

    Things You’ll Need

    Directions

    1. Take a 4 ¼ x 7 ¼-inch piece of cardstock and score it about ½-inch from the left side end.
    2. Cut two pieces of 4x6-inch pieces from red and white striped cardstock. 
    3. Cut two pieces of 2x2-inch squares from blue cardstock. If it does not have star prints, make several white stars or dots to resemble the stars.
    4. Stick the red and white cardstocks on both sides of the white cardstock. 
    5. Glue the blue square on the upper lefthand corner on the front side of the flag and mirror its position on the backside of the flag. If you used plain blue cardstock, use a correction pen to make white dots or stars. 
    6. Fold the white cardstock along the scored line and make three cuts halfway in the fold.
    7. Stick the dowel into the cut on the cardstock, weaving it into the flag.
    8. Secure the flag by tying a piece of ribbon at the top and bottom of the flag.  

    3. Memorial Day Pinwheel

    Memorial day pinwheels made from printed cardstock

    Let your kids be kids and bring back the allure of running in open spaces, away from gadgets and technology. Use red, blue, and white cardstock to make these pinwheels so your kids can play with them. 

    These also make great lawn decors along with the cardstock flag in the previous tutorial. Of course, you can always buy mini-versions of the US flag, but where’s the fun in that?

    Things You’ll Need

    Directions

    1. Cut a 6x6-inch paper from your cardstock. You can also make a bigger one by using a larger square. Mark out the center of the cardstock. 
    2. Make diagonal cuts about 3 ½ inches from the corner to the center of the cardstock.
    3. Cut a hole in the center of the cardstock and on one corner of the pinwheel wing.
    4. Add a small dot of hot glue to the corner of the pinwheel wing, bring it to the center, and line the corner hole with the center hole. Do the same with the three other wings. 
    5. Cut a 1-inch circle from cardstock. Punch a hole in the center. Secure the pinwheel by gluing the circles on the front and the back. 
    6. Stick the dowel into the straw. Cut a small hole on one end of the straw, about ½ inch from the end. 
    7. Push the pipe cleaner into the hole you cut on the straw, then slide the pipe cleaner into the hole on the pinwheel. Fold the end of the pipe cleaner on the front of the pinwheel to secure it. 
    8. Give at least a 1-inch space between the pinwheel and the dowel. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the dowel to secure the pinwheel.
    9. Add a few ribbons to decorate the pinwheel. 

    4. Memorial Day Handprint Eagle 

    Cardboard Memorial Day eagle made from handprints

    Here is an excellent opportunity to teach your kid about the symbolism of the bald eagle in US history. Connect the bald eagle’s symbolism and how Memorial Day is revered for those soldiers who fought for freedom.

    Things You’ll Need

    Directions

    1. Trace your kid’s hands to a piece of brown kraft cardstock. Make a pair of them for the wings.
    2. Cut the body of the eagle and a star from the same piece of kraft cardstock. 
    3. Paint the eagle. Use white acrylic paint for the head,  white, red, blue for the tail, and yellow for the beak and talons. 
    4. Mark off the star with lines and stripes. Paint the upper half with blue.  Do the lower part in red and white stripes. 
    5. To assemble, glue the hand cutouts to the back of the eagle. Use a black marker for the eyes, beak, and talons. 

    Pro Tip: Make a card out of this craft by tracing the finished eagle on another sheet of kraft cardstock and cutting it out. Add a message to the back cutout, then use a small strip of cardstock and join the front and back part of the card by the eagle’s head.

    Kids Memorial Day Paper Crafts

    The secret to making paper craft for Memorial Day is to keep them age-appropriate in the difficulty level. Your elementary-age kids will love the crafts we have on this list. 

    Imagine how proud they will be when they see their work displayed around the house. The good thing about these crafts is that you can reuse them over the years for patriotic celebrations like the 4th of July or Veterans Day, to name a few.

    5. Construction Paper Poppy

    Poppy flowers made from construction paper on a distressed table

    Poppy flowers remind us that hope continues to emerge despite the bitter ravages of wars. Every survivor has shown resilience to move forward after dealing with their post-war trauma. 

    Make this year’s Memorial Day memorable by making these poppy flowers from construction paper. You can use this easy-to-make decor as a venue backdrop or adornment for the selfie frames in your photo booth.

