DIY & Beyond

Paper plates are one of the cheapest, most forgiving craft supplies you can keep in the house. A pack costs a couple of dollars, every project starts with a shape kids already recognize, and most of what you need to finish them is probably in a drawer right now: paint, markers, glue, scissors, and a few odds and ends.

This guide is organized by what you’re actually looking for. If you have a toddler, jump to the toddler section for crafts simple enough for short attention spans. If you want something tied to the season, the spring and summer crafts are there. And the animal crafts, the most popular paper plate projects by a wide margin, come first, with real step-by-step instructions for each one so you can sit down and make them without guessing.

Every craft below lists what you need and how to do it. No special tools, no trip to the craft store.

 

Contents

• Paper Plate Animal Crafts
• Paper Plate Spring and Summer Crafts
• Paper Plate Crafts for Toddlers
• Paper Plate Crafts for Preschoolers
• Quick and Easy Paper Plate Crafts
• Paper Plate Masks
• Paper Plate Construction Projects
• Interactive Paper Plate Games

Paper Plate Animal Crafts

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Bring the Zoo to Your Living Room!

Animals are the crafts kids ask for most, and they happen to be the easiest to pull off with a plate and some construction paper. Here are five that work for almost any age, from simplest to slightly more involved.

Paper Plate Lion

You need: 1 paper plate, yellow and orange paint or markers, orange and brown construction paper, 2 googly eyes, a black marker, glue, scissors.

1. Color the whole plate yellow and let it dry. This is the lion’s face.
2. Cut a fringe mane: take orange and brown paper, cut strips about an inch wide and three inches long, and snip one end of each into points. You’ll want 15 to 20 strips.
3. Glue the strips around the back edge of the plate so they stick out like a mane. Alternate orange and brown.
4. Glue the googly eyes near the top center of the face.
5. Draw a small triangle nose and a mouth with the black marker, and add a few whisker dots. Cut two small rounded ears from yellow paper and glue them at the top.

Paper Plate Butterfly

You need: 1 paper plate, paint or markers in two or three colors, a clothespin or a strip of brown paper, 2 googly eyes, a pipe cleaner, scissors, glue.

1. Cut the plate in half. Then cut each half into two, so you have four pieces, two larger and two smaller. These are the four wings.
2. Decorate the wings: paint them, draw dots and swirls, or glue on paper shapes. Whatever you do to one wing, mirror it on the matching wing so the butterfly is symmetrical.
3. For the body, paint a clothespin brown or roll a strip of brown paper into a tube. Glue the two large wings to the top of the body and the two small wings below.
4. Glue googly eyes to the top of the body. Bend a pipe cleaner into a V for antennae and attach it behind the head.

Paper Plate Chick

You need: 1 paper plate, yellow paint, yellow and orange construction paper, 2 googly eyes, glue, scissors.

1. Paint the plate yellow on both sides and let it dry.
2. Cut a small orange triangle for the beak and two orange feet (a simple three-toed shape).
3. Glue the googly eyes and the beak to the center of the plate for the face.
4. Glue the feet to the bottom edge so they stick out below.
5. For wings, cut two teardrop shapes from yellow paper, pinch and fold the rounded end, and glue one to each side so they stand out a little. A few yellow paper feathers glued to the top finish it.

Paper Plate Turtle

You need: 1 paper plate, green paint, green construction paper, 2 googly eyes, a black marker, glue, scissors.

1. Paint the back of the plate green. This curved side becomes the shell, so the bowl shape works in your favor.
2. While it dries, cut the turtle’s parts from green paper: a rounded head, four short legs, and a small triangle tail.
3. Glue the head, legs, and tail around the edge of the plate, tucked just under the rim so the shell sits on top.
4. Draw a shell pattern on the green plate with the black marker, simple hexagons or just a cross-hatch.
5. Glue googly eyes on the head and draw a smile.

Paper Plate Ladybug

You need: 1 paper plate, red and black paint, black construction paper, 2 googly eyes, glue, scissors.

1. Paint the plate red and let it dry.
2. Paint a black band across the top third for the head, or cut it from black paper and glue it on.
3. Cut a thin black strip and glue it down the center as the dividing line between the wings.
4. Cut several black circles and glue them across the red wings as spots.
5. Glue googly eyes on the black head. Two short pipe cleaner or paper antennae finish it.

