Does the thought of celebrating Christmas make you as excited as Buddy the Elf?

Maybe you make Christmas cookies for your neighbors, you go caroling with some friends or you just love watching your favorite Christmas movies at home on the couch!

However your family celebrates, there is so much joy to be had during the Christmas season. And with all the extra time your kids have during Christmas break, why not gather as a family and have some holiday fun together?

Young kids of all ages will love making this paper plate Elf craft! It’s simple, fun, and cheap to make since it only uses a few common supplies like paper, tape, and glue.

Read on below or watch our step-by-step video tutorial to learn exactly how to make this simple Xmas craft! Also, check out all of our elf crafts for kids for more ideas.

Easy Elf Craft Idea

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Supplies

• Paper plate
• Skin-colored acrylic paint
• Colored cardstock or construction paper
• Glue stick
• Tape
• Scissors
• Paintbrush
• Black marker (if making a girl elf)
• Paper plate elf template (enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you)

Directions

Download the paper plate elf template, print, and cut out the pieces. Paint two paper plates in the skin-colored paint and let dry completely.

Glue the eyebrows towards the top of the center circle of the paper plate.

Position the eyes below the eyebrows and glue them in place. If you’re making a girl elf, use a black marker to draw on two eyelashes.

Place the pink nose in the middle of the paper plate and glue it in place.

Assemble the elf’s mouth by gluing the top and bottom teeth on the mouth piece. Cut off any excess.

Glue the completed mouth just below the nose.

Trace the elf’s ear template onto the second paper plate you painted, then cut out the two ears. Tape the ears on either side of the paper plate, around eye level.

Make the elf’s hat by gluing the bottom red piece of the hat to the green triangle. Glue the yellow pom to the top of the elf’s hat.

If you’re making a boy elf, skip to number 11. If you’re making a girl elf, place the braids on each side of the paper plate, then flip over and tape the hair to the back of the paper plate.

If you’re making a boy elf, glue the completed elf hat onto the boy’s hair. Place the completed hair/hat combo on the top of the paper plate, flip it over, and tape in place on the back of the paper plate.

Place the completed elf hat on top of the braid, flip it over, and tape it in place.

Flip the paper plate over then tape the red elf collar to the bottom of the paper plate.

We just love the way these paper plate boy and girl elves turned out! They’re a festive Christmas craft kids will love creating!

Elf Template Notes

Because the scale of the paper plates is quite large for a papercraft, this template is a little different.

Normally, we make one template with all the pieces separated by the colored paper to print it on, but this one does not have that. Instead, you’ll need to print out all the pieces on white card stock first and then trace them onto the colored paper.

While this will mean more prep work if you are doing this craft with a group of children, the upside is you can make the elf’s hair customizable to the child!

You can change up the elf’s hair and eyebrow style to match the child or just choose whatever colored paper they like best!

Elf Paper Plate Craft Notes

If you’re wondering why we used tape to secure the hair and elf collar instead of a glue stick, let us explain.

The first time we made this craft we used a glue stick and it stuck for a little bit, but it didn’t last. After about 15 minutes, the pieces kept falling off, so we switched to the tape.

Normally glue sticks work, but I think because of the weight of the paper and the fact that the paper plate has paint on it all interfered with the stickiness.

There’s a way around this if you’re looking for a less messy or faster craft. Instead of painting a paper plate, you can buy skin-colored paper plates or let the kids color the paper plate with crayons instead of paint.

Just be sure you use a 9″ paper plate because that is what the template is based on. Both options will be less messy, although coloring may take just as long as painting.

We also want to mention that you can use skin-colored paper for the elf’s ears if you don’t want to paint two paper plates. Any way you make this, I’m sure your kids will enjoy making this fun Christmas craft!

Christmas Ideas For Kids

It’s that time of year again! The holidays are upon us and parents everywhere are looking for ways to keep their kids busy. If you’re like most parents, you want to find activities that are both fun and educational. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.

