It’s after Thanksgiving, dreary and cold outside, and you need something to do with your kids over the winter break. There just happens to be some leftover paper plates from the big meal.

What’s a mom to do?

How about making this cute and fun paper plate Santa craft for kids?!

It’s the perfect way to keep your kids entertained and excited for the holiday season! Paper plate crafts are always a hit with children and this one is no exception.

Read on below to see how easy it is to make with your kids. We’ve even included some step-by-step photos to guide you along the way. Also, be sure to check out all of our cute Santa activities for even more ideas!

Santa Paper Plate Craft

paper plate Santa craft image collage with the words paper plate Santa

Supplies

Paper plate
Colored card stock
Scissors
Glue stick
Tape
Black marker
Santa template (click the “click here to get your freebies” image at the end of the post)

Click here to see why I recommend these craft supplies

Directions

Start by downloading the template and printing it out. Once you have the template printed, gather the materials needed for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring this Santa Claus to life!

hand holding paper plate santa craft template

First, guide your child to glue the bottom of Santa’s hat to the red base.

hands gluing together paper santa claus hat

Next, help your child glue the hat puff to the tip of the hat.

hand gluing pom to end of paper santa craft

Click here to see why I recommend these craft supplies

Place the cream face piece at the top of the center circle of the paper plate and glue it in place.

hands gluing face to paper plate Santa craft

Put the tongue piece on the bottom of the black mouth and glue it down. Cut off any excess paper that hangs off the sides.

hands gluing Santa paper plate craft mouth

Position the mouth towards the bottom of the inner circle of the paper plate and glue it down.

hands gluing mouth onto Santa paper plate craft

Glue the eyebrows towards the top of the cream face piece.

hands gluing eyebrows onto Santa paper plate craft

Place the paper mustache on the paper plate so it covers the bottom of the face and glue it in place.

hands gluing mustache onto Santa paper plate craft

Use a circle punch or scissors to cut out a small pink nose for Santa. Glue it in the middle of the mustache, where it dips in the center.

hands gluing nose onto paper plate Santa craft

Now, use the black marker to draw eyes on Santa’s face.

hands drawing eyes on paper plate Santa craft

Use the scissors to cut a few slits on the top of the paper plate. This is to help flatten the plate and make it easier to secure the hat.

hands cutting top of Santa paper plate craft

Finally, encourage your child to place the hat shape on the top, then flip the plate over (holding the hat in place) and secure it with tape on the back of the paper plate.

hands taping paper Santa hat onto Santa paper plate craft

Be sure to check out our Christmas crafts while you’re here! Your kids will love creating more fun crafts like this one!

Easy Panda Christmas Craft

Simple Christmas Ideas For Kids

There’s so much fun to be had during the Christmas season! Whether you’re creating some holiday magic for your kids or planning activities for a group, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some simple Christmas ideas your kids will love!

Fun Christmas Books To Read Aloud

Reading is one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit. Your little ones can cozy up with a Christmas-themed book and get lost in a world of magical stories. They’ll also work on their listening and imagination skills as they listen to you read!

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!

Kids Christmas Crafts

Elf Yourself Craft – Don’t let the elves have all the fun this season! With our free printable template, your kids can create an elf version of themselves. They’ll love their festive mini-me – and you’ll love the quiet time as they work on this engaging activity.

Try this Christmas Penguin Craft

Grinch Name Craft – We all know and love the Grinch! He’s the perfect character to inspire creativity and learning. With this cute craft, younger kids can work on their spelling and letter recognition to create a cute piece of holiday decor. It’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit!

4 image collage of Christmas crafts for kids

Moving Santa Craft – Get ready to ‘rock’ around the Christmas tree with our moving Santa craft! Kids can create this rockin’ Santa using some simple craft supplies. It’s a fun and easy way to celebrate the holiday season while working on fine motor skills.

Torn Paper Reindeer Craft – Get ready for a hands-on craft perfect for the holiday season! This torn paper reindeer is super fun for young and older children alike. By tearing and pasting the colorful paper, they’ll work on hand-eye coordination and dexterity while creating a cute reindeer masterpiece!

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Fun Christmas Activities

Fun Christmas Matching Worksheets

Keep the learning going all season long with our festive Grinch worksheets! We’ve included fun activities, including a letter maze, handwriting practice, and a label the Grinch. These worksheets are perfect for helping young children develop important skills while enjoying some holiday-themed fun.

Storytime is always a favorite for kids, and we love book companion printables to bring the story to life! These How to Catch Santa worksheets are full of fun puzzles and activities that go along with the popular children’s book. They’re a fun way to practice reading comprehension, critical thinking, and fine motor skills!

Collage image of the Fun Christmas Activities

Our gingerbread man dot to dot pages are the cutest way to practice number recognition and problem-solving skills! Little kids will love counting and connecting the dots to reveal each gingerbread man illustration. Just print and let the fun begin!

Want to add some holiday cheer to your kid’s coloring time? Check out these Christmas coloring pages for a no-prep activity for kids of all ages! From Santa and reindeer to Christmas trees and snowmen, you really can’t get any more festive than this!

Paper Plate Grinch Craft

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

For a chance to have your child’s project 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!

4.74 from 15 votes