    Things You’ll Need

    Prepare the petals

    1. Cut your construction paper using the said dimensions: 
    2. Primary color - one piece of 4-inch square and one piece of 3 ¼-inch square
    3. Black construction paper - one piece of 1 ⅝-inch square
    4. Yellow construction paper - one piece of 1 ⅝-inch square.
    5. Fold the 4-inch square for the main color in half to make a rectangle. Locate the center point of the rectangle, then fold it thrice to form a triangle. 
    6. Draw a wavy line on the wider part of the triangle to form the petals. Cut along the wavy lines, then on one side of the triangle to make a three-petal flower. 
    7. Repeat steps B and C for the smaller square of the main color.
    8. Curl the petals with a pencil.

        Make the stamen and pistil

        1. Crumple a small wad of tissue paper into a tight circle. Wrap it tightly using the yellow construction paper. Twist the base and cut off the excess construction paper, leaving ¼-inch to it. This part will be the stamen. 
        2. Fold the black square in four, cut a circle out of it, and punch a hole in the center. 
        3. Make a fringe for the pistil by making minor cuts around the circle.
        4. Push the stamen (yellow ball) into the hole of the pistil (black fringe) and glue them together. 

        Assemble the poppy

        1. Slightly push the petals to the center to make a cup. Glue the outer and inner petals of the poppy. 
        2. Glue the stamen into the petals. Your poppy is now ready. 

        6. ‘Merica Frames

        fun frames with a patriotic vibe 

        Add a Memorial Day charm to your living room with these shadow boxes filled with patriotic images. This effortless craft is easy enough for elementary school-age children because it needs only painting the frame and gluing the pictures to the cardstock.

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Tape the parts of the shadowbox/frame you don’t want to paint. Spray one frame with red chalkboard paint and the other with white matte finish paint. 
        2. Measure the frames or shadow boxes and cut that size out of a kraft cardstock.
        3. Print the Lincoln vector, map outline, and stars & stripes printables. 
        4. Clue Lincoln’s face on a piece of cardstock. Cut it out and measure the width of the face where the sunglasses will go. 
        5. Make an aviator sunglasses outline on the stars and stripes printout. Mark the outline with a marker, then cut out the sunglasses. Glue it to Lincoln’s face. 
        6. Glue the American map printout to a cardstock. Paint the map with blue acrylic paint.   
        7. Use white acrylic paint to the word ‘Merica’ on the map printout, or use a stencil if you prefer. Once dry, cut out the map, carefully following the outline.
        8. Glue Lincoln’s face on one cardstock and the map on another cardstock cut out for the frames. You can also use foam tape to give your image a raised look. 
        9. Attach the image to the frame for display. 

        Pro Tip: To make the ‘Merica stencil, create freehand lettering on a piece of paper. Cut out the words using a craft knife. Put the paper stencil on the map outline, then slowly dab the paint to the cutout portion.

        7. Star Table Decor

        A simple cardboard and burlap star decor for the table

        How to make paper craft for Memorial Day presents a challenge, but this burlap-covered star gives you the perfect solution. 

        We have these stars in different sizes to display on your mantelpiece by making it into a three-dimensional piece of art. You can even use it as a curtain holder by gluing a piece of ribbon at the star’s back or hanging several of these stars on a hemp rope as a banner.

        Things You’ll Need

        Make the cardboard star

        1. Make your star template, depending on the side you like. We recommend a 6-inch star as the perfect size.  
        2. Cut out two stars for the front and the back and 1 ½-inch wide rectangles, depending on the size of your star.
        3. Measure each side of the star and mark the points as 1 - 5, starting from the left side. 
        4. Score the rectangle cardboard where the folds on the side should be. Mark them corresponding to the marks on the triangle earlier. 
        5. Assemble the star by adding dots of hot glue as you attach the sides of the star. 
        6. Before closing the star, half-fill it with sand or pebbles to add weight to it. 

        Decorate the star

        1. If using burlap, cut the front and the back parts using the star template for size. Cut also a 1 ½-inch wide strip of burlap for the sides. Glue the burlap to the side and the star face. 
        2. If you’re using yarn, spread some glue on the star, then cut the yarn an inch longer than the broadest part of the star. Make a crisscross design on the star. Do the sides as well. 
        3. Finish by adding a bow on the top of the star. 

        8. Messy Bow Mason Jar Hanger

        mason jar and ribbon door hanger made from cardboard and ribbons

        Door hangers add charm and beauty to your front door while lending a welcome vibe to it. Making a papercraft for Memorial Day poses a challenge since the paper is not as stable as wood, and front door hangers have to face the extremes of the elements. 

        Fortunately, Mod Podge saves the day so that you can make a lovely door hanger with a cardboard mason jar, a very American staple in every kitchen. Top it with a messy bow made of fabric and burlap ribbons.

