48 Excellent Paper Plate Craft Ideas

Loraine loves arts and crafts and used to volunteer at an elementary art class. She loves sharing fun and easy craft tutorials.

When looking for an easy and inexpensive craft for kids, paper plates are a perfect choice. I did a Google search to see how many and what kind of crafts were being made using paper plates. In this article I will share really amazing projects that I found.

You'll find projects to make owls, ladybugs, fish, bunnies, birds, animals and insects. Also you'll find angels, a clown, a geisha girl and Raggedy Ann activities. Maybe you want to make a musical instrument or flowers. You'll find instructions for making them also.

The "Love You to Pieces" frame and directions can be found at Kids & Glitter.

1. Tree Weaving

This super cool yarn art, by Cassie Stephens, is a great classroom art project. I've seen some of these made up and they are sooooo cute. The school is sending these to the county fair this year.

2. Exotic Parrots

Imagine all the fun it'll be making these beautiful parrots, made using paper plates. The kids will love making these. You'll find the instructions for making parrot puppets by going to Artsy Craftsy Mom to find the instructions.

3. Hanging Lantern

Just imagine how many occasions you could use this hanging lantern. The flameless tea lights make this perfect for any inside or outdoor party decoration. Find the tutorial for this terrific paper plate project at craftbits.com. Different colors or combination of colors will always keep this a new idea.

4. Quick Containers

I don't know how often I've wanted a small, disposable container for a quick treat and had to end up using a paper bag or a bowl that I wanted returned. I wish I'd known how easy it is to make a small container using a paper plate. You'll find a pictured tutorial for making this little box at DiyandCrafts.

5. Ping Pong

Be ready for a fast game of ping pong when you finish this project. You'll find the instructions for making the ping pong paddles at Vanessa's Values.

6. Valentine Love Bug

How much fun wouldn't it be to make Valentine love bugs. You can imagine the giggles that this project will cause.

7. Spider Counting Game

Kindergarten kids love learning while playing games. This is a cute game with instructions found at The Printable Princess. You can print off counting sheets that go along with the game.

8. Paper Plate Ladybugs

These very cute ladybugs and the directions for making them can be found at Crafts by Amanda. Would you use ladybugs as a theme for a baby or bridal shower? How about ladybugs as the theme for a baby's or little child's room?

9. Apple Craft

Since I know that everyone loves painting, this apple craft should be fun for everyone. See how to make apples like these using the directions at I Love Crafty Things.

10. Christmas Wreaths

Although there aren't really instructions given for this craft at KROKOTAK, there are five other projects shown here also. Sometimes you can just look at the pictures and know what to do. This is one of those times.

11 Panda Puppet

Make these Panda puppets with the help of the directions at Lets Explore The kids would probably have fun thinking up ways to make other zoo or circus animals, and then putting on a skit. Help them use their imaginations.

12. Make a Paper Plate Snow Globe

13. Tropical Fish

Bright and beautiful are two words that describe these unique tropical fish. Find the directions at make and takes. Have the kids make these, glue on a small photo, and make a school bulletin board with the words, "In Our School We Swim Together."

14. Paper Plate Crow

Decorating for the fall holidays just got easier. Make a flock of these cute crows. Go to Crafts by Amanda for the directions. For Halloween or Thanksgiving, have the class make crows and hang them from the ceiling in the classroom. Kids like to see the arts and crafts that they make.

15. Colored Owls

This is a great looking craft that I know the kids will love to make. Find the directions at Reading Confetti.

16. Geisha Girl

This could be used as a puppet or as a mask. Lots of possibilities. Go to DLTK for the a list of supplies and the directions. This is another of the projects shown on this page that can be changed in some way to make the puppet special. How about making masks that look like a fireman, a policeman, farmer, etc.

17. Ducky Duck

This duck almost looks like he could be a mallard. Find instructions for making this duck at The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman.

18. Bones, Dem Bones

I've been fascinated by this skeleton craft. I think the kids will especially enjoy following the directions at the instructables site. Use a paper plate skeleton to teach the name of the bones in the arms and legs.

19. Bunny Basket

If you need something for an Easter craft, try this Easter bunny basket at Kids & Glitter. The kids really enjoyed making this bunny in a basket, and I liked it because it was inexpensive and simple to make.

20. Paper Bowl Turtle

A paper bowl is the shell of this busy turtle. Go to first palette for all the directions.

21. Turkey Hat

Imagine a classroom full of these little gobblers. The kids will love making these. Go to Parents for the directions for making this project.

22. Cars

The girls as well as the boys will enjoy making and painting a car. The instructions to make these cute cars are found at Glued to My Crafts.

23. Colorful Paper Plate Birds

Who would believe that colorful paper plate birds could be so cute? These really are too cute for words.

24. Noah's Ark

When you go to mama jenn you'll find out how to make Noah's ark, and you'll also find the site address for making the little animals to add to the ark. A very nice Sunday school activity.

