Paper chains can be a popular arts and crafts activity during the festive season, but lots of people may choose to make them during other times of the year as well. If you are planning to make paper chains with children, it is a good idea to think of ways to make the decorations seasonal or themed in some way.

There are lots of different papers that can be used, if you would like to use a specific colour or decoration perhaps. Bright colours and patterned papers can often look good, and if you are making paper chains for a seasonal party you could use paper decorated with sandcastles, Easter bunnies, or Christmas trees depending on the occasion. There are ready to assemble kits available for making paper chains, and these will usually consist of decorated or coloured paper strips which have a thin layer of glue on the back, similar to the glue found on the flap of an envelope. These can then be damped with a wet sponge and fastened together to form however long a chain you would like. You can buy a few packs if you want to make lots of paper chains, or perhaps just one very long one! Many ready to assemble paper chains will be Christmas themed and the paper links will be decorated with a festive motif. If you want to make paper chains for any other occasion, it may be necessary to buy your own paper and cut out links for children to stick together.

There are lots of different papers available in a huge variety of colours, textures and designs. You can even find metallic and glittery paper if you want your paper chains to sparkle! You will need to cut out strips of paper, which are long enough to make a substantial loop and thick enough to support the loops which will be attached. If you are using paper to create your own loops, then it may be tricky to find paper which has a glued backing. In this instance you may need to improvise by either using small pieces of sticky tape, paper clips or glue sticks. Gluing paper loops with PVA glue can be time consuming as the glue needs time to dry, so tape or paper clips may be a quicker and simpler option.

Paper chains can be enjoyed by many different age groups and abilities and if you choose to create your own loops from a chosen paper, then there are hundreds of different themes for you to choose from. Straight strips of paper will create hoops which link together, and this is the most traditional style. However, there are also shapes which can be slotted together to create chains, and these will not always need glue to hold them together. You can either find a template for these shapes online to cut out yourself, or buy a kit which will supply lots of paper shapes for you to fit together and create any length and style of chain you like.