Three Diwali Crafts with Materials and Step-by-Step Instructions

Set up a shared making space

Cover the table, sort paper scraps by colour, and put a small container nearby for reusable offcuts. Read each project before starting so the materials are ready. Use blunt-ended scissors and washable glue appropriate to the children’s ages. An adult can cut difficult shapes in advance. These projects are paper decorations: keep them away from candles, diyas, and hot light fittings.

1. A layered paper diya greeting card

You need: one sheet of card for the base, coloured paper, a pencil, scissors, a glue stick, and a pen. Orange or yellow paper works well for a flame shape, but children can choose their own colours.

1. Fold the card. Fold the base sheet in half and press the crease. Decide which side will be the front before adding decoration.
2. Draw the lamp bowl. Draw a wide semicircle on coloured paper. Cut it out and position the straight edge at the top, leaving space above for the flame.
3. Add the flame. Cut a large teardrop from yellow paper and a smaller teardrop from orange paper. Glue the small piece onto the large one, then place the layered flame above the centre of the bowl.
4. Decorate the bowl. Add paper dots, narrow stripes, or a repeating pattern. Arrange the pieces before gluing so the child can change the design.
5. Write a message. Put a short greeting inside, add the recipient’s name, and sign the card. Let the glue dry before closing it.

Adapt it: Younger children can choose from prepared shapes. Older children can design a border or write the greeting in a language their family uses. This is a flat paper image of a diya, so it does not need a real light.

2. A folded paper lantern

You need: a rectangular sheet of medium-weight paper, a ruler, pencil, scissors, glue or tape, and a narrow paper strip for the handle. Optional scraps can make a contrasting top and bottom border.

1. Make the fold. Place the rectangle in landscape position. Bring its long bottom edge up to its long top edge and crease it in half.
2. Mark a stopping line. On the folded rectangle, draw a line about two centimetres below the open long edge. The space above that line will remain uncut.
3. Draw the slits. Mark evenly spaced lines from the folded edge to the stopping line. Leave the short side edges intact.
4. Cut carefully. Cut along the marked lines from the fold, stopping at the line each time. Open the sheet again. The slits should run across the middle without reaching either long outer edge.
5. Form the lantern. Bring the two short side edges together to make a cylinder. Overlap them slightly and glue or tape the join. Gently press the top and bottom closer together so the middle opens outward.
6. Add the handle. Attach a paper strip across the top. Let the join dry, then hang the lantern as an unlit decoration where it will not obstruct a walkway.

Adapt it: For younger children, an adult can mark and cut the slits. Make several lanterns in related colours and label each maker’s work. Do not place a candle or oil lamp inside a paper lantern.

3. A reusable paper rangoli

You need: a large sheet of card as a backing, paper circles and petal shapes in several colours, a pencil, a small plate to trace around, and a storage envelope. Glue is optional if you want a permanent picture.

1. Mark the centre. Place the plate in the middle of the backing and lightly trace a circle.
2. Choose a colour pattern. Select two or three colours and decide an order, such as red, yellow, red, yellow.
3. Build the first ring. Put a circle in the centre and arrange petal shapes around it. Leave small, even gaps.
4. Add a second ring. Place the next shapes between or beyond the first petals. Rotate the backing occasionally to check the balance.
5. Make changes together. Ask what happens if a colour repeats differently or one shape moves. Leave the pieces loose so the design can change.
6. Save and reuse. Photograph the finished pattern, gather the shapes into an envelope, and rebuild it another day. If gluing the design, let it dry flat.

Adapt it: Give each person a section of the outer ring, or ask older children to create mirror symmetry. Display the pattern on a table or noticeboard; loose paper shapes should not become a slipping hazard on a busy floor.

Finish with a small exhibition

Invite each maker to explain one choice: a colour, a pattern, a greeting, or a detail they changed. Save useful templates and spare shapes for another session. A photograph of the finished work can become a family greeting without buying extra materials.

Frequently asked questions

Which Diwali craft is easiest for younger children?

A flat paper diya card is a good starting point when an adult prepares the bowl and flame shapes. Children can arrange, decorate, and glue them.

Can I put a candle inside the paper lantern?

No. Use this project as an unlit paper decoration and keep it away from real flames and hot fittings.

How can I make the rangoli reusable?

Arrange the paper shapes without glue, photograph the pattern, and store the pieces in an envelope. The same pieces can make a new design later.

What can a mixed-age group make together?

Try a shared paper rangoli. Younger children can choose and place shapes, while older children plan the repeating pattern or symmetry.

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