We have curated a selection of Christmas activities, crafts, and books that are sure to please even the most discerning young minds. From gingerbread houses and reindeer to Elf on the Shelf and The Grinch, we’ve got something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and let us help make your holiday season a little brighter!

Children’s Christmas Books

This holiday season, there are plenty of reasons for parents to pick up a festive book and snuggle up with their little ones for a cozy read-aloud session.

Not only does reading Christmas books together create quality bonding time, but it can also help children learn about the meaning of the holiday. Through stories, kids can grasp the concept of giving gifts, spending time with family, and sharing traditions – all important lessons to take away from the season.

And of course, reading Christmas books is simply enjoyable! The best ones are filled with charming illustrations, heartwarming plots, and laughter. So this year, make some memories – and start a new tradition – by reading Christmas books with your children.

Below are some of the top Christmas books to read to your kids!

Dasher: This wonderfully illustrated Christmas book for kids gives you the back story on one of Santa’s favorite reindeer, Dasher! Girls will especially love to read this since Dasher is a girl.

Construction Site On Christmas Night: Fans of the fun characters of the construction site books have to add this Christmas-themed story to their collection. See how the trucks get ready for Christmas!

How To Catch An Elf: Kids everywhere love the silliness of this Christmas story. The rhymes and the illustrations will draw the kids in as well. This is a Christmas book kids will want to read every year!

Christmas Crafts For Kids

As Christmas approaches, many parents start to feel the pressure of finding the perfect gifts for their kids. However, Christmas isn’t just about getting gifts – it’s also about spending time with loved ones and creating lasting memories.

This year, why not encourage your kids to get involved in the Christmas spirit by making their own crafts? Not only will it be a fun activity for the whole family, but it will also give your kids a chance to express their creativity. Check out these fun ideas:

Reindeer Name Craft – Reindeers are such magical creatures, and what could be more magical than having a reindeer with your very own name? This charming craft is perfect for kids to practice spelling their names, and it’s sure to bring a smile to their faces. In no time, your kids can create a delightful reindeer craft!

Grinch Handprint Craft – This young Grinch craft is inspired by the newest animated Grinch movie. It’s a fun and easy project that requires no paint, making it perfect for even the littlest Grinches out there.

Santa Paper Plate Craft – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This Santa paper plate craft is not only cute, but it’s also easy to make. Kids will love creating this craft that shows Santa going up and down the chimney!

Elf On The Shelf Paper Bag Puppet – This cute little elf is perfect for entertaining the kids and getting them into the holiday spirit. Plus, it’s a great way to encourage pretend play!

Kids’ Christmas Activities

The Grinch is a grouchy, green creature who hates Christmas. But even the Grinch can’t help but love these free printable Grinch worksheets for kids!

If you’re looking for a way to bring some extra Christmas cheer into your home, why not print out some free elf coloring pages for your kids to use? Coloring is a great activity for kids of all ages, and it can be especially beneficial during the holiday season. Coloring can help to reduce stress, improve focus and concentration, and even promote relaxation. So if your kids are feeling overstimulated by all the holiday hustle and bustle, sit them down with some crayons and let them color their way to calm.

Christmas is a great time to break out the pattern block mats! These Christmas pattern block mats are not only fun for kids, but they’re also beneficial for fine motor skills, shape recognition, and color recognition. Plus, they’re a great way to keep little ones entertained while the adults are busy with Christmas preparations. So break out the pattern block mats and let the kids have some festive fun!

Christmas Fun

• Have Santa accidentally drop his sleigh driver’s license for some festive magic!
• These reindeer candy cane sleeves are a great small gift for the classroom or friends.
• Grab your kids one of these cute personalized drink tumblers.

Share With Us

Did you make this craft with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!

For a chance to have your child’s craft featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

More Christmas Ideas For Kids

Free Paper Plate Elf Template