Paper Plate Penguin Craft

This paper plate penguin craft is not only a super cute craft idea but a fun and easy Winter craft for kids.

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Keep the kids busy this Winter with these paper plate penguin crafts.

Winter crafts are always fun for the kids. It keeps their hands busy inside while trying to keep them from going stir-crazy. Some of our other favorite winter crafts include: DIY Cork Snowman Craft, Mini Snowman Hat Craft, and our 7 Fun Winter Activities For Kids

Easy Winter Crafts For Kids

These fun crafts are great throughout the winter months (December, January, and February). Whether you’re a snow lover or longing for the lazy, hazy days of summer, we’ve got super cute winter craft ideas to celebrate all things cold and snowy or to help pass the time until we’re beaching it again.

If you’ve seen Happy Feet or Disney’s Penguins, we know you love penguins as much as we do. And if you haven’t seen them, they are fantastic family-friendly movies that are sure to get you excited for all our penguin-themed crafts! Who can resist those happy little waddles?!

(Fun fact: a group of penguins on land is actually called a waddle. In the water, a group of penguins is called a raft.)

Check out our 101+ Animal Crafts too!

Paper Plate Penguin

We’re celebrating these adorable winter animals with a paper plate penguin craft (similar to our paper plate reindeers). These cute penguins are easy to make with materials you probably already have in the house. All you need is a paper plate, a paper roll (toilet or paper towel), cotton balls, and water bottles. Our paper penguin craft doesn’t require a ton of adult supervision but is definitely one the kids will love.

This penguin craft for kids makes for cute decorations – especially if your house is looking a little bare after taking down the holiday decorations. While the basic design and penguin shape is the same, it’s fun to see how different this paper plate penguin craft can turn out. Remember, there is no wrong way to craft! Who says you can’t make a pink and blue penguin?

Just like when you see real penguins, you can’t help but smile at these adorable paper plate penguins. You’ll want to make a whole HAPPY paper plate penguin family! So, make some steamy hot chocolate, gather your supplies and let it snow!

There’s no better cure for the January/winter blahs than Made with Happy crafts! We’ve got plenty of other fun and easy paper craft ideas for kids, so have a peek at some of our other favorites.

Don't miss all our Full List of Paper Plate Crafts!

Supplies To Make Paper Penguin

Paper plate
Black acrylic paint
White yarn
Orange cardstock
Googly eyes, medium
Hole punch
Tape
Glue stick
Scissors

How Do You Make a Paper Plate Penguin?

Penguin Body

Paint the paper plate black. Let the paint dry completely.

Now, carefully insert scissors toward the lower center of the paper plate. Cut out a circle.

hole punch around cut out circle on paper plate

Use the hole punch to punch holes around the circle.

Penguin Wings

Cut the edges of paper plate off making flippers

Next, form the flippers by cutting off both sides of the paper plate far enough away from the holes that they won’t rip through.

tape end of yarn to underside of the paper plate

Then, cut a long strand of white yarn. Tape one end to the back of the paper plate.

Wrap the other end in tape so that it’s easier to lace. Begin lacing the yarn through the holes at random.

randomly lacing yarn through hole punches

Once thoroughly laced, tape the final end to the back of the paper plate.

Penguin Face

Adhere googly eyes. Cut an orange beak out of the orange cardstock. The glue that in place, as well.

Finally, glue the flippers in place on the sides of the penguin, slightly over the yarn holes.

This is a great winter craft for the kids for a class art project or class party too.

The kids will love to display their masterpieces and they make for some cute refrigerator art.

Here are a few questions you might be thinking about now that you've gotten started on this project:

How to make penguins from craft paper?

In the case that you do not have a paper plate, you of course can make a penguin using craft paper. I would recommend using a thicker black craft paper or card stock for the body.

How do you make animals out of paper plates?

Just as we did with the penguin, you can make a number of different animals out of paper plates. Simply imagine the body of the animal and how you can turn that plate into that body shape.

How do you make a penguin mask?

You can easily turn this penguin craft into a penguin mask. By eliminating the yarn piece of the project, the hole can be the place to put your child's face.

We highlighted this Easy Winter Craft along with some other fun kid's crafts in our January Crafts for Kids along with our 101+ Easy Craft Ideas for kids.

You also do not want to miss our 101+ Free Kids' Printables full of Crafts & Coloring Pages.

Other Paper Plate Crafts You'll Love

Paper Plate Penguin Craft

This paper plate penguin craft is not only a super cute craft idea, but a fun and easy Winter craft for kids.

Course Kids Crafts

Cook Time 30

Total Time 30

Servings Paper Plate Penguin

Author Alli Ward

Equipment

Hole punch
Tape
Glue Stick
Scissors

Ingredients

Paper plate
Black acrylic paint
White yarn
Orange cardstock
Googly eyes medium

Instructions

Paint the paper plate black. Let the paint dry completely.
Now, carefully insert scissors toward the lower center of the paper plate. Cut out a circle.
Use the hole punch to punch holes around the circle.
Next, form the flippers by cutting off both sides of the paper plate far enough away from the holes that they won’t rip through.
Then, cut a long strand of white yarn. Tape one end to the back of the paper plate.
Wrap the other end in tape so that it’s easier to lace.
Begin lacing the yarn through the holes at random. Once thoroughly laced, tape the final end to the back of the paper plate.
Adhere googly eyes. Cut an orange beak out of the orange cardstock. Glue that in place, as well.
Finally, glue the flippers in place on the sides of the penguin, slightly over the yarn holes.