        Things You’ll Need

        Make the mason jar

        1. Cut out a mason jar shape from your cardboard box or kraft cardstock.
        2. Paint it with white acrylic paint. Add another layer if you want to when the first layer is dry. 
        3. Paint the upper lefthand corner of the mason jar with blue acrylic paint. Let dry.
        4. Add squiggly red lines on the mason jar for the red and white stripes. Fill them out with red paint and let them dry.
        5. Using a star stencil to paint stars on the blue square on the mason jar. 
        6. Add squiggly white lines to the edges of the red stripe to highlight the door hanger.
        7. Once dry, add 1-2 coats of Mod Podge to seal in the cardstock mason jar. 
        8. Punch a hole on the top of the mason jar, slide the rope through it, and tie the ends off. Set aside. 

        Make the messy bow

        1. Cut about 8-10 inches of red, blue, and white ribbons, burlap, gingham fabric.
        2. Arrange the ribbons, burlap, and fabric randomly, placing the burlap on the lowermost. 
        3. Tie the bow with a floral wire. 
        4. Gather all the ends together and cut off the excess lengths. Fluff the bow and tie it to the top of the rope.

        9. Framed Paper Straw Flag

        a shadowbox filled with an American flag made from paper straws

        How to make paper craft for Memorial Day using post-consumer materials? Upcycle your paper straws to make it into Memorial day art in a shadowbox. 

        You can use it to decorate your mantle, a corner table, and even hang it on the wall. If you don’t have straws, you can roll red and white cardstock, then glue them alternately to form the US flag stripes. 

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Measure the inside of your shadowbox frame and cut a cardboard piece to size.
        2. Divide the cardboard piece into four and take the upper left quarter as the stars section. If using a rectangular shadowbox, lie on its longer side for this project. 
        3. Cut your blue straw with stars or polka dots designs to fit the stars section. Do not allow excess straws outside the cardboard, so it fits into the shadowbox. 
        4. Add the red striped straws, or you can alternate a solid red and solid white paper straw. 
        5. Drill a small hole on one side of the shadow box. If using a rectangular box, you can drill two holes about 3 inches apart. 
        6. Add glue to the floor of the shadowbox and attach the straw flag.
        7. String some silver beads to a 12-inch floral wire. The stringed beads should be at least 8 inches long. Make a longer string if the box has two holes. 
        8. Insert both ends of the floral wire into the hole on the shadowbox. Tie it off and cut the excess wire. If the box has two holes, insert one end of the wire into one hole and the other end into the other hole. Lock the end of the wire and secure it with hot glue to the upper side of the frame.

        10. Memorial Day Postcard Wall Art

        Memorial day wall art featuring postcards and posters 

        If you’re still wondering how to make paper craft for Memorial Day, here’s another upcycling project that your kids can do with old postcards or posters. 

        If you don’t have those, you can always print patriotic images to use in this artwork. You can also use these images to share pieces of American history with your children.

        Things You’ll Need

        Prepare the postcard backdrop

        1. Line up 12 pieces of paint sticks. Use three paint sticks to glue the base together at the back.
        2. Sand the upper part of the base, then wipe off the dust with a clean, dry cloth.
        3. Add the star design using acrylic paint. 

        Paint the wooden beads

        1. Make three strings of 7 beads each.  
        2. Paint the beads in red, white, and blue. Let dry.
        3. Remove the beads from their strings and make a longer string, alternating the colors. Tie off the ends of the hemp rope and set aside.

        Assemble the wall art

        1. Make three lines of decorative cardstock on the wall art base. 
        2. Add a strip of cardstock about ½ inch from the top and the bottom. 
        3. Divide the remaining space at the center and line it with another strip of cardstock.
        4. Arrange your postcards on the wall art base, adding one on the upper half and two on the lower half. Secure with hot glue. 

        Teens Memorial Day Paper Crafts

        How to make paper craft for Memorial Day that fit your teenage kids or grandchildren? Make it challenging to hold their attention but not too complicated to make them leave it. 

        Crafting together is a great way to spend quality time off gadgets and mobile games while sharing important snippets of history with them.

        11. Memorial Day Star Sculpture

        Star sculptures and woodblock art in a galvanized iron basin

        Sculptures like these stars symbolize the unity and bravery of the men and women in the military. These star sculptures are very easy to make. 

        You can use wood scraps, store-bought star forms, or simply cut them out from cardboard. We used several layers of kraft cardstock and other supplies you can find around the house to make this patriotic decor.

