Who knew something as simple as a cupcake liner could unlock so much creativity?
Whether it’s a rainy afternoon or just a moment when you need a screen-free activity, these adorable cupcake liner crafts are perfect for bonding time with your kids. From butterflies and jellyfish to flowers and festive garlands, each project is easy, colorful, and full of charm.
You don’t need fancy tools or expensive materials, just a handful of liners, some glue, and a sprinkle of imagination. So roll up your sleeves, grab those liners, and let’s turn everyday items into something magical together.
#1. Cupcake Liner Clams with Pearls
These little clam critters are as sweet as they are simple, perfect for under-the-sea crafts or just a quiet afternoon filled with color and imagination.
Therefore, kids especially love customizing each clam with their favorite hues, and they make charming party favors or playful decor for summer-themed activities.
Materials Needed:
- 1 cupcake liner per clam
- Acrylic or tempera paint (various colors)
- 1 white mini foam ball per clam
- Glue stick
- Paintbrush
- Paper or cardboard
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten each cupcake liner and fold it in half to resemble a clam shell. Then paint the outside with your chosen colors and let them dry completely.
Step 2: Open the liner slightly and glue a white pom pom or foam ball inside to represent the pearl. You should press gently so it sticks.
Step 3: Arrange them on display or glue them onto a background for an ocean collage. You can even string them up for a clam-themed mobile!
#2. Purple Paper Cupcake Stingrays
Using simple cupcake liners and a splash of purple paint, you can turn everyday materials into a swarm of adorable underwater critters.
Once you add googly eyes and twisty tails, each stingray gets its own personality, some curious, some shy, all irresistibly cute.
Materials Needed:
- 1 paper cupcake liner per stingray
- Purple paint
- 1 pipe cleaner per stingray
- 2 small googly eyes per stingray
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten each cupcake liner gently and fold it in half to form the stingray’s body shape.
Step 2: Paint the folded liners with purple paint, covering both the ridged and smooth surfaces. Let them dry completely.
Step 3: Glue on two googly eyes near the folded edge. You can place them close together for a friendly look or farther apart for a quirky expression.
Step 4: Cut a pipe cleaner in half and glue one piece to the back of each stingray to act as a tail. Then curl the end for extra flair.
#3. Cupcake Liner Coral Reef Display
This is the kind of project that’s as meditative as it is eye-catching, watch the reef grow as you layer and shape each little piece.
Perfect for classrooms, kids’ bedrooms, or ocean-themed parties, this craft is inexpensive and wildly satisfying. The crinkled edges mimic coral beautifully, and the soft watercolor effect adds a magical touch.
Materials Needed:
- 30-50 paper cupcake liners
- Watercolor paint and paintbrush
- Blue poster board
- Glue or double-sided tape
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten the cupcake liners and gently paint them with soft watercolors or diluted food coloring. You can use a light touch to create blends, then let dry completely.
Step 2: Once dry, fold each liner slightly inward to give it a dimensional, coral-like shape.
Step 3: Arrange the liners on your blue poster board in overlapping layers to mimic the shape of a coral reef. Then secure each with glue or tape.
Step 4: Add sea creatures, fish cutouts, or glitter accents for extra fun. This display brightens up any room and brings a peaceful splash of the ocean inside.
#4. Cupcake Liner Birthday Cards
Who needs store-bought cards when you can whip up something this sweet and cheerful? These cupcake liner birthday cards are little bundles of joy, full of color and charm.
They’re simple enough for kids to craft. Each one feels like a mini celebration in your hand, and with just a few materials, you can create a whole batch of them for party favors, classroom projects, or handmade gift touches.
Materials Needed:
- Brown craft paper cards (5×7 inches)
- 1 cupcake liner per card
- 10-12 assorted-size pom-poms per card
- 1 birthday candle per card
- Glue stick
- Marker
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten a cupcake liner and glue it towards the bottom center of your card, this becomes your cupcake base.
Step 2: Arrange and glue pom-poms along the top of the liner, stacking them slightly to create a fluffy frosting.
Step 3: Glue a birthday candle in the center, tucking it behind the pom-poms slightly so it looks like it’s standing up.
Step 4 (Optional): Add your greeting at the top with your own handwriting, and let everything dry flat before gifting.
#5. Cupcake Liner Owl Craft
Perfect for fall afternoons or owl-themed classroom fun, this project turns simple paper plates, cupcake liners, and bright paper into adorable woodland friends.
You’ll love how expressive they turn out, and kids will love decorating their owls with silly feathers or patterns. Plus, the process sneaks in fine motor skill practice like a real crafting pro.
Materials Needed:
- 1 paper bag (any lunch-size bag)
- 2 cupcake liners
- Orange construction paper
- 2 yellow papers
- Black marker
- Brown and tan acrylic paint
- Scissors, glue stick
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Paint the front of your paper bag and cupcake liners with brown or tan paint. Let them dry.
