Calling all young space explorers! Buckle up and get ready to ignite your creativity with these 20 incredible spaceship crafts.
We’ll journey through galaxies of materials, explore planets of techniques, and build a fleet of fantastical spaceships ready for daring adventures.
Whether you’re a seasoned astronaut or a first-time space traveler, these crafts offer something for every creative mind.
Fueling Up for Fun: Materials and Tools
Before we launch into hyperspace, let’s gather our supplies. Most of these crafts use everyday household items, making them perfect for crafting on a whim. Here’s a basic toolkit to get you started:
- Cardboard boxes (different sizes)
- Paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls
- Construction paper and cardstock
- Aluminum foil
- Craft paints (various colors)
- Paintbrushes and sponges
- Scissors and glue sticks
- Markers, crayons, and colored pencils
- Buttons, pipe cleaners, googly eyes (for decoration)
- Tape (various types)
- String, yarn, or fishing line (for hanging)
Let’s Craft!: Spaceship Designs for All Skill Levels
Classic Cardboard Rocket:
This timeless craft is perfect for beginners. Grab a cardboard box, paint it with vibrant colors, add flame details with construction paper, and attach paper towel rolls as engines. Let your imagination soar with portholes, antennas, and a fearless astronaut cutout!
Recycled Milk Carton Spaceship:
Transform an empty milk carton into a sleek spaceship. Paint it silver, add cut-out windows, and glue on bottle caps or buttons for controls. Don’t forget to fashion a pointy nose cone from construction paper for an aerodynamic design.
Paper Plate Flying Saucer:
This UFO is a breeze to make. Decorate two paper plates with paints and markers, then glue them together with a rim of aluminum foil for that classic flying saucer look. Add pipe cleaner antennas and googly eyes for a playful touch.
Cardboard Spaceship Playset:
For a more elaborate project, create a multi-level cardboard spaceship with different compartments. Use cardboard pieces to create levels, connect them with tape or glue, and paint each section a different color. This playset allows for imaginative storytelling with plenty of space for tiny astronauts and alien encounters.
Egg Carton Rocket Ship:
Upcycle an egg carton into a whimsical rocket! Cut out individual egg cups and stack them to create the rocket body. Paint them with bright colors and add paper towel rolls as boosters. Decorate it with glitter, buttons, and pipe cleaner flames.
Straw Rocket Mobiles:
Craft a mobile of colorful straw rockets. Cut straws into different lengths, connect them with tape to create rocket shapes, and decorate with construction paper and markers. Hang them from a string or mobile frame for a vibrant space display.
Tin Can Command Center:
Turn an empty tin can into a stylish spaceship command center. Paint it metallic, cut out a viewing window, and decorate it with buttons and dials. Add a small astronaut figure peeking out from the window for a complete scene.
Bouncy Ball Spaceship:
This craft combines creativity with play! Decorate a bouncy ball with markers and paint, creating a unique spherical spaceship design. You can add pipe cleaner antennas or googly eyes for a quirky touch.
Paper Cup Rocket:
Simple and fun, this craft uses paper cups for the rocket body. Paint them with vibrant colors and connect them with tape or glue. Add paper fins for stability and a pointed nose cone made from construction paper. This craft is perfect for a quick and colorful rocket fleet.
Cardboard Tube Telescope:
No spaceship is complete without a telescope! Decorate a paper towel roll with paint and markers. Cut out circles from construction paper and glue them together with a small hole in the center to create a lens. Secure the “lens” on one end of the tube for a space-exploring telescope.
Bottle Cap Space Shuttles:
Gather colorful bottle caps and transform them into miniature space shuttles. Glue them together in a rectangular shape, add paper wings, and paint them with metallic colors. You can even create a tiny cargo bay with a piece of cardboard attached to the back.
Paper Bag Rocket Puppets:
Brown paper bags become adorable rocket puppets! Decorate them with paints and markers, add construction paper details for fins and windows. Cut out armholes on the sides and insert your hands for a puppet show filled with interstellar adventures.
Recycled CD Spaceship:
Give old CDs a new life as mini UFOs! Cover them with aluminum foil for a shiny spaceship exterior. Add pipe cleaner antennas and decorate them with glitter and markers. You can even
Balloon Rockets with Straw Launchers:
This craft combines science with fun! Decorate balloons with markers to resemble planets or spaceships. Attach them to straws using tape. Build a simple launching pad from a cardboard box cut in half, with a narrow opening for the straw. Blow up the balloon and hold it in the straw, then release for a blast-off simulation!
Nature-Inspired Spaceships:
Embrace the outdoors and create spaceships with natural materials. Use cardboard as a base, and decorate it with leaves, pine cones, acorns, and twigs. You can even paint the natural materials for a whimsical touch. This craft encourages creativity and appreciation for nature.
Playdough Planet Explorers:
While not technically spaceships, you can’t explore space without a landing zone! Craft colorful planets with playdough. Use cookie cutters or molds to create different shapes and textures. This sensory activity encourages imaginative play and storytelling about planetary exploration.
Glowing Spaceship Lanterns:
Transform empty jars into glowing spaceships! Paint them with vibrant colors and cut out star shapes from construction paper. Stick the stars onto the jar and cover it with tissue paper. Place a small glow stick inside for a magical spaceship lantern that illuminates the night.
Sock Puppet Astronauts:
No spaceship is complete without a crew! Upcycle old socks into adorable astronaut puppets. Decorate them with fabric paint or markers to add details like helmets, spacesuits, and facial features. This craft is perfect for imaginative storytelling and puppet shows set in space.
Cardboard Tube Space Station:
For a more intricate project, create a space station from connected cardboard tubes. Cut and assemble the tubes to form a multi-level structure. Paint it with metallic colors and add details like docking ports, antennas, and solar panels made from construction paper or aluminum foil.
Recycled Materials Collage Spaceship:
This craft encourages exploration of recycled materials. Use cardboard as a base and decorate it with bottle caps, buttons, fabric scraps, and other interesting finds. You can even create a textured spaceship surface with crumpled tissue paper or aluminum foil.
Bonus: Build Your Own Galaxy!
Don’t stop at spaceships! Create a whole galaxy with additional crafts. Make constellation mobiles with construction paper and string. Craft colorful planets using papier-mâché balloons. Design alien creatures from pipe cleaners and felt. The possibilities are endless!
Let Your Creativity Launch!
These 20 crafts are just a springboard for your child’s imagination. Encourage them to experiment, personalize their creations, and add their own unique touches. Remember, the most important part is having fun and letting their creativity take flight!