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Make star templates, one large star for the main sculpture and smaller ones for the decors. Make the points of the smaller ones rounded, like in the picture above.
        2. Cut 4-5 large stars per sculpture and glue them together.
        3. Paint the outer stars. Use blue on one star, red and white stripes on the other. You can also paint one star with blue on the upper half, then red and white stripes on the lower half.
        4. Paint the smaller stars with white acrylic paint. Glue them on the blue star. 
        5. Cut two 3-inch pieces from a 1x2-inch scrap wood per star sculpture. Paint it white. 
        6. Glue the star sculptures to the woodblocks to serve as its stand.

        Pro Tip: To make it look thicker, use 3-4 layers of corrugated cardboard in the middle. Measure the thickness of your star sculpture, then cut a long strip of cardstock using this width. Glue this strip around the star to cover the corrugated cardboard in between the cardstock stars.  

        12. Mason Jar Table Decor

        a mason jar counter decor next to earthen bowls and pot holding wooden ladles 

        Turn the iconic Mason jar into a charming table decor without using an actual jar. Cardboard and kraft cardstock is your go-to solution to 3D table decors like this and other projects we tried on this list. 

        Prop several of these mason jars against your kitchen counter to keep up with the farmhouse theme but add a patriotic vibe. Its charm will surely bring you back to our ancestors’ prairie days. 

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Cut out the mason jar template. If you cannot find one, draw one using the outline of your mason jar. You can also freehand draw it. 
        2. Cut out two mason jar outlines from the kraft cardstock and 4-5 from the cardboard box. Make also a star and heart cutout from the cardstock. 
        3. Sandwich the cardboard cutouts between the cardstock cutouts by gluing them together.
        4. Paint the body of the mason jar with blue acrylic paint. Decorate it with polka dots or stars using a correction pen.
        5. Paint the star cutout with red acrylic and the heart cutout with white acrylic. Once dry, glue it to the mason jar. 
        6. Cut out a piece of gingham cloth and glue it to the mason jar cover. Wrap a piece of hemp cloth around it and finish with a hemp rope bow. 

        Pro Tip: Make different mason jar sizes and add extra embellishments to make every one of them unique. You can also use sequins & spangles or foam sheets for the decors. You can even emboss your designs or add die-cuts if you want.

        13. USA Shadowbox 

        USA shadowbox and rose topiary on a wooden side table

        Here’s another shadow box project you can do to add a patriotic vibe to your living room decor. Plus, your teenager will love doing this project.

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Spray your shadowbox with white matte paint. 
        2. While waiting for the paint to dry, prepare the image you want to frame. Cut out a piece of printed cardstock, making sure it fits into the shadow box.
        3. On white cardstock, write “USA” using red acrylic paint. 
        4. Cut the word “USA”, allowing ½ - ¾ inch around the letters. Tape it to the bigger cardstock you’ve cut earlier using an adhesive foam mount to give it more definition. 
        5. Make a star cutout from the white cardstock and paint it blue. 
        6. To assemble, glue the bigger cardstock into the shadow box, then glue the star and a bow on the box. 

        Pro Tip: If you have an embossing toolkit, emboss the word “USA” in red embossing powder. Using a clear embossing pen, write the word “USA” on the white cardstock. Sprinkle red embossing powder over it, then shake off the excess. Melt the embossing powder with a heat gun.

        14. Memorial Day Frame

        Stars and Stripes Forever Song printout in a double-sided sign stand

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Select a focal point on your poster and dab it with an embossing ink dabber.
        2. Apply clear embossing powder on the area you dabbed with embossing ink. Shake off all excess powder, then use a thin paintbrush to remove excess powder around the design. 
        3. Heat with an embossing gun to activate the embossing powder.
        4. Sand your wood block with a 300 grit sanding block. Remove all dust, then apply the wood finishing according to product instructions.
        5. Mount the frame to the stained block using wood glue. Wipe off excess adhesive for a clean finish.
        6. Remove the glass from the frame and mount your poster into the frame by adding a double-sided adhesive.

        15. Good Bless the USA Door Tags

        God bless the USA door tag and other crafting supplies

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Mark 1 ½ inches from the upper end of the chipboard and cut it off with a precision knife. Do this on two boards.
        2. Wrap one board with a light-colored, all-occasion wrapper and the other one with a Memorial Day wrapper. Punch a hole on top of the door tags.
        3. Paint the letters needed for the ‘God Bless the USA’ with acrylic paint. Choose the color that contrasts nicely with the all-occasion wrapping paper used in one tag. 
        4. Glue the wooden letters to the door tag with all-occasion wrapping.
        5. Make a messy bow from several pieces of fabric and burlap ribbon. 
        6. Arrange the door tags, placing the door tag with the message over the Memorial Day tag. 
        7. Add another length of rope for the hanger after attaching the messy bow to the top of the door tag.

