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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- Use uncoated white paper plates; paint and glue will not stick to coated ones.
- For ages 1 to 3, prep the plate yourself and let your toddler do one thing: stick, dab or press.
- Kids 5 to 8 can cut spirals, punch holes and weave, so the crafts take 25 to 40 minutes.
- One 100-pack of plates covers a family for the season or one craft for a class of 20.
- Keep pom-poms, buttons and jingle bells away from kids under 3.
In this post26 sections
- Paper plate Christmas crafts for toddlers (ages 1 to 3)
- 1. Sticker paper plate Christmas tree
- 2. Contact paper plate wreath
- 3. Cotton ball paper plate snowman
- 4. Sponge-painted paper plate ornament
- 5. Paper plate angel
- Paper plate Christmas crafts for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5)
- 6. Paper plate Santa with a cotton ball beard
- 7. Paper plate handprint wreath
- 8. Paper plate reindeer with handprint antlers
- 9. Paper plate gingerbread man
- 10. Paper plate penguin
- 11. Paper plate snow globe
- Easy paper plate Christmas crafts for kids 5 to 8
- 12. Spiral paper plate Christmas tree
- 13. Paper plate elf
- 14. Paper plate stained glass star
- 15. Woven yarn paper plate wreath
- Paper plate Christmas ornaments and gifts
- 16. Dessert plate baubles for the tree
- 17. Paper plate photo frame for grandparents
- How many plates? A planning box for a class or a family
- Which paper plates work best for crafts?
- Safety notes for paper plate crafts
- Paper plate craft supplies
- FAQ
Every craft below uses the same thing you already have in the cupboard: a plain paper plate. They are sorted by age so you can find the right one fast, and each one lists how many plates it uses, the prep time, the mess level and a safety note.
| Craft | Ages | Plates per child | Hands-on time | Mess |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sticker Christmas tree | 1 to 3 | 1 | 10 min | Low |
| Contact paper wreath | 1 to 3 | 1 | 10 min | Low |
| Cotton ball snowman | 2 to 4 | 2 | 15 min | Medium |
| Sponge-painted ornament | 2 to 5 | 1 | 15 min plus drying | Medium |
| Paper plate Santa | 3 to 5 | 1 | 20 min | Medium |
| Gingerbread man | 3 to 5 | 1 | 20 min plus drying | Medium |
| Penguin | 3 to 6 | 1 | 20 min plus drying | Medium |
| Snow globe | 4 to 7 | 1 | 20 min | Low |
| Spiral tree | 5 to 8 | 1 | 25 min plus drying | Medium |
| Elf | 5 to 8 | 1 | 25 min | Low |
| Stained glass star | 5 to 8 | 1 | 25 min | Low |
| Woven yarn wreath | 6 to 8 | 1 | 30 to 40 min | Low |
| Dessert plate baubles | 3 to 8 | 3 small | 20 min plus drying | Medium |
| Photo frame gift | 4 to 8 | 1 | 20 min | Low |
Times are our estimates of hands-on time for one child with supplies set out, not tested averages. Toddlers usually need half the time and twice the help.
Paper plate Christmas crafts for toddlers (ages 1 to 3)
Toddler paper plate Christmas crafts work best when the plate is prepped by you and the toddler does one thing: stick, dab or press. Paint the plate the night before, cut any shapes ahead, and keep the session to 10 minutes. Glue sticks, stickers and contact paper are easier for little hands than liquid glue.
1Sticker paper plate Christmas tree
Paint a plate green, let it dry, and cut it into a big triangle (the cut-off rim pieces make a trunk). Your toddler presses jumbo stickers on as ornaments, which is real fine motor work at 18 months: peeling a sticker takes a pincer grip. Pre-peel the sticker edges for a 1 year old so they only have to grab and press.
Ages: 1 to 3
Prep: 5 minutes (plus paint drying overnight)
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, green paint, jumbo foam stickers, kids scissors for you
Safety: stickers can come off and go in the mouth, so sit with your child and use stickers larger than a toilet paper tube opening for under 3s.
