How to Make a Paper Plate Animal

Looking for a fun and easy craft for kids? You've come to the right place! Paper plate animals are simple, adorable, and perfect for rainy days, school projects, or just a fun afternoon of creativity. With a few basic supplies and a bit of imagination, you can transform plain paper plates into a whole zoo of amazing creatures.

Why Paper Plate Animals?

Paper plate animals are a win-win for kids and grown-ups:

• Easy and Cheap: Paper plates are everywhere and super affordable. They're the perfect crafting material.
• So Versatile: Paper plates are like blank canvases. You can paint, draw, and glue all sorts of things on them.
• Get Creative: Paper plate crafts give kids the freedom to be creative and let their imaginations run wild.
• Fine Motor Skills: Cutting, gluing, and decorating paper plates helps kids develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
• Learning Fun: Paper plate crafts are a great way to learn about animals, colors, shapes, and textures.

What You'll Need for Paper Plate Animals

Before you start crafting, gather these supplies:

• Paper plates: Pick sturdy paper plates in different sizes depending on the animals you want to make.
• Scissors: You'll need sharp scissors for cutting shapes and decorations.
• Glue stick or glue: A glue stick is usually easier for kids, but liquid glue works too.
• Markers, crayons, or paint: Use colorful markers, crayons, or paint to decorate your animals.
• Construction paper: Construction paper in different colors is great for adding details like ears, tails, spots, or stripes.
• Googly eyes: Googly eyes add a touch of fun and personality to your creations.
• Other fun stuff: Get creative and use feathers, yarn, pom-poms, or buttons to make your animals extra special.

Paper Plate Animal Ideas: Step-by-Step Guides

Here are some easy instructions for making popular paper plate animals:

1. Paper Plate Lion

You'll need:

• Paper plate
• Orange construction paper
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes
• Black marker

Instructions:

1. Make the mane: Cut a long strip of orange construction paper. Fold it in half and cut fringe along the folded edge.
2. Attach the mane: Glue the fringe along the top edge of the paper plate, leaving the un-fringed edge at the bottom to create the mane.
3. Add ears: Cut out two small triangles from orange construction paper. Glue them to the top of the paper plate.
4. Make the nose: Cut out a small black triangle for the nose and glue it to the center of the plate.
5. Add eyes and details: Glue on googly eyes and draw a black line for the mouth with a marker.

2. Paper Plate Owl

You'll need:

• Paper plate
• Brown construction paper
• Yellow construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes
• Black marker

Instructions:

1. Create the wings: Cut out two large wing shapes from brown construction paper.
2. Attach the wings: Glue the wings to the back of the paper plate.
3. Make the beak: Cut out a small triangle from yellow construction paper and glue it to the front of the plate.
4. Add eyes and details: Glue on googly eyes and draw the owl's face details with a black marker.

3. Paper Plate Elephant

You'll need:

• Paper plate
• Gray construction paper
• Pink construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Googly eyes
• Black marker

Instructions:

1. Create the ears: Cut out two large oval shapes from gray construction paper for the elephant's ears.
2. Attach the ears: Glue the ears to the top of the paper plate.
3. Make the trunk: Cut out a long, thin rectangle from gray construction paper and roll it into a tube. Secure it with glue.
4. Attach the trunk: Glue the trunk to the bottom of the paper plate.
5. Add details: Glue on googly eyes and draw the elephant's mouth with a black marker. Cut out two small circles from pink construction paper for the cheeks and glue them to the plate.

4. Paper Plate Butterfly

You'll need:

• Two paper plates
• Construction paper in different colors
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers or paint

Instructions:

1. Cut out the wings: Cut out two wing shapes from each paper plate. You can make them different shapes and sizes.
2. Decorate the wings: Use markers or paint to decorate the wings with colorful patterns, dots, or stripes.
3. Assemble the butterfly: Glue the two sets of wings together, overlapping a little.
4. Make the body: Cut out a small oval from construction paper for the butterfly's body and glue it to the center of the wings.
5. Add antennae: Cut out two thin strips of black construction paper for the antennae and glue them to the top of the body.

More Paper Plate Animal Ideas:

Here are some more ideas to get your imagination flowing:

• Fish: Cut out a tail and fins from construction paper and add googly eyes.
• Dog: Use a paper plate for the body, cut out ears and a tail, and add details with markers or paint.
• Cat: Make a cute cat by adding ears, a tail, whiskers, and googly eyes to a paper plate.
• Giraffe: Cut out spots from construction paper and glue them to a paper plate to create a giraffe's coat.
• Bear: Use a paper plate for the body, cut out ears, and add details like a nose and mouth.
• Turtle: Use a paper plate for the shell, cut out legs and a head, and add details with markers or paint.
• Penguin: Cut out a penguin's belly from white construction paper and glue it to a paper plate. Add details like a beak, feet, and wings.

Tips for Making Paper Plate Animals:

• Use different sizes: Try using different sizes of paper plates to create animals of different sizes and shapes.
• Get creative with decorations: Use pom-poms, feathers, sequins, and yarn to add texture and dimension to your creations.
• Let kids personalize: Encourage kids to make their own unique animal designs and choose their favorite colors and decorations.
• Hang them up! Once you've made your paper plate animals, hang them up on the wall, create a mobile, or decorate a bulletin board to show off your amazing creations!

Conclusion:

Paper plate animals are a simple, fun, and affordable way to get creative and enjoy a delightful crafting experience. With a few basic supplies and a sprinkle of imagination, you can transform plain paper plates into a menagerie of charming creatures. So gather your materials, let your creativity flow, and get ready to craft some amazing paper plate animals!