        Adults Memorial Day Paper Crafts

        Adults can be hard to please, so how to make paper craft for Memorial Day for adults? Simple! Make it beautiful and practical to use to give them a reason to smile every time they see it. With these in mind, here are some handy and lovely paper crafts you can do.  

        16. Papier Mache Bowl

        papier mache bowls and planter on a side table

        Though you cannot use these bowls for serving food, these will make unique holders for your paper napkins, silverware or even fill them with individually wrapped candies, chocolates, and other treats for your Memorial Day buffet.

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions 

        1. Wrap your bowl or planter with saran wrap.
        2. Cut some old newspaper into 1-inch strips and set aside.
        3. Mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup of flour. Mix well to remove all the lumps until you get the pancake batter consistency.
        4. Dip the newspaper strips into the flour mixture and drape it over the upside-down bowl. Add three or more layers until you get the thickness you want. Let it dry overnight.
        5. Once dry, take a blunt butter knife and wedge it between the bowl and the dried newspaper strips. Cut off the uneven edges of the papier-mache.
        6. Cut your wrapping paper into 1-inch strips. 
        7. Place Mod Podge into a bowl and brush some Mod Podge on the inside of the bowl. 
        8. Arrange the wrapping paper strips, starting from the inside and moving to the outside. 
        9. Once you have covered the papier-mache with wrapping paper, brush another layer of Mod Podge over the wrapping paper. Adding the Mod Podge will seal the paper to prevent it from fraying.

        17. Pizza Pan Wreath

        Pizza pan wreath with embossed message 

        Upcycle your burnt pizza pan with this wreath made with crepe paper roses. It is a practical and straightforward way on how to make paper craft for Memorial Day. You can also check our tutorial on paper flowers if you don’t want roses for your pizza pan wreath.

        Things You’ll Need:

        Prepare the pan

        1. Cover the pizza pan with white cardstock, and cut off any excess paper. 
        2. Spray the metal stars with metallic silver paint.  
        3. Add the decal to the center of the pizza pan. You can also emboss your message on the pan. 

        Make the roses 

        1. Cut a 36-cm length from the crepe paper roll.
        2. Fold about ½ inch along the long side of the crepe paper. 
        3. Fold a small triangle on the right-hand corner of the crepe paper.
        4. Make another fold on top of the triangular fold, keeping the right thumb under the newest fold. 
        5. Twist the crepe paper, moving your right thumb towards the back. 
        6. Repeat the fold and twist until you’ve done it to the whole length of the crepe paper.
        7. Slowly roll the crepe paper to form the rose, keeping the crepe paper slack. Secure with a tie wire. Wrap the base of the flower with floral wire. 
        8. Make four blue roses, seven red roses, and six white roses.  

        Assemble the wreath

        1. Glue the four blue roses, then alternate the red and white roses until you reach the blue roses. 
        2. Glue the stars on top of the blue roses. 
        3. Attach the shower ring at the back of the pizza pan using the E6000 glue. 

        18. Easy Construction Paper Balls

        Colorful construction paper balls to use as decors

        String these construction paper balls to hang on your mantelpiece or the porch. This craft is also easy enough for younger kids after you cut the construction paper into strips. Add fairy lights for a fancier paper ball garland.

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Cut your red, white, and blue construction paper into ½-inch strips. You can make ¾-inch strips if you want bigger balls. 
        2. Form a star with five strips, alternately weaving the strips into other strips so it can hold itself when you let go of it. Push the strips toward the center until they are snug enough. 
        3. Secure the weave by adding a craft clip to each star point, then pull the two strips apart to form a cup with the first weave.
        4. Make a ring out of another construction paper strip, then pull one end of each strip into the ring. 
        5. Finish the ball by gluing the opposing ends of the strips, weaving as you go. 
        6. String the balls, alternating the colors on a length of hemp rope. You can also add the fairy lights by positioning one light inside the ball for added effect. 
        7. Secure the balls over the fairy lights with craft clips. 

        19. Uncle Sam Door Hanger

        Uncle Sam-themed door hanger made from kraft cardstock and glitter paper

        Welcome your guests with a cardboard Uncle Sam door hanger that is both easy and fun to make. Don’t be intimidated by the instructions because it’s a lot easier than it looks. You can even freehand it as you go and make your variations on the door hanger. 

