10 Easy Ideas Paper Plate Crafts to Recycle

Saving time on washing dishes and versatile for many different occasions, paper plates are a familiar product. But how can we avoid wasting and recycle paper plates? Check out 10 wonderful paper plate crafts for various occasions in the article below!

10 Wonderful Paper Cups Recycling Ideas for Business and For Customer

Idea #1: Make animal masks from paper plates for birthday parties

Materials:

• Paper plates
• Colored paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Markers

Instructions:

1. Cut a small round hole on the paper plate for the eye.
2. Cut colored paper into the shapes of the ears, nose, and mouth of the animal you choose (e.g., triangle for a dog's nose, circle for an owl's eye).
3. Glue these parts onto the paper plate.
4. Use markers to draw additional decorative details.

Idea #2: Use paper plates to make a clock to decorate your bedroom

Materials:

• Paper plates
• Scissors
• Markers
• Clock hands (can be bought at craft stores or use self-made wooden pieces)
• Cardboard (cut into a small circle for the minute hand)

Instructions:

1. Draw numbers from 1 to 12 on the outer rim of the paper plate.
2. Use clock hands to attach the minute hand and hour hand to the center of the paper plate.

Idea #3: Paper plate craft: make sunflowers to decorate your home

Materials:

• Yellow paper plates
• Brown paper
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Tape
• Glue
• Sunflower seeds (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut oval petals on the yellow paper plate.
2. Cut along the drawn lines to create multiple petals.
3. Cut a small circle out of brown paper.
4. Glue sunflower seeds (if available) onto the center of the circle.
5. Apply glue to the back of the circle and glue it to the center of the paper plate.
6. Arrange the petals around the pistil, alternating layers of petals for thickness.
7. Use glue or tape to secure the petals to the paper plate.

Idea #4: Make a Cookie Monster puppet

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Blue and black paint
• Paintbrush
• 2 toilet paper tubes
• White paper
• Black marker
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Paint the paper plate blue and black, one color on each side. Wait for the paper plate to dry.
2. Cut ½ of the paper plate to create a cone shape.
3. Cut colored paper into the shapes of Cookie Monster's ears, eyes, and nose.
4. Glue these parts onto the paper plate.
5. Cut 2 small holes opposite each other on the bottom rim of the cone (to thread the elastic).
6. Thread the elastic through the 2 holes to create a headband.

Idea #5: Create paper flower decorations for parties

Materials:

• Colored paper plates
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Cut the paper plates into different flower shapes.
2. Use a pencil to draw details such as pistils and leaves.
3. Use glue to stick different colored paper pieces to add more detail to the flowers.

Idea #6: Design animal headbands for Halloween and festivals

Materials:

• Paper plates
• Colored paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Elastic

Instructions:

1. Cut ½ of the paper plate to create a cone shape.
2. Cut colored paper into the shapes of the animal's ears, eyes, and nose.
3. Glue these parts onto the paper plate.
4. Cut 2 small holes opposite each other on the bottom rim of the cone (to thread the elastic).
5. Thread the elastic through the 2 holes to create a headband.

Idea #7: Create a sea turtle to decorate your classroom

Materials:

• Blue paper plate
• Colored paper (green, red, yellow)
• Scissors
• Tape
• Plastic beads or buttons

Instructions:

1. Cut the paper plate in ½.
2. Cut out seaweed, coral, and fish shapes from colored paper.
3. Glue these shapes onto ½ of the paper plate.
4. Use plastic beads or buttons to glue onto the paper plate to create air bubbles.

Idea #8: Make a UFO flying saucer from paper plates for children

Materials:

• 2 paper plates
• Scissors
• Tape
• Tin foil
• Decorations (alien letters, alien figures). (Optional)

Instructions:

1. Tape the 2 paper plates together, facing each other.
2. Cut or tear the tin foil into small pieces to create a shiny effect.
3. Glue the tin foil onto the surface of the paper plates.
4. You can optionally decorate the UFO with alien letters or alien figures.

Idea #9: Make colorful flower vases to decorate your study desk

Materials:

• Paper plates
• Watercolors
• Paintbrushes
• Markers
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Paint patterns and designs on the paper plates using watercolors.
2. Use markers to draw additional details such as leaves and stems.
3. Glue the paper plates together to create a vase shape.

Idea #10: Make a crown for birthday parties

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Colored paper
• Glitter
• Glue
• Elastic

Instructions:

1. Cut the paper plate into a crown shape.
2. Cut the colored paper into decorative shapes such as stars and hearts.
3. Glue the decorative shapes onto the crown.
4. Sprinkle glitter on the crown to create a shiny effect.
5. Cut 2 small holes opposite each other on the bottom rim of the crown (to thread the elastic).
6. Thread the elastic through the 2 holes to create a headband.

Tips for making paper craft decorations:

• You can use paper plates of different sizes to create crafts of different sizes.
• Be creative and use different materials to create your own unique crafts.

In addition to being used for holding food, the 10 ideas above can be used to create decorative objects that can be used for a variety of purposes. They can help to reduce plastic waste, save money on buying decorative items, and are especially suitable for school picnics, birthday parties and other festive occasions. Let's reduce plastic use with these 10 ideas!