Image credit: Tiffany, Nancy Kauffman on Pinterest

Paper Plate Spring and Summer Crafts

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Celebrate the Seasons!

When the weather turns, these are the crafts that match the season and double as cheerful decorations for a window or the fridge.

Paper Plate Sun

You need: 1 paper plate, yellow and orange paint, yellow construction paper, scissors, glue, a black marker.

1. Paint the plate yellow and orange, blended or in rings, and let it dry.
2. Cut triangle rays from yellow paper, 10 to 12 of them.
3. Glue the rays around the back edge so they point outward.
4. Draw a simple face on the front, two eyes and a smile.

Paper Plate Flower

You need: 1 paper plate, paint in any flower color, construction paper for petals, a paper plate or green paper for the center and stem, glue, scissors.

1. Paint the plate the color you want the flower’s center to be.
2. Cut petals from construction paper, rounded or pointed, about 10 to 12, sized to fit around the plate’s edge.
3. Glue the petals around the back of the plate so they fan out behind it.
4. Add a green paper stem and two leaves glued to the back. For a finished look, dot the center with a contrasting color or glue on a circle of crumpled tissue.

Paper Plate Watermelon

You need: half a paper plate, red/pink and green paint, a black marker, scissors.

1. Cut the plate in half. One half is one watermelon slice.
2. Paint the inside red or pink, leaving a thin white ring near the rim.
3. Paint the rim green for the rind.
4. Once dry, add black seeds with the marker. For a fan craft, accordion-fold the straight edge before painting so it opens like a handheld fan.

Image credit: Sharon Hilchie, Spring Toddler Crafts CA on Pinterest

Paper Plate Crafts for Toddlers

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Simple and Fun for Little Hands!

Toddlers do best with crafts that have one or two steps and no small pieces. The goal here is open-ended play and getting paint on the plate, not a perfect result. Keep these simple and let them lead.

Simple Paper Plate Face

You need: 1 paper plate, washable markers or non-toxic paint, stickers or pre-cut paper shapes, glue stick.

1. Hand the toddler a plate and let them color or paint it however they want.
2. Offer pre-cut shapes, circles for eyes, a triangle nose, and let them glue them on to make a face. Stickers work too.
3. There’s no wrong way to do this. The point is the gluing and placing, which is good fine motor practice.

Paper Plate Shaker

You need: 2 paper plates, a handful of dried beans or rice, markers, stapler or strong tape.

1. Let the toddler decorate the back of both plates with markers.
2. Put the beans on one plate, set the second plate face-down on top, and staple or tape the rims together all the way around (an adult does this part).
3. Now it’s a shaker. Toddlers love the noise, and decorating it is the craft.

Toddler safety notes: use non-toxic, washable paint, skip googly eyes and small beads for kids who still mouth things (draw eyes on instead), and keep the project short, five or ten minutes is plenty for this age.

Image credit: Sincere Dare, priya on Pinterest

Paper Plate Crafts for Preschoolers

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Creative Exploration for Young Minds!

Preschoolers can handle a few more steps, safety scissors, and crafts with a finished goal in mind. The animal crafts above all work well for this age. Here are two more that suit their growing skills.

Paper Plate Fish

You need: 1 paper plate, paint or tissue paper, construction paper, 1 googly eye, glue, scissors.

1. Cut a triangle out of one edge of the plate. That triangle becomes the tail; glue it to the opposite edge.
2. Decorate the body: paint it, or glue on overlapping squares of tissue paper for scales.
3. Glue a googly eye near the front and draw a small mouth.
4. This is a good one for practicing patterns, have them alternate tissue colors in rows.

Paper Plate Jellyfish

You need: 1 paper plate, paint, ribbon or crepe paper streamers, 2 googly eyes, glue, scissors.

1. Cut the plate in half. One half is the jellyfish body (the dome shape).
2. Paint it and let it dry.
3. Glue long strips of ribbon or crepe paper along the flat bottom edge so they hang down like tentacles.
4. Add googly eyes to the dome.

Image credit: Nancy Kauffman, Gina del Valle on Pinterest

Quick and Easy Paper Plate Crafts

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Crafts That Fit into Any Schedule! Sometimes you need a fast project that can be completed in a short time, and paper plate crafts are perfect for that! These quick and enjoyable ideas are ideal for busy days or when you want to squeeze in some creativity between other activities.

