Are you getting ready to transform the humble paper plate into your go-to supply for spooky season? It can be frustrating trying to find Halloween crafts that are fun for the whole family but don’t require expensive, complicated supplies. You might see incredible projects online but lack the time or budget for a big trip to the craft store.
Well, forget all that! This Halloween, all you need is a stack of paper plates and a little imagination to create decorations, masks, and creepy creatures that will delight everyone. We’ve gathered 10 amazing, easy-to-follow ideas perfect for everyone from tiny toddlers to seasoned crafters. This guide proves that amazing Halloween magic can start with the simplest materials you already have at home.
Our 4 Favorite Picks ⭐
Best for Beginners: Paper Plate Ghosts are so simple to make but look incredibly spooky hanging up. It’s the perfect first craft to get anyone into the Halloween spirit!
Most Creative: The Paper Plate Spider Web Lacing Activity is more than a craft; it’s a fantastic game that helps little ones develop their fine motor skills in a super fun way.
Best Budget-Friendly: You can’t beat the Classic Paper Plate Jack-o’-Lantern. It uses the most basic supplies—paint and paper—to create something truly iconic for the holiday.
Best for a Group Activity: Paper Plate Monster Masks are our top choice for parties or classroom fun. Just set out the supplies and watch as everyone’s unique monster comes to life!
The Ultimate List of Paper Plate Halloween Crafts 👻
1. Spooky Paper Plate Ghosts 👻
These classic hanging ghosts are easy to make and look fantastic. They are perfect for little hands and look amazing dangling from doorways or tree branches. This simple craft is a perfect way to get kids excited about creating their own Halloween decor from basic supplies.
- Great For: Toddler Crafts, Quick Decorations, Group Activities
- Key Materials: Paper plates, white streamers or crepe paper, black marker
- Time to Complete: Approx. 10-15 minutes
Pro Tip: For outdoor decorating, swap streamers for strips cut from a white plastic tablecloth or trash bag. This makes your ghosts much more durable and weather-resistant.
2. Classic Paper Plate Jack-o’-Lantern 🎃
A pumpkin craft is a Halloween must-do! This project lets kids design their very own Jack-o’-Lantern face without any of the mess or danger of real pumpkin carving. It’s a fantastic, safe alternative for toddlers and a great way to use a common craft supply—orange paint—to create something iconic.
- Great For: Scissor Skills Practice, Toddler-Friendly Fun
- Key Materials: Paper plates, orange paint or crayon, black construction paper, glue
- Time to Complete: Approx. 15-20 minutes
Pro Tip: Use this project to help kids practice their scissor skills by having them cut out triangles, squares, and other shapes for the pumpkin’s face.
3. Paper Plate Black Cat 🐈⬛
Create a sleek and spooky black cat, a perfect symbol of Halloween night! This craft involves cutting the plate to form the cat’s body and pointy ears, making it a rewarding challenge. It’s a great way to show kids how a single supply can be transformed into a cool, 3D-looking figure.
- Great For: 3D Crafts, Practicing Shapes, Animal Lovers
- Key Materials: Paper plate, black paint, pipe cleaners, googly eyes
- Time to Complete: Approx. 20-25 minutes
Pro Tip: For a more menacing look, use a yellow marker to draw striking cat eyes instead of using googly eyes. You can also glue the finished cat onto a larger piece of blue or black paper and add a moon to create a full night scene.
4. Creepy Paper Plate Spiders 🕷️
Nothing says Halloween like a creepy-crawly spider, and this craft is super versatile. You can make them cute and friendly or truly terrifying! This is a great project for learning simple construction, as you’ll attach eight dangly legs to a central body to create a fun creature.
- Great For: Counting Practice, Hanging Decorations, Learning About Spiders
- Key Materials: Paper plate, black paint, black pipe cleaners, googly eyes
- Time to Complete: Approx. 20-25 minutes
Pro Tip: This is an excellent opportunity to talk about spiders and count to eight while attaching the legs. Once you’re done, punch a hole in the top and use some string to hang it from the ceiling for a spooky surprise.
5. Paper Plate Monster Masks 👹
Unleash your child’s creativity with this craft where there are no rules. Use any and all craft supplies you have on hand—yarn for hair, pom-poms for noses, and multiple googly eyes. This is the ultimate “use what you have” project, making it a cornerstone of accessible and affordable crafting.
- Great For: Group Activities, Using Up Scrap Supplies, Imaginative Play
- Key Materials: Paper plates, markers/paint, yarn, pom-poms, scissors
- Time to Complete: Approx. 20-30 minutes
Pro Tip: For younger children, pre-cutting the eye holes makes it much easier. If you’re hosting a Halloween party, set up a “monster-making station” with various supplies in bowls—it’s always a huge hit!
6. Paper Plate Witch Face 🧙♀️
Whip up a wicked witch with a pointy hat and a warty nose! This craft combines painting, cutting, and gluing, offering a great multi-step project for kids who are ready for a little more challenge. It’s a perfect example of how to build a recognizable character using just a few simple shapes and basic supplies.
- Great For: Practicing Cutting Skills, Character Crafting, Storytelling
- Key Materials: Paper plate, green paint, black & orange construction paper, glue
- Time to Complete: Approx. 20-30 minutes
Pro Tip: Encourage kids to practice fine motor skills by cutting a big cone shape from black paper for the hat and thin strips of orange paper to glue on as hair.
