43 Creative Animal Paper Plate Crafts for Kids: Free Templates Inside!

Last Updated: November 18, 2025By Tags: , , , , ,


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43 Fun Animal Paper Plate Crafts for Kids (Free Templates)

Crafting is an extraordinary way to engage children’s creativity while honing their fine motor skills. One delightful medium for crafting is the humble paper plate. Affordable, readily available, and versatile, paper plates can be transformed into countless adorable animal designs. Here, we present 43 engaging animal-themed paper plate crafts for kids, along with links to free templates to help get you started.

Why Choose Paper Plate Crafts?

Paper plate crafts are especially appealing for children due to their simplicity and the wide variety of designs that can be created. They encourage imaginative play, storytelling, and can even be educational. From learning about different animals to discussing colours and patterns, these crafts can blend fun and learning seamlessly.

43 Animal Paper Plate Crafts

  1. Paper Plate Lion

    • Use yellow and orange tissue paper to create a stunning lion’s mane.
  2. Paper Plate Owl

    • Paint a paper plate brown, add colourful feathers, and glue on googly eyes for an adorable owl.
  3. Paper Plate Fish

    • Cut and fold plates to make 3D fish, then decorate with vibrant colours and designs.
  4. Paper Plate Elephant

    • Create large ears from extra paper plates and paint them grey for a jolly elephant.
  5. Paper Plate Butterfly

    • Cut a paper plate in half and decorate each side to form beautifully colourful wings.
  6. Paper Plate Turtle

    • Design a colourful shell using craft paper and attach it to a painted plate base.
  7. Paper Plate Ladybird

    • Use black and red paint to turn a plate into a cute ladybird, complete with black spots.
  8. Paper Plate Snake

    • Curl a paper plate into a snake shape and paint it in patterns and colours of choice.
  9. Paper Plate Panda

    • Paint a paper plate white and add black ears and eyes for a sweet panda face.
  10. Paper Plate Frog

    • Create a jumping frog by painting green and adding eyes and a tongue.
  11. Paper Plate Peacock

    • Use vibrant colours and embellishments to create a magnificent peacock display.
  12. Paper Plate Rooster

    • Paint plates in bright colours and form a proud rooster with a colourful comb.
  13. Paper Plate Bear

    • A classic bear face made from brown plates with ears can be easily created with addition of details.
  14. Paper Plate Whale

    • Cut out a tail and add a splash of colour for a friendly whale.
  15. Paper Plate Giraffe

    • A yellow plate decorated with brown spots makes a lovely giraffe.
  16. Paper Plate Squirrel

    • Paint a plate brown and add a fluffy tail from cotton wool for a realistic touch.
  17. Paper Plate Shark

    • Use the underside of the plate for sleek shark fins and teeth.
  18. Paper Plate Rabbit

    • Transform a round plate into an adorable bunny by gluing on large pink ears.
  19. Paper Plate Caterpillar

    • Link several plates to create a crawling caterpillar filled with bright colours.
  20. Paper Plate Hedgehog

    • Add spikes using cut-out paper for a cute hedgehog.
  21. Paper Plate Octopus

    • Create tentacles from cut pieces of a plate, then decorate it with vibrant paint.
  22. Paper Plate Flamingo

    • Shape a plate into a flamingo’s body, painting it pink with a long neck.
  23. Paper Plate Raccoon

    • Use dark colours for the mask and add a fluffy tail for some character.
  24. Paper Plate Seal

    • Paint a plate grey, adding whiskers and googly eyes for a cute seal.
  25. Paper Plate Sloth

    • Turn a plate into a sloth using browns and greens for a playful take.
  26. Paper Plate Alligator

    • Paint green and add paper teeth to achieve that distinctive alligator look.
  27. Paper Plate Parrot

    • Use bright paper for feathers and create a striking parrot.
  28. Paper Plate Zebra

    • Create a black and white striped zebra from a paper plate.
  29. Paper Plate Dragon

    • Use imaginative colours for scales and fangs, perfect for unleashing creativity.
  30. Paper Plate Cow

    • Dot a white plate with black spots and add ears for a classic cow face.
  31. Paper Plate Kangaroo

    • Create a popping-out pouch for the baby kangaroo using additional paper.
  32. Paper Plate Tiger

    • Add orange and black stripes to capture a fierce tiger.
  33. Paper Plate Goldfish

    • Create a bowl of paper plate goldfish using orange plates.
  34. Paper Plate Cheetah

    • Create a speedy looking cheetah with painted spots.
  35. Paper Plate Dinosaur

    • Decorate a plate with colourful spikes to design your own dinosaur.
  36. Paper Plate Butterfly

    • Decorate the two halves of a plate separately to create unique wing designs.
  37. Paper Plate Flamingo

    • Craft a graceful flamingo with long legs and bright feathers.
  38. Paper Plate Chameleon

    • Use many colours to embody the changeability of a chameleon.
  39. Paper Plate Bison

    • Create a sturdy bison by crafting with brown and cream tones.
  40. Paper Plate Macaw

    • A multi-coloured paper plate macaw can brighten any space.
  41. Paper Plate Ant

    • Assemble multiple smaller plates to create a fun depiction of an ant.
  42. Paper Plate Cheetah

    • Paint in dots and yellows for a swift and stunning cheetah craft.
  43. Paper Plate Santa Cat
    • For the festive season, get creative with half a plate to make a Santa-themed cat.

Conclusion

These 43 paper plate animal crafts are perfect for rainy days, at-home school projects, or fun group activities. The myriad options ensure that no two crafts need to be alike, promoting individuality and creativity in children. With templates available for many of these designs, it’s never been easier to start your crafting adventure. Gather your supplies and enjoy time spent creating these delightful animal crafts! Happy crafting!


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