| Paper plate animals make the perfect kids craft | | | | tail. Poke a small hole in the last plate (in the back) |
| idea. Most are very easy and inexpensive and kids | | | | and stick the pipe cleaner in the slot. You may |
| can pick their favorite animal. You can make | | | | need a little bit of glue to help hold this in place. |
| masks, wall hangings, animal mobiles and standing | | | | This cute paper plate animal will stand on its own |
| animal crafts. | | | | and will look great on any table. You can even |
| The great thing about making animals from a | | | | make more zoo animals and dedicate a whole |
| simple paper plate is you can make anything - | | | | table for creating your zoo. |
| from aardvarks to zebras and everything in | | | | Paper Plate Rocking Horse |
| between. Here are just a couple ideas for your | | | | Every one of all ages love rocking horses. These |
| animal crafts your kids can make. | | | | were classic toys for many of us. So get some |
| 3-D Paper Plate Elephant | | | | of this nostalgia back by making this cute animal |
| Using sturdy paper plates, you can give your | | | | craft. |
| animal a fun 3-D look. The supplies and instructions | | | | Supplies |
| below are for making an elephant. | | | | Two Flexible Dinner Sized Paper Plates Brown, |
| Supplies | | | | Black and Tan Paint 2 Wiggle Eyes Yarn Scissors |
| 8 Sturdy Dinner Size Plates 2 Flexible Dinner Sized | | | | Glue Ruler |
| Plates 4 Toilet Paper Cardboard Rolls Black and | | | | Directions |
| White Construction Paper Paint Black Marker Pipe | | | | |
| Cleaner Scissors Glue | | | | 1. Paint the bottom of the paper plate with |
| Directions | | | | brown, black and tan spots. Leave some of the |
| | | | white show as well to create white spots for this |
| 1. Paint the sturdy plates the color of your choice | | | | horse. Let the plate dry. |
| for the elephant's body. Let these dry completely. | | | | 2. Turn the plate over to the unpainted side and |
| 2. Glue 2 plates together at the rim (front to | | | | mark the center of the plate. Using the ruler, |
| front) to form one section of the body. Repeat | | | | measure 1 1/2" to 2" from the center on either |
| this with the other plates until you have 4 body | | | | side. Draw 2 straight lines (one on each side of |
| sections. | | | | the middle). Fold the plate along these lines to |
| 3. Glue each of these sections together, back to | | | | create the "rocker". |
| back, to form the elephant's body. | | | | 3. Take the second paper plate and paint it for |
| 4. Using white paper cut out two large circles for | | | | the horses head. We used the tan color but you |
| the eyes. Cut out two smaller circles with the | | | | can use any of the colors to match the body. |
| black paper for the pupils. Glue these to the front | | | | 4. Once this plate is dry, cut out a horses head |
| plate. Cut out some small strips with the black | | | | and neck from the center of the plate. Make the |
| paper for eye lashes and glue these above the | | | | neck about 1 ½ to 2" wide. |
| eyes. | | | | 5. Glue on wiggle eyes or use paper to create the |
| 5. With the flexible paper plates, paint these the | | | | eyes. Using a marker, draw in the details of the |
| same color as the body and let dry. Cut a large | | | | horses face (i.e. nose, mouth, ears). |
| arc on one side of the plates to create the ears. | | | | 6. Cut a 1 ½ to 2" wide slit in the rocking |
| Glue these to the side of the front plate (in | | | | paper plate (horse's body). Make this slit the same |
| between the first and second section of the | | | | size as the neck. Slip the neck into this slit and |
| body). | | | | fold over to hold in place. You may need to add a |
| 6. Use one of the cut out arcs for the elephant's | | | | bit of glue to help hold it in place. |
| trunk. Glue this under the eyes. Cut out a mouth | | | | 7. Lastly, using the yarn, cut several strips and |
| using black paper and glue under the nose. You | | | | glue on the back end of the horse for the tail. |
| can give your elephant a fun look by cutting out a | | | | Repeat this with smaller strips and glue to the |
| cute bow tie (for a boy elephant) or hair ribbons | | | | horses head to create the mane. If your paper |
| (for a girl elephant) and glue these one. | | | | plate horse is too heavy on one end of the other, |
| 7. Next, paint or cover your cardboard rolls with | | | | causing it not to rock properly, just tape a paper |
| paper to match the color scheme of you | | | | clip on the inside to the side that is too light. This |
| elephant. Glue these on at the bottom of the | | | | will help balance out the rocker. |
| elephant's body in the front and back, placing | | | | The ideas are endless when it comes to fun and |
| them in between two of the sections. With the | | | | easy paper plate animal crafts. So get out the |
| black marker, give his feet some toe nails. | | | | paper plates, craft supplies and your imagination |
| 8. Lastly, take the pipe cleaner and shape into a | | | | and have fun. |