Step 2: Fold the cupcake liners in half to create wings and glue them along the sides of the bag.
Step 3: Cut large yellow circles for eyes and smaller black dots for pupils. Then glue them on the flap of the bag.
Step 4: Add a small orange triangle for the beak and feet cut from paper to the bottom. Now, you draw feather details with a marker.
#6. Cupcake Liner Christmas Tree Ornament
This cupcake liner Christmas tree is a jolly little project that brings color, joy, and handmade charm to your holiday decor.
Kids will love layering liners into a festive tree shape, and you’ll love how easy it is to make. You can also hang it on the tree or tie it onto a gift as a cheerful homemade tag.
Materials Needed:
- 5–6 festive cupcake liners (red, green, patterned)
- String or twine (for hanging)
- 1 small foam or paper star
- Glue stick or hot glue
- Scissors
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten all cupcake liners. Now, you fold each one in half, then again to form quarters or cone shapes.
Step 2: Stack and glue the folded liners, starting from largest at the bottom to smallest at the top, overlapping slightly to mimic a Christmas tree’s tiered branches.
Step 3: Glue the star to the top and attach a loop of string at the back for hanging.
#7. Cupcake Liner Butterfly Craft
This cupcake liner butterfly is all about color, smiles, and imagination! It’s the perfect activity for kids who love to decorate and bring their little creations to life.
Moreover, the layered wings, fun buttons, and cheerful face will have your little one fluttering around the room with pride.
Materials Needed:
- 4 cupcake liners (standard size, any colors)
- 1 jumbo popsicle stick (painted or plain)
- 2 googly eyes (medium size)
- 6-8 assorted buttons
- 1 pipe cleaner
- Glue stick
- Markers
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten and fold each cupcake liner in half. Then glue two on each side of the popsicle stick to form butterfly wings.
Step 2: Add googly eyes and draw a smile near the top of the stick to make a happy face.
Step 3: Twist a pipe cleaner into antennae and glue it to the back of the stick.
Step 4: Finally, decorate the wings with colorful buttons or sequins.
#8. Cupcake Liner Ice Cream Cone Craft
This ice cream cone made from cupcake liners is pure joy on paper. Kids can scoop their favorite flavors, add sprinkles, and build a delicious masterpiece that’s fun to make and adorable to display.
Materials Needed:
- 2 cupcake liners
- 1 sheet white cardstock
- 1 triangle cut from brown construction paper (approx. 4″ tall)
- Small colorful pom-poms or dot stickers
- Glue stick
- Black marker
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten the two cupcake liners. Glue the bottom liner (your first ice cream scoop) onto the top of the cone triangle.
Step 2: Slightly overlap and glue the second liner on top, forming the double-scoop.
Step 3: Draw little chocolate chip dots or glue mini pom-poms on top as sprinkles.
Step 4: Let everything dry, then proudly show off your mouthwatering paper cone!
#9. Cupcake Liner Snowman Craft
This cheerful little snowman is made entirely of cupcake liners and wintery imagination! With simple shapes and cozy charm, it’s the kind of project that turns a cold afternoon into a cozy memory.
Materials Needed:
- 3 white cupcake liners
- 1 sheet of blue cardstock
- 2 googly eyes
- 1 small orange triangle
- Brown pen
- 3 blue buttons
- Glue stick
- White paint or cotton swabs
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten all three cupcake liners and glue them vertically onto the blue paper including head on top, followed by the body and base.
Step 2: Add the googly eyes and carrot nose to the top circle. Then draw a dotted smile using a marker.
Step 3: Glue a button in the center of the middle and bottom cupcake liners.
Step 4: Use brown or black marker to draw stick arms. Then, dip a cotton swab in white paint and dot it all around like falling snow.
#10. Jellyfish Cupcake Liner Craft
If you’re looking for a splash of color and fun that feels like it swam straight out of an undersea cartoon, this jellyfish craft is just the thing.
With just a few cupcake liners and streamers, your kids can create a floating sea creature that’s perfect for hanging up in a playroom or classroom.
Materials Needed:
- 1 cupcake liner
- Colored tissue paper (cut into ~10” strips)
- Googly eyes
- Ribbon (10” per jellyfish)
- Tape
- Scissors
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flip the cupcake liner upside down to form the jellyfish body.
Step 2: Cut strips of tissue paper or streamers and tape or glue them inside the liner so they dangle downward.
Step 3: Attach two googly eyes to the front of the cupcake liner. If using paper eyes, draw pupils with a marker.
Step 4: Finally, tape a loop of ribbon or string to the top for easy hanging.
#11. Cupcake Liner Rainbow Fish Craft
Using cupcake liners as colorful scales brings these paper plate fish to life in the brightest way. This is a perfect project for an ocean-themed week, or simply a rainy afternoon that needs some color and sparkle.
