Paper plate aliens

We took last week off and enjoyed a more relaxed schedule last week. I had 5 days off over Memorial Day weekend. We did lots of gardening (flower and vegetable), some swimming at my parents, visited my brother who was camping, went to the park and ice cream stand, played lots of games, and just spent time together. Saturday we also went to the monthly Home Depot Kids Workshop where the kids made cell phone holder trophies. We did more gardening, errands and swimming.

When our daycare friend returned Thursday we spent two days just paying inside and outside and didn't do any projects. It was actually nice to have a week "off." We are ready to start a new theme though, so it's time for Outer Space Week! Another daycare kid (age 6) will be back part-time this summer as well, so some days we will be a group of 4.

Today's easy project came from Glued To My Crafts.  I really loved this project because even though she had a template of how it was done, we were able to really individualize each alien based on each kids thoughts on how their alien should look.


First, the kids covered their small paper plates with glue. Then, they laid small squares of tissue paper all over the plates. You can cut your own tissue paper, but I have some from Oriental Trading Company that are pre-cut.

When they had their plates covered, they glued eyes on the plates, and then used pom-poms, paper and pipe cleaners to finish designing their aliens. They really enjoyed making these.

Sutton and Lucian's had pipe cleaner legs.

Paper plate bear

I didn't realize my blog didn't update yesterday. On Wednesday we made paper plate bears, and read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" By Bill Martin Jr./Eric Carle for the 1,638th time.

To make our bears, the kids each painted a small paper plate with brown while I cut out the other parts. 

We glued the ears and noses together, then put everything but the ears on the plate with a bit of glue. I had to help the youngest, but my two were able to do this part.

When the plates were dry, I stapled on the ears. 

Paper plate dinosaurs

I found a cute paper plate dinosaur craft on Learn With Play at Home that even included the templates for a few different dinosaurs.

First, the kids painted their paper plates.

Once they dried a bit they used sponge stamps to stamp some shapes of another color on to their plates. Lastly, I stapled the cut out shape of the dinosaur on to the dried paper plates.

Paper plate Jellyfish

One of my favorite ocean creatures to look at is jellyfish. Today we made paper plate jellyfish.

The children each painted half a paper plate in the color of their choice.

When they were dry Sutton and I glued eyes on each one, I made a smile with marker and tapes some ribbon to the back. You could use other ribbon, crepe paper or anything else your imagination inspires you to use. I thought I had silver ribbon, but couldn't find it this morning. I think they still turned out cute!

Fish bowls

Today's project was paper plate fish bowls. 

First, the kids painted one paper plate blue. 

Then, I stapled a cut-out paper plate to the first plate. The paint had dried during nap time. Lastly, they glued gold fish into their fish bowl.

Paper plate clown

This week our theme is "circus," so we made a simple, fast paper plate clown.

I glued the yarn mouths on because I don't think any of the kids could do that part. 

I put glue where the eyes and nose should be, and they put those on. Then l, I showed them where to put the glue for the clown "hair." Finally, the hair Pom-poms. Sutton used the biggest ones I had, so she was done almost immediately. 

Paper plate cows

Farm animals are our theme of the week. I've pulled out the farm books, and today's craft was a paper plate cow.

I wanted my two kids to cut out their own spots, but they each cut a few strips and demanded help. So I ended up cutting everything out as fast as I could for three kids and they glued the pieces on. Lucian hung his up before I could snap a picture of it. 

Paper plate cars

Yesterday we took a sick/snow day (our daycare friend even stayed home), but today we are back on track with our Vehicle theme.We made paper plate cars in the color of each kids' choosing.

I'm still not feeling the best, so I let the kids watch an Umi Zoomi Helicopter episode (vehicles, right?), and we read through one of the kids favorite books for the 429th time. It's not so much a book about reading, but it lists various types of vehicles and the kids love it. It's called My Big Truck book. Amazon sells it for a great price, so get one for your kids too.


The paper plate cars themselves were simple.I cut paper plates in half and let them put entirely too much glue on them. I gave them pre-cut tissue paper squares that I had gotten years ago from Oriental Trading Co. 

When they were done putting those on I gave them windows, wheels and a bumper to add to each car and helped put them on. Sutton isn't always into crafts, but she seemed to really enjoy this one.

Gingerbread Men

Today's project was gingerbread men made from paper plates. The kids used so much paint though, that this project took all morning to dry so we could complete it.

We used small paper plates and the kids painted them brown. While they were drying I cut out the limbs and heads, and the kids helped glue everything on. 

Once the plates were dry we were finally able to assemble them.