Solo Cup Ornaments: A Budget-Friendly Craft for the Holidays
As a teacher who adores crafts but understands the budget constraints that come with a class of 24 (or more!) eager artists, I've got a fun-but-wallet-friendly activity for you and your students – Solo Cup Ornaments!
(This is also a great craft to do with your kids at home.)
Not only are the ornaments a hit with the kiddos, but they won't break the bank. I also like that they can be suncatchers to hang in the window for kids who don’t celebrate Christmas.
In addition to being inexpensive, this project is easy! You do have to prep the cups at home, but otherwise all you do is set out the decoration choices and monitor students while they work.
Why You Should Do Crafts in the Classroom
Before I explain how to make the ornaments, let me explain why you should spend a day doing fun things before break.
Students are not developing their fine motor skills. One of the unintended consequences of the push for testing, testing, testing is that students are lacking basic skills - like cutting with scissors. Kids used to reach upper elementary with good fine motor skills, but that’s not happening any more - and students need to practice those skills into middle school and beyond to make up for it.
Your class is a community, and sometimes you have to do fun things together. Having a relaxed day before break allows kids time to interact and build relationships.
Do you know the proverb “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? It’s true. Keeping the same work routine day and day is boring for both you and the students.
Schedule this craft the last day before break. Frankly, no one has their mind on school work that day. Moreover, anything you would teach the day before break, you would end up reteaching when you start back.
HOW TO MAKE SOLO CUP ORNAMENTS
Materials Needed:
Solo Cups (clear ones in any color work like magic, trust me!) I recommend getting at least two different colors.
Stickers, Sharpies, gift tags, or other decorations (Metallic Sharpies are fun!)
String or ribbon for the tie
Hole Punch
Sheet Pans for Oven
Parchment Paper
Steps
Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
Count out at least 2 cups per student, plus a few extra.
Punch a hole under the rim of each cup. It is nearly impossible to punch them after they are melted, so this is an important step.
Line your sheet pans with parchment paper.
Place the Solo cups on the sheet with plenty of room between them. They will spread when they melt down, and you don’t want them to melt together.
Once your oven is good and hot, place the baking sheet in the oven. I did two small sheets at a time. DO NOT WALK AWAY. The warmer your oven gets, the faster the cups melt. You really need to keep an eye on them, especially until you get a feel for how long it will take for them to melt. I turn my oven light on and check through the window. Burning plastic does not smell good.
When the cups are melted as flat as you can get them, take them out of the oven and off the pan to cool. They are HOT so be careful. Keep in mind that the cups just do not always melt completely flat, but having some wrinkles is part of the charm.
I advise you to put the string or ribbon on them before the kids start decorating - especially if you are allowing them to glue things on. You can have older students select their ornaments and ribbon and let them tie them on before allowing access to decorations. If you have younger students or just want to save time, go ahead and add the ribbon ahead of time.
Decorating Tips
Keep in mind that when it comes to decorating, simple is best - less mess and less monitoring for you. Metallic Sharpies are fun, but you need to know your kids because in the wrong hands, things can go bad fast. I kept the Sharpies by me and allowed the kids to come up one or two at a time to use them.
Stickers are simple - no glue! And they come in a wide variety of designs, including letters, so you can get a lot of options.
Student pictures from school photos are a great free decoration. In my district, teachers were always given a strip of sticker photos for each student. We had to use two in the cum folders, but the others were extras that could be used in your classroom.
I am not saying to avoid using glue - I love white glue (stick glue will not work for anything like this.) If students can handle using glue without making a giant mess, that opens a world of possibilities - pom pom balls, glitter, fake jewels, cotton balls, etc.
However, you need to consider a few things when selecting the decorations:
The maturity of your students.
The ability of your students - I had fifth graders that were better crafters than I am, but I also had some that could not cut a straight line.
The space in your classroom. This is huge - in tight quarters, things can get messy fast. If you have more room, it is easier for kids to get supplies and not spill things.
Frankly, your energy and focus. Are you hoping to grade or clean up for break while the kids are crafting? If yes, stick to simple, no mess items.
I do not recommend using glue if you are doing this last thing the day before break, because the ornaments will not be dry when the kids leave.
Crafting Tips
Don't compromise on the cups to save money - Solo cups are your best bet, and not all off-brand ones will work the same way. Keep an eye out for those holiday BOGO deals at your local grocery store – that's when I stock up!
Opt for clear cups if you can. White-lined cups? Not the best melters. If you prefer a cleaner finish, stick with the clear ones. The white-lined ones also do not sparkle in the sunlight, as they are solid, so they are more limited in how the final product can be used.
Cups may end up a bit wavy. To combat this, preheat the oven thoroughly before baking. It's a mystery why some turn out flat and some wavy, but a warm oven seems to help.
Speaking of wavy cups, some kids actually dig the quirky look, so it's a win-win if you do have some!
On a budget? Scrounge the classroom for supplies you could use as decoration - tissue paper, stickers, yarn, etc. You can also go in on this craft with other teachers and share the cost of supplies, which allows you to buy a variety of embellishments. My bestie and I bought one big tub of fake jewels one year and used them with both our classes for two years.
Do you have a fantastic hands-on craft that you do with your students? Let me know - I am always looking for ideas.