Materials Needed:
- 2 paper plates
- 15 pastel mini cupcake liners (cut in half)
- 1 bottle of school glue
- 2 googly eyes (1″ size)
- Scissors
- Blue, red, and green acrylic paint
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Cut a small triangle from one side of the plate to form the fish mouth, then glue this triangle to the back as the tail fin.
Step 2: Paint the entire plate in your chosen base color (blue, red, etc.).
Step 3: Fold cupcake liners in half and glue them onto the body like shiny scales. You should let them overlap a bit.
Step 4: Add a googly eye, and if you like, draw on a smile or lashes with a marker.
#12. Cupcake Liner Mushroom Garden Card
This whimsical mushroom card feels like something straight out of a fairy tale forest. Perfect for birthdays, thank-you notes, or just a magical afternoon craft, it turns ordinary cupcake liners into cheerful toadstools. The joy lies in how simple it is — just some snipping, folding, and gluing, and you’ve got a mini mushroom patch ready to make someone smile. Kids will love choosing the colors, and you’ll love how inexpensive and fun it is to make together.
Materials Needed:
- 3 cupcake liners (assorted colors)
- 1 sheet green and white cardstock
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- White paint
- Optional: construction paper
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Fold each cupcake liner in half to form the mushroom caps. Then add white dots using paint or a correction pen and let dry.
Step 2: Cut out three tall ovals from white paper to make the mushroom stems.
Step 3: Glue the stems onto the green card base first, spacing them out evenly. Finally, glue each cupcake liner cap on top of a stem.
#13. Paper Cupcake Liner Flower Bouquet
Who says flowers only bloom in gardens? With just a few cupcake liners and your creative touch, you can grow a cheerful bouquet that never wilts.
Additionally, these playful blossoms look adorable in a mason jar and make the sweetest handmade gift for birthdays, springtime, or Mother’s Day.
Materials Needed:
- 4-5 colorful cupcake liners per flower
- 1 small pom-pom per flower
- 1 green paper straw stick per flower
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Mason jar
- Ribbon, stickers, or washi tape to decorate the jar (optional)
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Stack 4–5 cupcake liners together. Then you cut slits about halfway down all around each liner to create fringed petals.
Step 2: Ruffle each layer a bit for volume. Next, glue the layers together, stacking them slightly rotated to fill out the bloom.
Step 3: Glue a small pom-pom to the center of the top liner for a pop of texture.
Step 4: Finally, attach a green straw or stick to the back of each flower to create the stem.
#14. Cupcake Liner Christmas Ornament Ball
This vibrant hanging ornament is made entirely from colorful cupcake liners. And the best part is that it’s so easy, you’ll want to make a dozen for your tree.
Materials Needed:
- 12-16 cupcake liners
- 1 piece of twine (8-10 inches)
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
- Optional: glitter, stickers, or mini bells
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Fold each cupcake liner in half with the colored side inside. Flatten well for crisp edges.
Step 2: Begin gluing the folded liners back-to-back, lining them up along the straight edge. Continue until you’ve glued all liners into a stack.
Step 3: Before closing the circle, glue a looped twine inside the fold at the top for hanging.
Step 4: Glue the final sides of the first and last liner together to complete the sphere.
#15. Cupcake Liner Glitter Butterflies
With a few cupcake liners, a sprinkle of glitter, and a humble clothespin, you can create a delicate decoration that’s perfect for spring parties, nursery walls, or simply to brighten a rainy afternoon.
Specially, they feel light as air and are so simple that even the littlest hands can help. Plus, you get to play with sparkles.
Materials Needed:
- 2 white cupcake liners per butterfly
- 1 wooden clothespin
- Fine glitter (white, pink, or iridescent)
- Glue
- Twine
- 1 rhinestone
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Fold each cupcake liner in half, then in half again to create a fan shape. You need to do this for both wings.
Step 2: Dab glue inside the clothespin and insert the pointed ends of both liners so the round edges become wings.
Step 3: Add a little glue on the top of the clothespin and sprinkle glitter over it. Then gently tap off the excess.
Step 4: Glue a rhinestone to the top or tie a twine loop for hanging. Now your butterfly is ready to flutter anywhere you please!
#16. Cupcake Liner Beaded Wall Garland
If you’ve ever saved bits of craft supplies, now’s your moment! Colorful cupcake liners, wooden beads, yarn pom-poms, straws, and scraps all come together to create a piece that’s part art, part celebration.
I believe your kids will love making their own version, and no two garlands will ever look alike.
