This collection has 8 free paper plate craft instructions: a sun, a fish, a mask, a lion, a spider, a wreath, a jellyfish, and a tambourine. Every page shows a simple diagram plus 4 numbered steps, so a kid or parent can go from “what do I do first” to a finished craft without guessing. Every page is black and white on US Letter, downloads as a free PDF, and needs no signup.
All 8 use 1-2 paper plates plus common craft supplies (paper strips, glue, markers, googly eyes) — nothing needs a specialty craft-store part. The sun, fish, and mask are the simplest builds (cut and glue flat, no waiting on tension); the lion, spider, and wreath add more small pieces to glue around the edge; the jellyfish and tambourine are the only two that change the plate’s shape (cutting it in half, or stapling two together).
What’s in this collection
8 projects: sun, fish, mask, lion, spider, wreath, jellyfish, and tambourine. Each has its own Download PDF and Print button in the grid below.
Start here: sun, fish, and mask
These three are the most forgiving builds. The sun and lion (below) use the same idea — strips glued around the back edge — but the sun’s 8-10 straight rays are easier to space evenly than the lion’s fuller mane. The fish only needs one cut: a triangle wedge flipped around to become the tail. The mask is just two eye holes and a handle, so most of the “craft” part is decorating.
A step trickier: lion, spider, and wreath
These three use more small pieces than the first group. The lion’s mane takes 14-16 strips instead of the sun’s 8-10. The spider’s 8 folded legs need to be glued in place before the glue on the first side sets, or the plate is hard to flip without smudging them. The wreath is the only one that removes the plate’s center rather than just its edge, so the ring needs to hold together before the leaves go on.
The build project: jellyfish and tambourine
The jellyfish and tambourine are the only two crafts that change the plate’s basic shape instead of just decorating it. The jellyfish starts by cutting the plate in half — only one half becomes the body, so save the other half for a second jellyfish or a different craft. The tambourine sandwiches beans or bells between two whole plates stapled together, so the stapling has to go all the way around before the first shake or the filling falls out.
How to print these
Every page is US Letter (8.5 × 11 in), pure black and white, with the diagram and steps inside a 0.5 in margin. Plain copy paper is fine for all 8.
FAQ
How many paper plates do I need for all 8 projects?
9 plates total: one each for the sun, fish, mask, lion, spider, wreath, and jellyfish (7 plates), plus 2 for the tambourine, which is the only project that uses more than one.
What else do I need besides paper plates?
Mostly paper strips, glue, and markers — the sun and lion need colored paper strips for rays or a mane, the spider and jellyfish need googly eyes, and the tambourine needs dried beans or small bells plus a stapler.
What age are these crafts good for?
The sun, fish, and mask suit preschool through early elementary with adult help cutting. The lion, spider, wreath, jellyfish, and tambourine involve more small pieces or a cutting step and suit early elementary and up.
Do I need to sign up to download these?
No. Every page here is a free PDF with no signup or email required.
For another paper-plate-style build, the popsicle stick crafts collection uses the same glue-and-let-dry approach with a different base material.