        Things You’ll Need

        Make the face

        1. Trace a 9-inch plate and make one circle on kraft cardstock and two circles on cardboard. Glue the cardboard together and top it with the cardstock. Cut about 1 ½ inch off the circle to make a semi-circle for the face. Paint the cardstock with cream acrylic paint.  
        2. Dry brush some pink paint on the cheeks. 

        Make the hat

        1. Cut a 2x12-inch rectangle from kraft cardstock and two rectangles from cardboard. Glue them together, leaving the cardstock on the top. Paint the cardstock with white acrylic paint for the brim.
        2. Cut a 7x7-inch square from the cardstock and another two from the cardboard. Glue together. It will serve as the crown of the hat. 
        3. Cut four 1x6-inch rectangles from red glitter paper, three 1-inch rectangles from white glitter paper, and a 1/2x7-inch rectangle from blue glitter paper. 
        4. Glue the glitter paper in this fashion. Measure 1 inch from the lower edge of the square, glue the blue strip horizontally and alternate the red and white rectangles for vertical stripes. Round the edges of the rectangle for the crown. 
        5. Stick the brim to the crown, leaving the blue strip visible. Then glue three metal stars, previously spray-painted with metallic silver.

        Make the mustache and the beard

        1. Wound some white yarn on a 6-inch piece of cardboard 20 times. Remove the yarn from the cardboard. Tie off one side, then make another 4 of this length. 
        2. For the mustache, wound the yarn on 3-inch cardboard 15 times. Remove the yarn from the cardboard and tie it off. Make two of this length.   
        3. Tie a length of yarn near the tip of the mustache so you can shape it easily. 

        Finish the face 

        1. Attach the beard and the mustache on the face by applying hot glue. Arrange as you go, so it does not look like Sta. Claus. Trim the mustache. 
        2. Add the eyes by painting a black circle about 1 ¼-inch from the brim of the hat.
        3. Cut a jelly bean-shaped eyebrow from white cardstock and glue it over the eye, adding a small piece of foam to raise it from the rest of the face slightly. 

        Embellish

        1. Cut a small piece of foam on the left side of the hat’s brim and add some artificial greens. 
        2. Make ten stars from blue glitter paper. Cut them out and sandwich a barbeque stick between two stars, then glue them together. Make five of these skewered stars. 
        3. Stick the stars into the foam where the fake greens are. Cut some of the skewers so the stars are of different lengths.
        4. Glue a 2x12 cardboard to the back of the face, leaving some of it visible from the beard. Add more glue to the cardboard so that the beard covering it sticks to the cardboard. 
        5. Make a bow from blue glitter paper and ribbons from red glitter paper. Glue it to the cardboard below the beard. 
        6. Add a piece of rope behind the hat to hang the door hanger.

        20. Memorial Day Floral Arrangement

        crepe paper roses and pompom arrangement in a terracotta pot adorned with burlap ribbon

        This Memorial Day craft with pompoms is an artsy but inexpensive way to beautify your side table or kitchen counter. Try swapping the terracotta planter with a lovely vase to make this arrangement as a centerpiece for your dinner table.

        Things You’ll Need:

        Make the roses

        1. Cut your crepe paper using these dimensions: 2 ½ x 3 inches for the white roses and 2x2 ½ inches for the blue roses. Form these petals into teardrop shapes by cutting off the corners and tapering the lower edge of the petals.
        2. Slightly stretch the center of the petals to give it a cupped look. Stretch the upper edges of the petals to give it a slightly ruffled look.
        3. Take one white petal and curl it tightly around a floral stem. Add more petals, making them less tight as you go. Use 8-9 petals per flower.
        4. Tie the base of the flower with floral wire and wrap it with floral tape.
        5. Repeat these steps for the blue roses. Make twice as many white roses as the blue ones.

        Make the tissue pompoms

        1. Make ¼ inch strips from red, blue, and white tissue paper. Cut the strips to 5 inches. 
        2. Gather a few strips. Fold them in half to tie them around a floral stem with a piece of floral wire. Cover the base of the pompom and the rest of the stem with floral wire.  

        Arrange the flowers

        1. Fill the terracotta pot with sand. 
        2. Stick the white roses into the sand, then insert some blue roses and tissue pompoms in between. 
        3. Add a few baby’s breath flowers to add more height and dimension to your arrangement. 
        4. Embellish the pot by wrapping a length of burlap ribbon around it. 

