8 Paper Plate Animals

Paper plate crafts are one of the easiest ways to turn basic supplies into something colorful, playful, and display-worthy. These paper plate animal ideas are great for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary kids because they mix painting, cutting, and simple gluing without needing expensive materials. I picked a variety of animals so the post feels fun and balanced, from safari favorites to woodland and ocean creatures. Each idea is easy to personalize with your own colors and details, and every one comes with a tutorial source plus a close-match image prompt you can use for visual planning, pin graphics, or craft inspiration.

Paper Plate Giraffe

This giraffe craft is bright, happy, and perfect for kids who love zoo animals. The yellow plate, brown sponge-painted spots, and simple face details make it easy for little hands while still looking adorable on a wall or bulletin board.

Materials:
Paper plate, yellow paint, brown paint, yellow cardstock, googly eyes, brown pom-poms, marker, glue

Steps:

1. Paint the plate yellow and let it dry.
2. Cut ears, muzzle, and horn strips from cardstock.
3. Glue on the face pieces and eyes.
4. Add pom-poms at the horn tops.
5. Sponge on brown spots.
6. Draw the mouth and nose.

Tutorial Link:
I Heart Crafty Things – Paper Plate Giraffe.

Paper Plate Elephant Puppet

This elephant is extra fun because it works like a puppet, so it doubles as a craft and a play activity. The gray plate, big ears, pink mouth, and sock trunk give it a cute character that kids will want to use right away.

Materials:
Gray paper plate, gray paint, gray cardstock, pink paper, googly eyes, gray sock, glue

Steps:

1. Cut a circle opening in the plate.
2. Paint the plate gray.
3. Cut large ears from gray cardstock.
4. Add a small pink mouth and eyes.
5. Attach the sock behind the opening for the trunk.
6. Let dry and use as a puppet.

Tutorial Link:
I Heart Crafty Things – Paper Plate Elephant Puppet Tutorial.

Paper Plate Penguin

This penguin craft has a sweet winter look but is simple enough to make any time of year. Using two black plates, a white heart doily belly, yellow feet, and flippers gives it a bold, cute finish without a lot of complicated cutting.

Materials:
One large paper plate, one small paper plate, black paint, yellow cardstock, white doily, googly eyes, glue

Steps:

1. Paint both plates black.
2. Cut yellow feet and a beak.
3. Glue the doily onto the large plate.
4. Attach the small plate on top for the head.
5. Add eyes, feet, beak, and flippers.

Tutorial Link:
I Heart Crafty Things – Paper Plate Penguin Craft for Kids.

Paper Plate Cat

This cat craft is a great pick for pet lovers because it uses one plate in a very clever way. The cut ears, tail, feet, pink nose, and string whiskers make it feel charming and personal, and kids can choose any paint color they like.

Materials:
Paper plate, acrylic paint, pink cardstock, googly eyes, white string, black marker, glue

Steps:

1. Trim the plate to form ears, tail, and feet.
2. Paint all the pieces.
3. Glue the tail and feet to the body.
4. Add a pink nose and white string whiskers.
5. Glue on eyes and draw the mouth.

Tutorial Link:
I Heart Crafty Things – Paper Plate Cat Craft.

Paper Plate Koala

This koala is adorable and very beginner-friendly because the shape is easy to build from one big plate and two small ones. The fluffy ear look, gray paint, and oversized black nose make the finished craft instantly recognizable and extra cute.

Materials:
One large paper plate, two small paper plates, gray paint, black cardstock, googly eyes, marker, stapler, glue

Steps:

1. Paint all plates gray.
2. Cut a large oval nose from black cardstock.
3. Staple the small plates onto the big plate as ears.
4. Snip the ear edges slightly for texture.
5. Glue on the nose and eyes.
6. Draw the mouth.

Tutorial Link:
I Heart Crafty Things – Paper Plate Koala Kid Craft.

Paper Plate Fish

This fish craft is colorful, cheerful, and ideal for an ocean unit or summer activity. The painted orange plate, sticker scales, cardstock fins, and large eye create a bold finished look that stands out nicely on classroom walls or at home.

Materials:
Small paper plate, orange paint, orange cardstock, round stickers, googly eye, marker, glue

Steps:

1. Paint the plate orange.
2. Add round stickers as scales.
3. Cut fins and tail from cardstock.
4. Glue on the fins and tail.
5. Cut out a mouth shape.
6. Add the googly eye and fin details.

Tutorial Link:
I Heart Crafty Things – Paper Plate Fish Craft for Kids. Here’s Tutorial

Paper Plate Hippopotamus

This hippo craft has a fun big-mouth look that kids usually love. The gray and pink color combo, wide folded mouth, and chunky teeth make it playful and expressive, so it works especially well for zoo themes or story-based craft time.

Materials:
Two paper plates, gray paint, pink paint, cardstock, glue, marker

Steps:

1. Cut one plate for the mouth section.
2. Paint the face gray.
3. Paint the inside mouth pink.
4. Fold and glue the mouth plate to the face plate.
5. Add ears, eyes, nostrils, and teeth.
6. Draw final details.

Tutorial Link:
I Heart Crafty Things – Paper Plate Hippopotamus.

Paper Plate Arctic Fox

This arctic fox looks a little more polished than some basic plate crafts, but it still uses simple folds and staples. The white face, triangle muzzle shape, and snowy feel make it a lovely winter craft that still stays easy for kids.

Materials:
Paper plates, white paint if needed, stapler, scissors, cardstock, glue, marker

Steps:

1. Cut one plate in half.
2. Fold one half inward to make a triangle face section.
3. Staple it onto the full plate.
4. Add ears, eyes, and nose details.
5. Glue on extra face pieces if desired.
6. Finish with simple drawn accents.

Tutorial Link:
I Heart Crafty Things – Paper Plate Arctic Fox Craft for Kids.

Conlcusion

Paper plate animal crafts are an easy and cheerful way to turn simple supplies into something creative, colorful, and fun. Whether kids want to make a playful penguin, a cute cat, or a tall spotted giraffe, these ideas offer plenty of variety for different interests and seasons. They are great for classrooms, rainy afternoons, preschool activities, or weekend crafting at home. With just a few basic materials, you can create adorable animal friends that are fun to make and even more fun to display. Try one idea or make the whole set for an exciting animal-themed craft day.

FAQs

1. What age is best for paper plate animal crafts?
Most work well for ages 3–8 with help for cutting or stapling.

2. Can I swap paint for crayons or markers?
Yes. Paint gives stronger coverage, but crayons and markers work for simpler versions.

3. What if I do not have googly eyes?
Cut paper circles or draw the eyes with markers.

4. How can I display these crafts?
Tape them to a wall, string them into a garland, or use them on a classroom board.