Paper Plate Panda Craft: An Easy Dollar Store Craft for Kids
Looking for an adorable Dollar Store craft that kids can make without a lot of complicated supplies? This Paper Plate Panda Craft turns an ordinary paper plate into the cutest little panda face, complete with big eyes, rosy cheeks, and those unmistakable black-and-white markings. 🐼 Best of all, this easy kids’ craft takes about 30 minutes to complete, making it perfect for a rainy afternoon, classroom activity, summer boredom buster, or anytime your little ones are feeling creative.
This Paper Plate Panda Craft for kids is more than just cute—it’s also a fun way to work on important early learning skills. Cutting and placing the panda’s features helps strengthen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while counting the different pieces and following the steps encourages concentration and sequencing. Kids can even personalize their pandas by changing the facial expressions, adding colorful cheeks, or giving their new panda friend a silly name.
You don’t need a big craft budget, either! Starting with a simple paper plate from the Dollar Store makes this an inexpensive activity that’s easy to put together at home or with a group of children. Gather your paper plate and a few basic craft supplies, then follow the tutorial below to make your own Paper Plate Panda Craft in about 30 minutes. It’s an easy, low-cost project that proves some of the cutest crafts can start with the simplest supplies!
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Materials:
- Paper Plate – Dollar Store
- Wiggle Eyes (40mm) – Dollar Store
- Cardstock – Black, Pink
- Craft Paint – Pink
- Glue Gun and Glue Sticks – Dollar Store
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker, Black
- Sponge Dabber, Round
- PATTERNS
Instructions:
- Gather all supplies. Download and print the panda patterns, then cut out with scissors. Trace the nose once onto black cardstock, the eye patches twice onto black cardstock, the outer ears twice-once onto black cardstock, and the inner ears twice onto pink cardstock with a pencil. You could also use colored craft foam, construction paper, or craft felt for this project.
- Cut out the panda patterns with scissors, making sure to cut inside the traced lines for a clean, finished project.
- Attach the inner ears to the outer ears with a glue gun and glue sticks. Glue the ears to the top right and top left sides of the paper plate panda. Secure the eye patches, diagonally, to the right and left side of the panda’s face. TIP: You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry
- Glue the nose just under the eye patches. Attach a wiggle eye to each eye patch with a glue gun and glue sticks.
- Create cheeks by dipping a round sponge dabber in pink acrylic craft paint and stamping on either side of the panda’s nose. Let paint dry.
- To finish, draw a mouth on the paper plate panda with a permanent black marker.
Once your panda is finished, don’t tuck that cute face away in a drawer! Display it on the refrigerator, bedroom door, playroom wall, or classroom bulletin board. Kids could also make several pandas and create their own little panda family, or you could use them to decorate for a panda- or zoo-themed birthday party.
Another fun idea is to turn your finished Paper Plate Panda Craft into part of a learning activity. Pair it with a children’s book about pandas, learn a few fun panda facts together, or have kids draw a bamboo forest for their panda to live in. You could even attach a craft stick to the back and use the panda as a puppet for pretend play and storytelling.
Print the Tutorial:
Paper Plate Panda Craft
Make an adorable Paper Plate Panda Craft with inexpensive Dollar Store supplies! This easy 30-minute panda craft is perfect for kids of all ages.
Materials
- Paper Plate – Dollar Store
- Wiggle Eyes (40mm) – Dollar Store
- Cardstock – Black, Pink
- Craft Paint – Pink
Tools
- Glue Gun and Glue Sticks – Dollar Store
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker, Black
- Sponge Dabber, Round
Instructions
STEP ONE
Gather all supplies. Download and print the panda patterns, then cut out with scissors. Trace the nose once onto black cardstock, the eye patches twice onto black cardstock, the outer ears twice once onto black cardstock, and the inner ears twice onto pink cardstock with a pencil. You could also use colored craft foam, construction paper, or craft felt for this project.
STEP TWO
Cut out the panda patterns with scissors, making sure to cut inside the traced lines for a clean, finished project.
STEP THREE
Attach the inner ears to the outer ears with a glue gun and glue sticks. Glue the ears to the top right and top left sides of the paper plate panda. Secure the eye patches, diagonally, to the right and left side of the panda’s face. TIP: You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.
STEP FOUR
Glue the nose just under the eye patches. Attach a wiggle eye to each eye patch with a glue gun and glue sticks.
STEP FIVE
Create cheeks by dipping a round sponge dabber in pink acrylic craft paint and stamping on either side of the panda’s nose. Let paint dry.
STEP SIX
To finish, draw a mouth on the paper plate panda with a permanent black marker.
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