        Pro Tip: Remove the pompoms after the celebration and keep the rest of the arrangement. This scheme is an efficient way to keep up with the times without spending much. For the 4th of July, you can simply pop in the pompoms to have the same patriotic-themed flower arrangement.

        21. Giant Paper Bead Key Fob

        giant key fob made from paper beads with a paper bead roller in the background

        Do you want to know how to make papercraft for Memorial Day souvenirs that are both practical and beautiful? Here’s a paper bead tutorial that you can turn into a key fob, key holder, bag charms, or even jewelry. This paper bead needs a large format paper, and the strips should be at least 30 inches long.  

        Things You’ll Need

        Cut the strips 

        1. Make a test bead by winding four strips of construction paper using the bead roller of the chosen hole width. Measure the bead’s diameter and length, then make a mark on your paper to know how long your paper strips should be.
        2. Cut your strips according to the size you need. Aim for at least 1 inch for the paper bead. 
        3. Take four construction paper (red, blue, white) and measure your construction paper according to the dimensions you decided with your text bead.
        4. Make a thin isosceles triangle if you want a rounded bead. For a teardrop-shaped bead, make a thin right triangle.   
        5. Choose which color you should use twice to make a 4-layered bead. If you decide on blue, lay it on the table,  followed by white, another blue, and red. 

        Roll the beads

        1. To start rolling, push the other three triangles at least 3/16-inch from the edge of each triangle. Insert the large end of the triangle into the bead roller, then roll it tightly.
        2. When you’re nearing the end of the triangle, glue the ends as you go. 

        Glaze and assemble the beads

        1. Apply three coats of hardening glaze to harden the paper bead and protect it from moisture. Let it dry for 1 hour between coats, then let it dry for 24 hours before assembling. 
        2. Finish the bead by adding tacky glue to bead caps. Let it dry. Wipe off any excess glue. 

        Assemble the key fob

        1. Cut a length from the beading wire and pass it through the holes on the beading guard. It will protect your beading wire from unnecessary wear and tear.
        2. Slide the keychain hook into the wire guardian. Insert a crimp through both ends of the wire to lock one end of the beading wire. Cut off the short wire.
        3. Insert a spacer bead, glass bead, paper bead, glass bead, spacer bead, crimp, and six 4-inch thin chains for the tassel. 
        4. Turn the beading wire and insert it back to the crimp, spacer bead, glass bead, and paper bead. Pull the wire, so all of the beads are tight together. Crimp the last crimp, and cut off any excess wire.

        Pro Tip: You can also use clear embossing powder as a custom glaze if you have it already in your crafting supplies. 

        If you cannot find a large construction paper, make a template from the chipboard. Make marks on your template to allow for overlaps. Cut your 9x12-inch construction paper and glue the strips to get the desired length. Let the strips dry entirely before using.

        22. Paper Mache Rose Wreath

        A rose wreath on distressed wooden boards

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions

        1. Paint the wooden base with white matte paint.
        2. If you want to give an antique look to your board, rub the board with a dye stamp. 
        3. Outline the wreath using a bowl or any circular object.
        4. Cut approximately 12 inches of crepe paper from any of the colors you have. Form it into a rough rose, then glue it to the board.
        5. Add more roses, with a cluster of 10-15 blue roses, and then alternating 6-7 red roses and white roses around the wreath outline. Add more miniature white roses to the blue cluster to resemble the stars. 
        6. You can write any patriotic word under the wreath in a metallic gold Prismacolor pen if you’re using a solid base. You can also do paint calligraphy or decals. 

        23. Toilet Paper Roll Firecrackers

        Firecrackers made from toilet paper rolls wrapped in printed tissue paper and tied together with a hemp rope

        Give a new life to your tissue paper rolls by making fake firecrackers out of them. Cover them with patterned tissue paper and display them on your side table or kitchen corner. Add other items in your display to make it look more authentic, like this vintage truck planter.

        Things You’ll Need:

        Directions 

        1. You’ll need six pieces of toilet paper rolls for this paper craft. Mark one tissue paper roll in half and another at three-quarters and cut. 
        2. Tape two toilet paper rolls on top of each other. Tape the half and three-quarters paper roll to a whole paper roll each, so you have three firecrackers at different lengths.
        3. Make six circles on cardboard. Cut the circles and glue them to both ends of the toilet paper roll. 
        4. Wrap the toilet paper rolls with the patterned tissue paper, one design for each firecracker. 
        5. Make a knot on one end of the hemp rope and cut about an inch from the knot. Unravel the other end, then glue the knot end to the top of the firecracker. Do this to the two other firecrackers.
        6. Glue the three firecrackers together, then tie a hemp rope around them. 