- Tape the plate to the tray with painter's tape so it does not slide away mid-sticker.
Big stickers that peel easily are the first craft skill for 1 and 2 year olds.
2Contact paper plate wreath
Cut the middle out of a plate to make a ring, then stretch a square of clear contact paper across the back, sticky side up. Toddlers press torn green and red tissue paper squares onto the sticky ring, no glue at all. When it is full, add a second piece of contact paper on top to seal it, and the wreath looks like stained glass in a window.
Ages: 1 to 3
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, clear contact paper, green and red tissue paper, tape
Safety: tissue paper can be mouthed and is not food; stay beside your child and put the scraps away after the craft.
- Tape the ring to the table sticky side up so it stays put while they work.
The sticky side does the gluing, so toddlers can craft with zero glue.
3Cotton ball paper plate snowman
Glue two plates together, one above the other, for the snowman's body and head. Cover the plates in glue stick in small patches and let your child press on cotton balls until the snowman is fluffy, then you add the paper nose, buttons and scarf. Two year olds love the squish; three year olds can glue on the buttons themselves.
Ages: 2 to 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: Medium (glue on fingers)
Supplies: 2 paper plates, cotton balls, glue stick, orange and black paper, felt or fabric scrap
Safety: cotton balls are a choking risk if pulled apart and eaten; supervise closely and count them back into the bag after.
- Work in patches the size of your child's hand so the glue stays wet.
Snowmen, Santa beards and snowy trees all start with one bag.
4Sponge-painted paper plate ornament
A whole plate becomes one giant bauble. Clip a cut sponge square into a clothespin so small hands have a handle, put red and green paint on a spare plate, and let your child dab all over. Once dry, glue on a gold paper rectangle as the cap and a ribbon loop, then hang it on a door.
Ages: 2 to 5
Prep: 5 minutes (plus 1 hour drying)
Mess: Medium
Supplies: 1 paper plate plus 1 for the paint palette, washable paint, sponge, clothespin, ribbon, gold paper
Safety: use washable, non-toxic paint labeled for children, and a smock or old shirt.
- Use one color at a time for under 3s, or the bauble turns brown.
Washes out of clothes and covers a paper plate in one coat.
5Paper plate angel
The paper plate angel is the classic toddler Christmas craft: fold the plate edges in to make a cone-shaped robe and add paper wings traced from your child's hands. We cover it step by step in our Christmas crafts toddlers can do themselves, with versions for 1, 2 and 3 year olds.
Ages: 2 to 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, white paper, glue stick, crayons
Safety: you handle the stapler or tape, and keep staples away from little fingers.
- Use your child's handprints for the wings so it doubles as a keepsake.
Want a whole week of December mornings planned? Our free 50 screen-free activities pack has ages, prep time and mess level on every card, like this list.
Paper plate Christmas crafts for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5)
At 3 to 5, kids can glue pieces where they want them, paint a whole plate and do some snipping on a line. Pre-cut the small shapes for a group, and let the kids choose where they go. These are the crafts that work best for a preschool class.
6Paper plate Santa with a cotton ball beard
Santa is the most saved paper plate Christmas craft on Pinterest for a reason: it is all big pieces. Glue a red paper triangle hat to the top of the plate, a cotton ball trim and pom-pom on the hat, then fill the bottom half with cotton balls for the beard. Paper dots and a red pom-pom finish it. Our kids Christmas crafts by age has a version for older kids with a 3D hat.
Ages: 3 to 5
Prep: 10 minutes (cut the hats ahead for a group)
Mess: Medium
Supplies: 1 paper plate, red paper, cotton balls, red pom-pom, glue
Safety: pom-poms and cotton balls are small; supervise anyone who still mouths things.
- Liquid school glue holds cotton better than a glue stick for the beard.
Snowmen, Santa beards and snowy trees all start with one bag.