25. Hats for All Occasions

Wouldn't these hats be a cute project to do at a birthday party? I love that baby!! Go to alphamom to see how to make them.

26. Paper Moon

This will be a fun project especially when using it in conjunction with the reading of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Moon Maiden or New Moon. You'll find the instructions and the template for the face at DLTK Crafts for Kids.

27. Bumble Bee

Decorate a classroom this Spring with a swarm of paper plate bumble bees following the directions to make them on the Preschool Crafts for Kids site.

28. Easter Bunny Basket

Not only is this Easter bunny basket really cute, it is also really useful for Easter candy and eggs.

29. Make Paper Plate Flowers

30. Colorful Painted Flowers

I love, love, love these hyper colored flowers. I can imagine fun tacking them to the wall in a classroom or home. The directions for this craft can be found at Pink Stripey Socks

31. Dressed Up Cookie Plate

I've never thought of dressing up a paper plate for gifting cookies. This great idea and instructions on how to make the dressed up cookie plate are at Life Your Way.

32. Paper Plate Heart Weaving

There is so much good to say about a project like this paper plate heart weaving one. One of the most important being finger dexterity.

33. Love Bug

How much fun making these love bugs will be. Make them and then let the Valentine party begin.

34. Umbrella

April showers bring May flowers and you'll want to be prepared. Make this cute project following the directions at The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman.

35. Butterfly and Caterpillar Puppets

There are great books that tell about the caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly. Make these butterfly and caterpillar puppets to make the book come to life.

36. I Am Thankful

What a super idea this "I am thankful for..." project is for classroom or Sunday school use. The instructions can be found at Parents. A great idea for Thanksgiving activities for the little ones also.

37. Panda Valentine Card Holder

Make a Panda bear card holder to hold all the Valentines exchanged on Valentine's day. Find this cute card holder at PLAID and also the directions.

38. Deeno, the Dino

A great project for kids that love reading and talking about dinosaurs. CREATING REALLY awesome FREE THINGS is where you'll find instructions.

39. Giraffe

This cute giraffe just makes me want to giggle. I love the random dots and the crooked smile. See how to make this giraffe by going to i {heart} crafty things.

40. Raggedy Ann

Raggedy Ann is a favorite doll of many little girls. They can make a Ragedy Ann from a paper plate by following the instructions at MakingLearningFun.

41. Tambourine

Another paper plate musical instrument to add to the paper plate orchestra. Find the instructions for this tambourine at firstpalette.

42. Desk Tidy

Organize with this cute paper plate project. You'll find the instructions at Mollymoo.

43. Halloween Silhouettes

Not only do you get the instructions for making these Halloween pictures, you also can print off the silhouette templates when you visit to The Pinterest Parent blog.

44. Paper Plate Weaving Sunflowers

Older kids will enjoy making these sunflowers. They will love weaving the centers of the paper plates. Find the tutorial at The Mad House. This would be a great project for seniors also.

45. Paper Plate Autumn Leaf Wreath

I love the colors and simplicity of this super cute leaf wreath. Find out how to make the Autumn leaf wreath by visiting the The Mad House. This site also shows examples of super easy leaf wreaths for the kids to make.

46. Paper Plate Angry Bird

There are printables of all the paper plate Angry bird characters. Find these printable pages at Making Learning Fun.

47. White Flower

I can imagine making these for a bridal or wedding reception decoration. White flowers like these always enhance those occasions.

48. Glow in the Dark Jelly Fish

What a great idea it was to make painted paper plate jelly fish into glow in the dark ones. These jelly fish are beautiful either way.

© 2012 Loraine Brummer

What's on Your (Paper) Plate? - add a comment

Loraine Brummer (author) from Hartington, Nebraska on March 05, 2015:

Hi Claudia! My grandkids love doing "projects" too. I like it that there are inexpensive supplies to use when doing the crafts. Hope you and your grandson find some fun things to make.

Claudia Mathews on March 03, 2015:

A lot of good ideas there. I will enjoy making some of these projects with my grandson.

Loraine Brummer (author) from Hartington, Nebraska on December 24, 2014:

Hi peachpurple. The angels are really cute, I think they make nice Christmas decorations.

peachy from Home Sweet Home on December 21, 2014:

i m going to try the paper plate angels, cute

Lorelei Cohen from Canada on June 27, 2012:

Kid's crafts sure are cute and these paper plate designs are just heartwarming.

jimmyworldstar on February 02, 2012:

The clock and faces idea on the plates are good, don't discard your used paper plates, make food art on them!

Brandi from Maryland on January 29, 2012:

These are really cute! My favorites are the jellyfish and the sunflowers. I'm definitely going to bookmark this for future projects with my kids. Thanks! ;)

Shorebirdie from San Diego, CA on January 28, 2012:

Wow, those look fantastic!