Tea Bag Folding Paper Craft for Children

Ms. Venegas has been using origami to make rosettes and medallions since 2003. She shares art/craft techniques and ideas online.

Paper Craft Idea for a School Art Lesson

Children are especially drawn to my farmer's market paper craft display. Several have asked, "Did you make all these?"

Tea bag folding is fun, and young people will enjoy learning and giving these paper crafts to friends and relatives.

The fold in this lesson is a simple origami square base. I will show you how the completed medallion can be used for birthday or thank-you cards. Make four cards and keep them in a box and use them when needed.

Enjoy this craft and the time spent with children in your household or classroom!

Supplies for Four Greeting Cards

If you are a scrapbooker and have coordinating papers, you can check your collection. Or make a trip to your favorite scrapbooking store with the young crafter and choose new prints and colors.

Look for one sheet of 12 x 12" paper of the thinner paper stock with an overall pattern. Find a coordinating 12 x 12" sheet that can be used as background embellishment.

Note: Do not purchase the new stiff card stock scrapbooking papers. They usually are the selections that cost more. It is too thick to get a nice crease for the folds.

I will be folding the brighter flowered paper to the far right. The others will be background accents.

For teachers on a budget: one sheet of 12 x 12" paper will make 4 medallions.

Supplies Summary

1. Two sheets of coordinating 12 x 12" scrapbooking paper.
2. Two sheets of coordinating 8 1/2 x 11" card stock to be cut in half for 4 cards.
3. Four A2 envelopes. (4 1/2 x 5 3/4")
4. (Optional) Matching mini brads, ribbon, buttons

Tools You Will Need

1. White glue
2. Scissors
3. Paper cutter

Step 1. Cut the Tea Bag Tiles

Take the 12 x 12" sheet that has been selected for the folded medallions and cut it into 2-inch strips.

Now cut the strips into 2-inch squares or tiles.

You will have 36 tiles to use for four medallions. Each finished medallion takes 8 tiles.

Step 2. Start Folding the Origami Square Base

Each medallion will take 8 tiles. You fold each tile side to side and corner to corner. Then use the index fingers to fold in two creases to get a layered square.

The following video shows the simple process.

Step 3. The Final Assembly

Gluing the medallion together is shown in the following videos.

Part 1 is getting it started and Part 2 is finishing it.

Design the Card

The purchased craft blank card is easy and perfect for the kids. These medallions will fit on 4.25 x 5.5" A2 and 5 x 7" cards.

Create squares, rectangles, and circles for backgrounds. Or make an easy star to use as a background for the medallion or paper rosette.

To make a star, cut two 3.5-inch squares from scrap paper. Line them up with the top square turned a quarter turn and glue it down.

Trace your stars on the back of the paper you want to accent the medallion with.

More Embellishment Ideas

• Make various backgrounds for the medallions. Use background stars, tear the paper, and use strips and fancy-edged scissors.
• For the center, mini brads are easy and cute.
• A loose double knot of skinny ribbon is my most used accent.
• Mount buttons and beads, tie on fishing line, and double knot it. The ends of the knot or fish line are brought through the center hole and glued down between the back folds.
• Photo squares to mount the embellishments onto the card will prevent a wrinkled spot on the inside of the card.

Have Fun Making Cards

Color, motif, and style are your choice with this simple handmade greeting.

Bring out the crafts and spend time with young people you know. I had fun with a daughter making the videos.

© 2010 Sherry Venegas

Have Questions About This How-To?

Adele Jeunette from Colorado on February 06, 2013:

Nicely-done site. I've seen examples of tea bag folding, and now I have good directions. I'll be sure to Pin it.

Vikki from US on January 22, 2013:

Now, that's the way to do a 'how to' page ;) Now, if only I were good at crafts.....

Seriously, awesome tutorial and instructions.