7Paper plate handprint wreath
Cut out the middle of a plate and glue on green paper handprints all around the ring, fingers pointing out. A red bow at the bottom finishes it. It is the class favorite in our easy preschool Christmas crafts for ages 3 to 5, and with names on the back it is a keepsake too.
Ages: 3 to 5
Prep: 15 minutes (tracing hands)
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, green paper, red ribbon, glue stick, pencil
Safety: kids scissors only; an adult cuts out the plate center.
- Trace hands on folded paper to cut two handprints at once.
8Paper plate reindeer with handprint antlers
Paint a plate brown, add two brown paper handprints as antlers, and a big red pom-pom nose. We have two paper plate reindeer, the handprint one and a folded one, in our reindeer crafts for kids, with steps for each.
Ages: 3 to 5
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: Medium (brown paint)
Supplies: 1 paper plate, brown paint, brown paper, red pom-pom, glue
Safety: the red pom-pom is a small part; glue it on yourself for under 3s.
- Use red paper instead of a pom-pom nose for toddlers.
9Paper plate gingerbread man
Paint the plate light brown like a cookie and glue white rickrack around the rim as icing. Kids add paper dots, a curved smile and big paper buttons. Read the gingerbread man story first and this becomes a whole morning, with more ideas in our gingerbread man activities for preschool.
Ages: 3 to 5
Prep: 5 minutes (plus paint drying)
Mess: Medium
Supplies: 1 paper plate, brown paint, white rickrack or white paper strips, red and green paper
Safety: use paper circles, not real buttons, for any child who still mouths things.
- Add a drop of cinnamon to the brown paint for a gingerbread smell (not for eating).
10Paper plate penguin
Paint the outer edge of the plate black and leave a white oval tummy in the middle. Kids glue on an orange triangle beak, two orange feet, black paper flippers and a little red scarf. It is a good one for the week after Christmas when the tree crafts feel done.
Ages: 3 to 6
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: Medium (black paint)
Supplies: 1 paper plate, black paint, orange, black and red paper, glue
Safety: black paint stains; use washable paint and a smock.
- Draw the tummy oval in pencil first so kids know where to stop painting.
11Paper plate snow globe
Kids draw a winter scene in the middle of the plate, glue on a few paper snowflake dots, then you tape clear plastic wrap over the front like the glass of a globe. A blue paper base at the bottom finishes the shape. It lets a child who loves drawing more than gluing make a Christmas craft their way.
Ages: 4 to 7
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, crayons or markers, plastic wrap, tape, blue paper, hole punch for snow dots
Safety: plastic wrap is a suffocation risk for babies and toddlers; an adult handles it and puts the roll away.
- A hole punch on white paper makes instant snow dots.
Easy paper plate Christmas crafts for kids 5 to 8
School-age kids can cut, measure and follow 4 or 5 steps on their own. Give them the plate, the supplies and the photo, and let them try before you help. These four take 25 to 40 minutes, which fills a winter break afternoon.
12Spiral paper plate Christmas tree
Paint a plate green, draw a spiral from the rim to the center in pencil, and cut along the line. Pull the center up and the spiral drops into a 3D cone tree. Glue small paper ornaments along the spiral and a star at the top, then hang it from the star so it twirls.
Ages: 5 to 8
Prep: 5 minutes (plus paint drying)
Mess: Medium
Supplies: 1 paper plate, green paint, kids scissors, yellow and colored paper, string
Safety: kids scissors only; younger kids can have you cut while they decorate.
- Draw the spiral lines about one inch apart so the tree is not too thin to hold its shape.
13Paper plate elf
Paint the plate a skin tone of your child's choice, then add a tall green paper hat with a red stripe, two pointy paper ears and simple paper details. Kids 5 and up can cut the hat and ears from a template themselves. If your family does an elf, this one is fun to make on the night the elf arrives.
Ages: 5 to 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, paint or markers, green, red and skin-tone paper, pom-pom, glue
Safety: the pom-pom is a small part; keep it away from younger siblings.
