Do you ever find yourself staring at a stack of paper plates sitting idly in the bottom cupboard and wondering what you could do with them? I did at some point.

Turns out those paper plates are craft treasure just waiting to be put to creative use, plus they are great for toddler crafts and budget-friendly too. They are one of my go-to activities for when I want something quick and easy, but still fun to do with the kids. Also, I love how versatile they are because you can create literally anything from big-headed monsters to animals, without needing to do much, and the kids will still love them and have a blast too.

So here, I’ve put together 5 of my favourite super simple paper plate craft ideas that’ll keep your kids busy and happy and without creating a disaster zone in your living room.

Related post:Top 5 Easy, Mess-Free Crafts You Can Do In 5 Minutes

1. paper plate Animal Mask

Because my 5- and 3-year-old girls love playing the “Who am I?” game, we made animal masks to level up the fun.

How to make it: Colour or paint a paper plate. Make eye holes in it and draw an animal face on it. Glue animal ears behind the plate, then punch holes at both ends of the plate to attach a string or a yarn. Wear the mask and enjoy.

Materials Needed:

  • Paper plate
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Markers or crayons
  • construction paper
  • String / Yarn

Tip: Allow your kids to paint, colour or glue. Kids love it!

2. Paper Plate Wreath

This is a super-easy paper plate craft that can make a cute decoration for your home and sneak in fine motor skills for your toddler. You can theme it for different seasons or holidays, or events such as Mother’s Day.

How to make it: All you need to do is cut out the centre of a paper plate, and stick either colourful tissue paper or colourful crepe paper around the plate. (these types of paper are soft, easy to cut and give a cute textured look).

Materials Needed:

  • Paper plate
  • Glue
  • Coloured construction paper, tissue paper, crepe paper.
  • Stickers or crayons (optional)

Tip: Let your child tear the paper themselves—it’s great for building fine motor skill.

Grab my FREE Paper Plate Animal faces and masks Templates

3. Paper plate Bugs

These paper plate crafts are easy and perfect to do with your kids when you want to welcome in the Spring season. It’s a fun and simple way for your toddlers to learn about spring animals, while imaginatively transforming an ordinary paper plate into their favourite bug.

How to make a bug: Simply paint or colour a paper plate in the colour of your preferred bug. Add googly eyes and draw or glue on a smile. Cut out and tape pipe cleaners or paper strips as antennae. Glue on wings using construction paper or tissue. Done!

You’ve got a cute little paper plate bug!

Materials Needed:

  • Paper plate
  • Scissors
  • Markers or paint
  • Glue
  • Googly eyes
  • Coloured construction paper
  • Pipe cleaners

4. Paper Plate Noise Shakers

This easy paper plate noise shaker craft is a toddler’s favourite. It makes an attractive sound that your child will be fascinated by, just like a musical instrument. The only difference is that it’s made with a paper plate. It’s a great sensory craft for movement and rhythmic play.

How to make it: All you need to do is decorate two paper plates however you like (With crayons, paint or washi tape). Then, put some pasta in one paper plate and cover it with another. Glue them together (one on top of the other), and let your toddler shake and dance away and enjoy the sound.

Materials Needed:

  • Paper plate
  • Coloured Markers
  • Pasta
  • Glue

5. Paper Plate garden

DIY paper plate garden craft for toddlers and preschoolers.

I love this easy paper plate craft because it is a delightful and easy craft for toddlers and preschoolers to do, especially for springtime when the flowers are starting to bloom. Two good things I love about it are that it helps develop fine motor skills and allows children to explore different colours and textures.

How to make: Simply paint the top and bottom of the paper plate blue and green to make the sky and earth. With a green paint marker, draw squiggly lines from the centre of the plate down to the bottom to look like flower stems. Grab different coloured paper (crepe paper or coloured tissue paper), gently fold or roughly squeeze them, and stick one at the top of each squiggly line. It’s a super simple way to create a colourful garden scene—and kids love watching their flowers “bloom”!

Materials:

  • Paper plates
  • Washable paint or markers
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Tissue paper or crepe paper

Conclusion

These easy paper plate crafts for toddlers and preschoolers are not only fun but also provide a great way to nurture creativity, fine motor skills, and early learning. Plus, they’re a fantastic way for busy, not-so-crafty moms to bond with their kids while keeping cleanup simple!

If you try any of these simple crafts, be sure to share your experiences and photos in the comments below.

Happy crafting, and remember to share this post with another Mama who needs it.

Thanks for reading!