Hot Air Balloon Craft Inspired by “Nop”

Are you looking for a great craft to make with your children for Book Week? These paper plate hot air balloons were inspired by one of this year’s CBCA shortlisted Picture Books, “Nop,” by Caroline Magerl.

Nop is a scruffy kind of bear. He sits on a dusty armchair in Oddmint’s Dumporeum surrounded by the beaders, knitters, patchers and stitchers who are much too busy to talk to him. So he watches the litter tumble until, armed with a new bow tie, he has an idea that will change his life forever. 

Nop is a beautifully written and illustrated story which my children and I just loved. Today we are going to be just like Nop, and make our very own hot air balloons.

To make our hot air balloons you will need the following craft supplies:

Supplies

• Paper plate
• Envelope
• String
• Washi tape
• White paper
• Paints
• Felt tip pens/ pencils
• Fine line pen
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Sticky tape

Step 1

To start our hot air balloons the first thing we will need is a paper plate. I used the bottom side of the plate to create a 3D effect.

Step 2

Paint or decorate your paper plate with felt tip pens, pencils or paper.

Step 3

Once the paint has dried add some details to your design. I added details to the edges of the paint colours, it really makes them pop!

Step 4

Time to make the basket. To create the basket of your balloon, seal an envelope and then cut it in half.

Step 5

Paint or decorate one half on the envelope. The opening of the envelope (the cut edge) should be facing up.

Step 6

Hole punch two holes at the bottom of the plate and two holes at the top (open edge) of the envelope.

Step 7

Using any string, wool or ribbon join the plate and envelope by threading the string through the holes and tying knots. If this step is a bit fiddly you could skip the hole punching and tape the string to the back of the plate and envelope.

Step 8

Make some bunting. To make the bunting I folded pieces of washi tape over the string and pressed them together. I then cut small triangles out of the bottom. You could also use coloured paper and glue.

Step 9

Join the bunting to the balloon. I used sticky tape to join the bunting to the back of the paper plate.

Step 10

And of course you will need a passenger. To make your passenger draw a picture of a soft toy on a piece of white paper and colour in with pencils. I also traced over the outline with fine liner. Cut out your passenger and they are ready to hop on board.

Step 11

Add your passenger to your hot air balloon by opening the top of the envelope and slipping them inside. Make sure they can see where they’re going by leaving the head and arms hanging out the top. You might like to use sticky tape to stop them falling into the basket.

Now you’re ready to head off on an adventure together.

I hope you enjoy making this craft as much as we did. My kids loved making their hot air balloons and I love the colourful designs they created. Check out their designs below…

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Looking for some crafts inspired by this year’s shortlisted books? Take a look here: | Puppy Dog Ear Craft Inspired by “When Billy Was a Dog” | Birdhouse Treasure Box Inspired by “Tilly”

Or if you would like some Book Week display inspiration, take a look here: | Curious Creatures, Wild Minds Book Week Display 2020