- Let kids give their elf a name and write it on the hat brim.
14Paper plate stained glass star
Draw a big star in the middle of a plate and cut it out (an adult starts the cut with a craft knife, kids finish with scissors). Tape contact paper or wax paper behind the opening and fill the star with overlapping tissue squares. Tape it to a sunny window and the colors glow.
Ages: 5 to 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, tissue paper, contact paper or wax paper, glue stick, tape
Safety: an adult only uses the craft knife to start the cut; kids use kids scissors.
- Yellow and orange tissue look the most like real stained glass in daylight.
The sticky side does the gluing, so toddlers can craft with zero glue.
15Woven yarn paper plate wreath
Cut the center from a plate, punch 12 to 16 holes around the rim, and let your child weave green and red yarn across and around with a plastic needle. It is the longest craft on this list and the most absorbing, and it is real weaving practice. Add a felt bow at the bottom when the ring is full.
Ages: 6 to 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, hole punch, yarn, plastic yarn needle, felt
Safety: yarn is a strangling risk for babies and toddlers; put the yarn away after and never hang the wreath over a crib.
- Tape the yarn end to the back of the plate to start so it does not pull through.
Blunt plastic needles make the woven wreath doable for a 6 year old.
Paper plate Christmas ornaments and gifts
These two are for the tree and for grandparents. Both work across ages: toddlers paint, older kids add the details. Write your child's name and the year on the back of each one.
16Dessert plate baubles for the tree
Small dessert plates make light, unbreakable ornaments. Kids paint each one a solid color, then add stripes, dots or zigzags with glitter glue or a paint marker once dry. Glue on a paper cap and thread a ribbon through a punched hole to hang it. Three plates per child makes a set for the lower branches.
Ages: 3 to 8
Prep: 10 minutes (plus drying)
Mess: Medium (glitter glue)
Supplies: 3 small dessert paper plates, paint, glitter glue or paint markers, ribbon, hole punch
Safety: hang on the lower branches only if you have a toddler, with no metal hooks.
- Paper ornaments are a good swap for glass on the bottom third of a tree with a crawler in the house.
Uncoated plates soak up paint and glue; one 100-pack covers every craft on this page twice.
17Paper plate photo frame for grandparents
Cut the middle out of a plate, tape a family photo behind the opening, and let your child decorate the rim as a wreath with green paint and red pom-pom berries. A ribbon loop at the top makes it hang. For more gift ideas, see our toddler Christmas gifts for grandparents.
Ages: 4 to 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Mess: Low
Supplies: 1 paper plate, a printed photo, green paint, red pom-poms, ribbon, tape
Safety: pom-poms are small; glue them on for younger kids and keep the bag out of reach.
- Print the photo on plain paper at home; it does not need to be glossy.
Big enough to pass the toilet paper tube test for most kids under 3.
How many plates? A planning box for a class or a family
Here is the math we use when a craft is for a group. One standard 100-pack of uncoated plates is enough for most families for the whole season and for one craft for a class of 20 with plenty of spares.
| Craft | Plates | Other supplies | Prep for the adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper plate Santa | 20, plus 4 spares | 1 bag of 300 cotton balls, 20 red pom-poms | Cut 20 hats (about 15 min) |
| Spiral Christmas tree | 20, plus 20 spares (palettes) | 1 bottle green paint (about 16 oz) | Paint plates the day before or let kids paint |
| Woven yarn wreath | 20 | 2 skeins of yarn, 20 plastic needles | Punch 14 holes per plate (about 25 min) |
| Dessert plate baubles | 60 small plates | Ribbon, 3 colors of paint | Punch holes, cut caps |
These are planning examples, not measured amounts. Paint goes further if you pour it onto a spare plate in small amounts and refill as needed.
Which paper plates work best for crafts?
Use plain white uncoated paper plates for any craft with paint or glue. Coated or plastic-lined plates make paint bead up and glue slide off. Thin plates are easier for kids to cut, while heavier plates hold up better for wreaths and frames that will hang.
What we like
- Uncoated: paint and glue stick on the first coat
- Uncoated: thin enough for kids scissors
- Uncoated: cheapest per plate in bulk
Keep in mind
- Coated: paint beads up and peels
- Coated: glue sticks will not hold cotton or tissue
- Coated: harder to cut and punch
Safety notes for paper plate crafts
Pom-poms, buttons, beads, googly eyes and jingle bells are all small enough to choke on. The CPSC small parts rule treats anything that fits in its test cylinder as a choking hazard for children under 3. At home, an empty toilet paper tube is a cautious stand-in: if it slides through, keep it away from under 3s. Our play safety page has the full checklist.
Before any paper plate craft
For the rest of December, the Christmas Activity Pack has a 24-day countdown with an activity card for each day, Christmas bingo for up to 6 players, word searches and big coloring pages for ages 3 to 8. It pairs well with a craft a day from this list.
More from the craft table: our winter crafts for kids carry on into January, and the handprint Christmas crafts make cards and keepsakes from the same supplies.
Paper plate craft supplies
One shopping trip for every craft above
- Start here
Uncoated white paper plates, 9 inch, bulk pack
Typically $5 to $12 for 100
Uncoated plates soak up paint and glue; one 100-pack covers every craft on this page twice.
Check price on Amazon for Uncoated white paper plates, 9 inch, bulk pack -
Washable tempera paint set
Typically $12 to $25
Washes out of clothes and covers a paper plate in one coat.
Check price on Amazon for Washable tempera paint set -
Large cotton balls
Typically $4 to $8
Snowmen, Santa beards and snowy trees all start with one bag.
Check price on Amazon for Large cotton balls -
Jumbo craft pom-poms (2 inch)
Typically $6 to $12
Big enough to pass the toilet paper tube test for most kids under 3.
Check price on Amazon for Jumbo craft pom-poms (2 inch) -
Jumbo foam stickers for toddlers
Typically $6 to $12
Big stickers that peel easily are the first craft skill for 1 and 2 year olds.
Check price on Amazon for Jumbo foam stickers for toddlers -
Clear contact paper roll
Typically $7 to $14
The sticky side does the gluing, so toddlers can craft with zero glue.
Check price on Amazon for Clear contact paper roll -
Plastic yarn needles and yarn set
Typically $6 to $12
Blunt plastic needles make the woven wreath doable for a 6 year old.
Check price on Amazon for Plastic yarn needles and yarn set -
Kids safety scissors
Typically $5 to $10
Blunt tips for 3 to 5 year olds; pointed kids scissors for 6 and up.
Check price on Amazon for Kids safety scissors -
Washable glue sticks, bulk
Typically $6 to $15
Less mess than liquid glue for tissue, paper shapes and toddlers.
Check price on Amazon for Washable glue sticks, bulk
Frequently asked questions
What Christmas crafts can you make with paper plates?
Santa with a cotton ball beard, a spiral Christmas tree, a handprint wreath, a reindeer, a snowman, a penguin, an elf, a gingerbread man, a snow globe, a stained glass star, small ornaments and a photo frame gift. All 17 are above, sorted by age.
What are good paper plate Christmas crafts for toddlers?
The sticker Christmas tree, the contact paper wreath and the cotton ball snowman. You prep the plate and your toddler sticks or presses, with no scissors and little or no glue.
What kind of paper plates are best for crafts?
Plain white uncoated paper plates. Paint and glue stick to them on the first coat, and they are thin enough for kids scissors. Coated plates make paint bead up.
How many paper plates do I need for a class craft?
One per child plus a few spares, and one extra per table as a paint palette. For a class of 20, a 100-pack of plates covers one craft with plenty left over.
Are paper plate crafts safe for 1 year olds?
Yes, with prepped plates, jumbo stickers or contact paper and an adult beside them. Skip pom-poms, buttons and anything small enough to fit through a toilet paper tube.
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