One quick idea is to make a paper plate tambourine: just add beans between two plates and secure them together. Kids can decorate the outside with markers, creating a musical instrument in no time! Another simple project is crafting paper plate flowers—just cut and embellish, and they’re ready to brighten up any space.

Check out these speedy crafts:
– Make a paper plate kite for a windy day.
– Create simple portraits by having kids paint their faces on the plates.
– Craft easy seasonal ornaments to hang around the house.

These quick projects are fantastic for spur-of-the-moment creativity and can make any family activity memorable!

Image credit: priya, Nancy Kauffman on Pinterest

Paper Plate Masks

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Transform into Any Character! Who doesn’t enjoy wearing masks? Paper plate masks allow kids to step into different roles and characters, making playtime even more exciting! These crafts encourage creativity and storytelling while being simple to make.

Start with a plain paper plate and cut out eye holes. Kids can then paint the plate with any design they like—animals, princesses, superheroes, and more! Use string or popsicle sticks for easy wearing.

Get creative with these ideas:
– Create a whole set of masks for a fun dress-up day.
– Incorporate storytelling by having kids perform a short play in their masks.
– Encourage them to explain their character choices and why they love them.

Masks ignite imaginative play and are perfect for family activities together.

Image credit: Aubrey Sauseda, Caja Mellingen on Pinterest

Paper Plate Construction Projects

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Building Creativity! Don’t overlook the construction potential of paper plates! These crafts can foster problem-solving skills and critical thinking while still being a ton of fun. Imagine creating structures like houses, cars, or even bridges!

Kids can stack, glue, and paint multiple plates to build whatever their imagination conjures. For example, a simple paper plate house can be decorated with markers and paper. Alternatively, they can create a paper plate car by attaching wheels made from smaller plates.

Try these inventive ideas:
– Construct a race track using painted plates.
– Build a city skyline featuring multiple structures.
– Hold a contest to see who can build the tallest paper plate tower.

These construction projects provide an excellent way to blend creativity with engineering concepts in an enjoyable and engaging manner!

Image credit: Monica, Letícia Marinho on Pinterest

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest paper plate crafts for kids to start with?

Starting with the easiest paper plate crafts for kids is a breeze.

Gather kid-friendly supplies like plain paper plates, markers, crayons, stickers, glue, and safety scissors.

Try a simple paper plate mask or a smiling animal face: cut a plate, draw features, and add paper ears or noses.

These are classic fun projects that double as family activities and help little crafters gain confidence.

 

How can I turn simple paper plates into themed crafts for a party or classroom?

Turn simple paper plate crafts into themed activities for a party or classroom by planning mini-projects like a pirate hat, sunflower, or friendly animal mask.

For parties or classrooms, prep a quick station: pre-cut plates, markers, glue sticks, and a theme card with 2–3 options.

Show a quick demonstration, then let kids customize with colors and textures.

These ideas keep everything engaging and make fun projects and family activities easy to run.

 

What tools and materials make paper plate crafts safer and more enjoyable for kids?

Use kid-safe scissors, non-toxic paints, washable markers, and glue sticks to keep things mess-friendly.

Prefer pre-cut plates or blunt-edged scissors for younger kids, and cover work areas with old sheets or a craft mat.

Choose water-based paints and easy-to-clean supplies so cleanup is quick.

Having a simple order of steps helps kids stay focused and makes paper plate crafts a breeze for family activities.

 

How can I adapt paper plate crafts for different ages or abilities?

Tailor projects by age: preschoolers get simple shapes and sticker-based designs, while older kids can handle cutting and more detailed painting.

Use helper tools like punch-out shapes and glue dots for younger kids, and offer optional extra steps for older kids to level up.

Encourage teamwork by pairing kids together for collaborative pieces.

The goal is inclusive, low-pressure paper plate crafts that fit fun projects and family activities.

 

Where can I find more ideas for paper plate crafts that promote fun projects and family activities?

Look for inspiration across the web and in books by searching for paper plate crafts for kids, or pin ideas on Pinterest boards and parenting blogs.

Save favorites in a simple rotation so you can do a new project each week as a family activity.

Stock a small craft box with essentials so you can quickly turn a spare afternoon into a creative fun projects with the whole family.