7. Paper Plate Vampire Fangs 🧛
Move over, plastic fangs! Create a silly or scary vampire face, complete with its own attached fangs. This clever craft involves folding and cutting a paper plate in a specific way to create a mouth that appears to open and close. It’s a fun, interactive craft that goes beyond simple decoration.
- Great For: Interactive Props, Simple Masks, Costume Accessories
- Key Materials: Paper plate, red and black markers, scissors
- Time to Complete: Approx. 15-20 minutes
Pro Tip: For a ghoulishly fun detail, draw a small red drop of “blood” on one of the fangs. This craft can also double as a simple, hand-held mask for pretend play.
8. Paper Plate Spider Web Lacing Activity 🕸️
This project is both a craft and a fine motor skills activity. Kids love weaving yarn through holes in the plate to create their own spider web. It’s a skill-building craft disguised as a fun Halloween decoration, which makes it perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners, as lacing helps develop hand-eye coordination and pincer grasp.
- Great For: Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Quiet Time Activity
- Key Materials: Paper plate, hole punch, white yarn, plastic toy spider
- Time to Complete: Approx. 15-25 minutes
Pro Tip: Wrap a small piece of tape around the end of the yarn to create a makeshift “needle.” This makes lacing through the holes much easier and less frustrating for little fingers.
9. Paper Plate Mummy 🤕
This mummy craft has a great textural element that kids find satisfying. Wrapping yarn or paper strips around the plate is a fun, repetitive motion. This craft teaches the concept of layering to create a cool visual effect with common and accessible supplies.
- Great For: Sensory Play, Layering Practice, Using Up Yarn Scraps
- Key Materials: Paper plate, white yarn or crepe paper strips, googly eyes, glue
- Time to Complete: Approx. 15-20 minutes
Pro Tip: Remind your kids not to worry about making the wrapping perfect! A messy, crisscrossing pattern actually makes the mummy look more authentic and ancient.
10. Paper Plate Frankenstein 🧟
Bring Frankenstein’s monster to life with this fun craft! The iconic green face, flat-top head, and neck bolts are simple to replicate with a paper plate and paper scraps. This project is great for practicing shapes and creating a character based on a famous story.
- Great For: Using Scrap Paper, Character Crafting, Story Time Fun
- Key Materials: Paper plate, green paint, black marker, gray or black construction paper
- Time to Complete: Approx. 20-25 minutes
Pro Tip: Use up small scraps of paper by having your child cut two small gray rectangles for the neck “bolts” to complete the classic, monstrous look!
How to Choose the Right Project For You 🤔
- Consider Your Child’s Age & Skill Level: The most important thing is to have fun, not get frustrated. For toddlers, stick to simple painting and gluing projects like the Ghosts or Jack-o’-Lanterns. Older kids who are more confident with scissors will enjoy the cutting involved in the Black Cat or the lacing in the Spider Web.
- Look at the Materials You Have: The beauty of these crafts is their simplicity. Before you choose, scan the “Key Materials” for each idea. You can likely find a project you can make right now without a special trip to the store.
- Match the Craft to Your Goal: What do you need today? For a quick decoration, you can make a dozen Ghosts in no time. For a fun party activity, setting up a Monster Mask station is a guaranteed win. If you need a costume prop, the Witch or Vampire faces are perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓
Q1: What are the most essential supplies for paper plate Halloween crafts?
A: You don’t need much! Beyond paper plates, we recommend having a small stash of child-safe paint (especially orange, green, black, and white), some construction paper, child-safe scissors, a bottle of glue, and a good black marker. With just these basics, you can make almost everything on this list.
Q2: How can I make my paper plate crafts last longer?
A: For extra durability, use heavy-duty coated paper plates, as they hold up better to paint and glue. For a project you really love, a thin coat of a sealer like Mod Podge can protect the paint from smudging and help it last until next year.
Q3: What’s the best way to set up a group craft station?
A: The key is organization. Choose a versatile and creative project like the Monster Masks, which allows for individuality.
Pro Tip: Place a paper plate at each child’s spot. Then, use a muffin tin or small bowls to hold all the shared supplies like googly eyes, pom-poms, yarn, and pre-cut paper shapes. This prevents everything from getting mixed up and makes cleanup much easier.
Conclusion 🎉
There you have it—10 fantastic ways to celebrate Halloween using one of the most affordable and accessible craft supplies on the planet! You don’t need a huge budget or special skills to fill your home with handmade spooky charm. This list provides ideas that will be a hit, no matter the age or skill level.
So go on, grab a stack of plates from your pantry, pick your favorite project, and get ready to have a wonderfully creative and fun-filled Halloween. Happy crafting!
We’d love to see what you create! Share a photo of your finished paper plate craft on social media and be sure to tag us so we can see your amazing work.
Sources & References 📚
- Pathways.org. (n.d.). When Do Kids Learn to Use Scissors?. Retrieved from https://pathways.org/kids-learn-use-scissors/
- Rasmussen University. (2023). What Are Fine Motor Skills and Why Are They So Important?. Retrieved from https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/what-are-fine-motor-skills/
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Frankenstein-or-The-Modern-Prometheus
- Plaid. (n.d.). Mod Podge Matte. Plaid Online. Retrieved from https://plaidonline.com/products/plaid-mod-podge-matte-8-oz