Materials Needed:
- 8-10 colorful cupcake liners
- 12-15 assorted beads
- 4-6 paper straws (cut into 1-2 inch pieces)
- Yarn or twine (about 24-36 inches)
- Optional: pom-poms, felt scraps, bells, fabric pieces
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Start by poking small holes in the center of each cupcake liner so they can be threaded like beads. Then you fold or layer for dimension.
Step 2: On a sturdy piece of yarn or twine, begin threading cupcake liners, straws, beads, and any fun extras in a pattern or mix-and-match style.
Step 3: Tie knots between some of the pieces to keep them in place and add texture. Next, fluff pom-poms and add at intervals for flair.
Step 4: Once it’s as funky and fabulous as you like, tie loops at both ends and hang it across a window, wall, or even a birthday table backdrop!
#17. Colorful Cupcake Liner Flower Garden Craft
There’s something magical about a garden full of color and this paper cupcake liner flower craft brings that charm to life right on your wall!
With simple folds and bright cupcake liners, you can help kids create a swirly, vibrant bouquet that feels like spring exploded on a canvas.
Materials Needed:
- 8-10 colorful cupcake liners
- 1 sheet of blue cardstock
- Green construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten each cupcake liner and cut a spiral inward toward the center without cutting it off. You’ll get a curly shape perfect for petals.
Step 2: Starting from the center, gently roll or twist the spiral to create a blooming flower shape. Then dab a little glue at the base to hold it.
Step 3: Cut strips of green paper for the stems and smaller leaf shapes. You continue to arrange and glue them onto your blue background.
Step 4: Glue the cupcake liner flowers at the top of each stem, adjusting angles to give a natural, whimsical look.
#18. Cupcake Liner Cutlery Holders
These adorable cupcake liner cutlery holders are the kind of detail that turns an ordinary party into a Pinterest-worthy celebration. Shaped like little dresses or fans, they cradle plastic forks and spoons with playful charm. Whether you’re throwing a baby shower, birthday bash, or garden party, these cutlery wraps add a pop of color and a handmade touch that makes guests smile before they even sit down.
Materials Needed:
- 2 cupcake liners per holder
- Plastic spoons and forks
- Small ribbon (approx. 8 inches per wrap)
- Hot glue
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten two cupcake liners and fold each in half to form a fan shape. Then slightly overlap them for a layered skirt look.
Step 2: Secure the liners together with hot glue at the top edge.
Step 3: Place a spoon and fork in the center and tie them together with a small ribbon, right where the liners meet.
Step 4: Finally, trim the ends of the ribbon if needed, and repeat for each set of cutlery.
#19. Cupcake Liner Party Garland
If you’ve got a celebration coming up or just want to add something cheerful to your space, this cupcake liner garland is as easy as it is eye-catching.
Using nothing more than a stack of bright, patterned liners and some string, you can transform any staircase, wall, or party backdrop into a ribbon of playful color.
Materials Needed:
- 80-100 colorful cupcake liners
- 1 long piece of string (approx. 8-10 feet)
- A sharp pencil or skewer
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Flatten all the cupcake liners and fold them gently in half to find the center point.
Step 2: Using a pencil or skewer, poke a small hole in the center of each liner.
Step 3: Thread the liners one by one onto the string. Then sack them closely or leave a small space between each for a more airy look.
Step 4: Once you’ve added enough liners for your desired length, tie knots at each end and drape your garland wherever you’d like a burst of color.
#20. Cupcake Liner Seahorse Craft
If you’re looking for a sweet and splashy craft idea that’s easy enough for kids but cute enough to display, these seahorse valentines made from cupcake liners are a must-try!
Materials Needed:
- 2 colorful cupcake liners
- Colored cardstock (blue background + accent colors)
- Googly eyes
- Dot stickers
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Black marker
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Fold each cupcake liner in half and glue it to the cardstock, curved edge out, to form the body of your seahorse.
Step 2: Cut out matching seahorse heads, fins, and tails from construction paper. Then glue each piece to its place, overlapping the liner a bit.
Step 3: Stick on a googly eye and decorate the body with sparkly dot stickers or sequins to mimic shiny scales.
Step 4: Finish it off by writing a fun message.
#21. Spoon Bird Puppets
These puppets are just the kind of craft that brings smiles to little faces and giggles to playtime. With simple materials and no-fuss steps, you and your little ones can whip up a whole flock of friendly birds in bright, happy colors.
Materials Needed:
- 3 plastic or wooden spoons
- 3 cupcake liners
- 3 orange paper triangles
- 6 googly eyes
- Paint or markers
- Glue stick
Step-by-step Guide:
Step 1: Paint or color each spoon with bright shades, this becomes the bird’s neck and head. Let dry completely.
Step 2: Fold each cupcake liner in half and glue the folded edge to the back of the spoon to form the wings.
Step 3: Add googly eyes to the spoon head, then glue on a small orange triangle for the beak.
Step 4: Once dry, hold the spoon by the handle and flap the wings.
