Tissue paper is a thin paper that is available in many different designs and textures. Most types are water absorbent, and all tissue papers are easily cut or torn. The delicate nature of this paper lends itself to a variety of tissue paper crafts as it is easily formed when wet and holds its shape once it dries. In its dry form, it can be used to make flowers, piñatas, and stained-glass effects. Wet tissue paper is used in paper-mache, as well as forming a sheer covering for items such as eggshells, picture frames, and vases.
One of the most common tissue paper crafts is making flowers. The tissue paper can be cut or torn before being bound together to create colorful floral designs. Different color tissue papers can be combined in the same flower to create a variegated effect. Piñatas are made by gluing small tissue paper flowers onto a cardboard box filled with candy.
Stained-glass ornaments and decorations are simple tissue paper crafts. A design is first cut out of heavy paper or card stock, with openings cut into the design that allow light to shine through. Two identical designs are used, one for the front and one for the back. Pieces of translucent tissue paper are glued around the openings, simulating the look of stained glass. The second design cutout covers the raw edges of the tissue paper.
The thin nature of tissue paper makes it an ideal material for creating colorful coverings over uneven surfaces. Eggshells can be covered with tissue paper by painting the eggshell with a water-based glue and then applying pieces of tissue paper to the shell while the glue is still wet. Tissue paper is often used in paper-mache. The paper is moistened with paste before being applied to a form. The process may take several layers of tissue paper, with each layer being allowed to dry before the next layer is applied.
Several tissue paper crafts use torn pieces of the sheer paper to create a watercolor effect. The tissue paper is torn into rough shapes and sizes before being placed on a dampened surface. This technique is often used to cover picture frames, vases, and boxes. Tissue paper is so thin that the layered pieces of paper form a continuous surface without bumps where the paper overlaps. Thin pieces of tissue paper can turn a clear glass vase into a candleholder that glows with color when the candle is lit.