It’s everyone’s favorite cat’s birthday on November 1st, and we’re celebrating in style, with some adorable Hello Kitty crafts for kids!

When I was growing up, the most famous cats in popular culture were Garfield, Puss in Boots, the Cheshire Cat and of course, Tom from Tom and Jerry!

However, as I entered adulthood, I noticed a new entrant on the scene – an adorable little white cat with a red bow, and a cute little name to match – Hello Kitty!

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Who is Hello Kitty?

Hello Kitty is a fictional character created by a Japanese designer named Yuko Shimizu and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. Despite the Japanese origin, Hello Kitty is actually a British cat, whose real name is Kitty White and who lives in London with her family!

Hello Kitty was created in 1974, and the first Hello Kitty item, a coin purse, was launched in 1975. Fast forward to the present day, and Hello Kitty is now worth billions, labeled a ‘global marketing phenomenon‘ by The New York Times, and appointed as ambassador for UNICEF and Japanese Tourism.

Yes, Hello Kitty has come a long way, and her birthday, 1st November, is now celebrated as Hello Kitty Day! Since it’s her birthday month, we’re joining in the celebrations too, with some adorable Hello Kitty crafts for kids!

15 Adorable Hello Kitty Crafts for Kids

1. Hello Kitty Pasta Bookmark Craft

So how did Hello Kitty get her name? Initially, she was simply called ‘the white kitten with no name’. Then, her designer, Yuko Shimizu, found the name ‘Kitty’ from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, which is the name of a cat Alice plays with. Sanrio added ‘Hi’ to the name, since their official motto is “social communication”. Finally, ‘Hi Kitty’ became ‘Hello Kitty’, and that is how the iconic name came to be!

2. Hello Kitty Drawing Tutorial

Hello Kitty wasn’t the first character Yuko Shimizu designed for Sanrio – it was a bear named Coro Chan. She also designed fruits and other characters like Bunny and Matty (a rabbit and a mouse), and Yachiyo Charmer, a kimono-wearing girl.

But Shimizu didn’t stay long at Sanrio; she left two years after creating Hello Kitty. In her honor, Hello Kitty’s birthday is the same as Shimizu’s, 1st November. Now you can channel your inner Shimizu and learn to draw Hello Kitty with this tutorial from Art Projects for Kids!

3. Hello Kitty Paper Plate Mask

The Pinterested Parent shows us how to turn a paper plate into a cute Hello Kitty mask – but you’ll notice here that Hello Kitty has no mouth! This was done on purpose, since Sanrio wanted people to project their feelings onto Hello Kitty. It’s also a sign that Hello Kitty doesn’t speak any particular language – instead, she speaks from the heart!

4. Hello Kitty Toilet Paper Roll Craft

This list of Hello Kitty crafts for kids is a great place to learn more about the character herself! Hello Kitty is said to be intelligent and kind-hearted. She loves baking cookies, playing the piano and eating her mother’s apple pie. Her favorite subjects are English, music and art. Well, we know yours is crafts, and we’ve got one for you from Easy Crafts for Kids!

5. Milk Carton Hello Kitty House Bird Feeder

Sanrio Blogs shows us how to create a cute bird feeder out of milk cartons, and you’ll notice it features some of Hello Kitty’s family members! Hello Kitty has a twin sister, Mimmy, who looks just like her except that her bow is yellow instead of red. Other family members include her father George, mother Mary, Grandpa Anthony and Grandma Margaret. Besides her family, Hello Kitty also has many friends and a boyfriend, too!

6. Origami Hello Kitty Craft

Since Hello Kitty is of Japanese origin, it’s only natural to include an Origami Hello Kitty craft in this list of Hello Kitty crafts for kids! MS Art and Craft has a video that shows us how to go about it, step by step.

7. Cardboard Tube Hello Kitty Craft

The best thing about Hello Kitty crafts for kids is that they’re not just for kids! For example, a Hello Kitty fan of any age would love this craft from Crafts by Courtney. While Hello Kitty was originally marketed to kids, the market soon expanded to include teens and then adults. As a result, Sanrio’s licensing stretched to things like vacuum cleaners, rice cookers, and even wine!

8. DIY Hello Kitty Christmas Ornament

Hello Kitty has collaborated with several famous brands like Dr. Martens, Forever 21, Puma, Converse, Skechers, Adidas, Pottery Barn and MAC Cosmetics. There’s even a Hello Kitty-themed plane, launched by Airbus with EVA Airways! Here, we have the famous brand Michaels that shows us how to make a DIY Christmas ornament.

9. Hello Kitty Heart Valentine Craft

With Hello Kitty’s main colors being pink and red, it’s only fitting to include her in Valentine-themed Hello Kitty crafts for kids, like this adorable heart craft from Crafty Morning!

10. DIY Hello Kitty Planter

Sanrio Blogs shows us how to turn everyday objects into Hello Kitty art, like this simple planter craft! Hello Kitty has, in fact, been a favorite of artists for many years now. In 2009, artist Tom Sachs featured Hello Kitty bronze casts as part of his Bronze Collection, which was exhibited in Manhattan, Colorado, and Paris. Mariah Carey was a die-hard Hello Kitty fan, while Avril Lavigne wrote a song called “Hello Kitty” for her album, Avril Lavigne. Lady Gaga made a statement on Hello Kitty’s 35th birthday by wearing a gown made of Hello Kitty plushies!

11. DIY Hello Kitty Lantern

Did you know that Hello Kitty ran for President? Yes, Hello Kitty ran for President of the United States in 2016! She contested under the ‘Friendship Party’, and even had a full-fledged campaign called Hello Kitty for President, which included special events at select Sanrio stores. Find out more about this interesting campaign as you make this fun craft from Smart School House.

12. Hello Kitty Button Art Project

If you’d like to add a little Hello Kitty flavor to your space, try out this cute button art project from The Keeper of the Cheerios! It also makes a fun DIY gift for a Hello Kitty fan among your friends.

13. DIY Hello Kitty Easter Basket

Cutefetti shows us how to create a cute Easter basket in a Hello Kitty theme! But it’s not just Hello Kitty crafts for kids that are relevant year-round – you can also visit one of the many Hello Kitty theme parks in Japan or China. There are also multiple Hello Kitty-themed cafes and restaurants around the world, including in South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia and the United States.

14. Hello Kitty Felt Hair Clip

These Hello Kitty crafts for kids are sure to come in handy when you’re planning your next Hello Kitty-themed party, especially this DIY hair clip from Oleander and Palm! These would be a fun party activity for teenagers, and they could take it home too!

15. Hello Kitty Suncatcher Craft

Let the sun in with these DIY suncatchers from Hello Kitty and Friends! Hello Kitty has teamed up with the United Nations to bring some sunshine into the lives of children across the world. In 1983, she was made the children’s ambassador to the United States for the first time, and then again in 1994. Hello Kitty is also a UN partner for the project #HelloGlobalGoals, and the UN has launched a new line of Hello Kitty products to support their Sustainable Development Goals.

We hope these Hello Kitty crafts for kids have rekindled your love for all things cute and also brought back some nostalgia. It’s nice to go back to things we loved as children, as it reminds us of a time when we were innocent and happy, and bore no malice in our hearts. Let’s try to go back to that pure state, and we hope crafts like these help!

If you’d like to make more crafts based on other popular characters, check these out: