How to Make a Paper Plate Fish

Kids love color and they also have a limited attention span, which makes this guide on How to Make a Paper Plate Fish ideal for kids.
They’re quick and easy to make and will keep the kids busy while you get on with something else, like making a delicious coffee.
And best of all you get to use up your old paper plates so it’s a win-win situation.

So let’s get started.

How to Make a Paper Plate Fish

Skill Level – Easy
Time Required – 15 minutes

First, let’s get everything ready so you can leave the little ones to get busy and avoid all those interruptions.

What you will need

• Paper plates
• Permanent markers (they work better if you are using plastic plates)
• Scraps of colored card
• Tacky glue or sticky tape
• Scissors
• Optional – glitter, ribbon, punches

Step 1

Select the color paint your child wants to use for their fish and paint a couple of paper plates. If you don’t have time for the paint to dry you can use colored plastic plates instead.

Step 2

Now it’s time for my favourite part… the face. If you’d like an open mouth on your fish cut out a ‘V’ section then draw on your eyes with the permanent marker else you can draw the whole face. Make it as fun or crazy as you like.

Step 3

If your child has decided to have a fish with an open mouth you can use the piece of paper plate that you cut out for the tail.

The other option for a tail is to cut one out of a piece of colored card. This can be as fancy as you want to make it or it’s fine as simple. If your child is old enough to use scissors how about letting them have a go. There’s no right or wrong way to make a fishtail.

Glue or tape the tail to the back of the plate opposite to the mouth.

Step 4

Now that you’ve got the body of the fish completed it’s time to decorate! Go wild and use your imagination. Cut out a fin, crown or hat, sprinkle some glitter, cut some shapes and glue or maybe punch out some flowers or shapes the possibilities are endless.

Cut out a fin, crown or hat, sprinkle some glitter, cut some shapes and glue or maybe punch out some flowers or shapes the possibilities are endless.

See the photo for some other fun ideas.

Now, watch my video on making paper plate fish for more ideas…

Other Ideas

Pierce a small hole in the top of the fish, and turn them into a colorful mobile. Just use an old coat hanger and use different lengths of string or fishing wire to give it a real underwater theme.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide on How to Make a Paper Plate Fish and If you’ve got some great variations on this colorful craft idea then please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Or maybe share a photo or two on my Facebook Page.