        24. Patriotic Paper Bead Bracelet

        Patriotic-themed tubular paper bead bracelets strung with leather cord

        Are you wondering how to make paper craft for Memorial Day that you can sell to support your local war heroes? Or maybe you’re just itching for something that you can give to your friends and family. It’s relatively easy to make too.

        Things You’ll Need

        Prepare your paper strips

        1. Make a test bead by winding a strip of construction paper using your bead roller. Measure the bead’s diameter using the caliper, then make a mark on your paper to know how long you should cut your strips.
        2. Cut your red, white, and blue construction paper into ⅜-inch strips. You can adjust the width of the strips according to the width of the bracelet you want to make. 

        Roll the paper beads

        1. Roll your paper beads using the paper bead roller. Wind it tightly so your beads won’t unravel or loosen later. 
        2. Add glue using the needle-tip glue bottle at the end of the strip. Remove from the bead roller and transfer it to a bamboo toothpick. Stick the toothpick on a block of sponge to dry the beads.

        Glaze the beads

        1. Pour some hardening glaze into a bowl or melt some clear, thick embossing powder (UTEE) in an aluminum foil bowl. 
        2. Remove the toothpick with the dried beads from a block of sponge.
        3. Apply the glaze with a small paintbrush. Stick the toothpick back into the block of sponge to dry. Apply 2-3 coats, letting the glaze dry for 30 minutes in between coats. Let dry for 4 hours after the last coat of glaze.

        Assemble the bracelet 

        1. Take two lengths of the leather cord. Multiply the desired length of the bracelet by 4. For example, cut 28 inches of the cord if you want to make a 7-inch bracelet. 
        2. Measure one inch from the end of the cord, then tie together a knot. Measure one inch from the knot and make another knot.
        3. Take one bead, thread both cords into the bead, then pull the cords out on opposite sides. Get another bead and repeat the process until you get the right length. Keep the cord taut so your bracelet does not slack. If you’re making a 7-inch bracelet, the beads should only be 5 inches since you have 2 inches on the leather cord. 
        4. Pull the cord tight, then tie a knot. Measure another inch out and tie another knot.

        Pro Tip: If you want a patterned bead, try sponge painting. Spread the construction paper on a flat surface. Dip a small piece of foam in acrylic paint and dab it lightly to the paper. Let dry on a flat surface and cut as usual. Then, use white color on blue and red paper, and red and blue paint on white paper.

        25. Memorial Day Cardboard Flip Flops

        cardboard slippers painted with patriotic colors and decorated with hemp rope bows

        With the pleasantly warm weather upon us, who can’t say no to comfortable flip-flops? Let’s make this summer and beach staple into lovely porch and backyard patio decors for Memorial Day. Make smaller versions of this and string it with hemp rope for a gorgeous garland to hang anywhere. 

        Things You’ll Need

        Directions 

        1. Make a flip-flop outline on a kraft cardstock. Make 2-3 of these per flip flop to give it more body, and glue the flip-flop outlines to make two flip-flops. 
        2. Paint the straps on the flip-flops using brown acrylic paint.
        3. Paint one flip flop with navy blue acrylic paint, then the other flip flop with red and white stripes. Take extra caution not to get color on the straps. 
        4. Add star stickers to the navy blue slippers.
        5. Make two bows out of hemp rope. Glue one on each flip flops. Add a flat back bead or pearl on top of the hemp rope bow.
        6. Arrange the flip-flops so that one is slightly higher than the other. Glue them together.
        7. Punch a hole on each of the flip flops, and insert a hemp rope into the holes. Tie the ends of the string. 

        Pro Tip: If you want to make a banner out of this flip-flop design, make your outline smaller, about 4x6 inches each. Paint them using solid colors, then string them with a hemp rope in alternating blue, red, and white. Then, add red tissue paper pompoms every 15 flip-flops. 

        You can also try tying one end of 5 flip-flop banners to a point and the other end to different points. Hang an extra-large blue, red, and white pompom from the converging point for a more festive look.  

        Conclusion

        What do you think is the best papercraft for Memorial Day? We believe that it should be easy to make but practical to use. After all, the idea of crafting and upcycling is to give new life to otherwise ordinary things. 

        We sincerely hope you enjoyed doing some of these crafts and found something new that sparked your interest. If you have any Memorial Day artwork that you want to share, feel free to comment below.

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