How to Make a Paper Plate Santa

Santa Clause

For fun, children can make a paper plate Santa holiday decoration. If they cut out the eyes and add a string, they can turn the paper plate Santa into a mask. The Santa mask makes a great prop to act out a scene where Santa looks over his naughty-and-nice list.

Things You'll Need

• Paper plate
• Glue
• Hole puncher
• String
• Construction paper
• Cotton balls
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Decide where the best place for the eyes are on the paper plate, depending on the child. Draw circles where you want the eyes.

2. Cut the circles out with a pair of scissors. Be careful you don't rip the paper plate on the edges of the eye holes.

3. Cut out a Santa hat from red construction paper. You can make a simple triangle, or you can make the triangle shape slope over a little to one side. Don't worry about the white parts of the hat because you will add them later with cotton balls.

4. Cut out some red lips for Santa as well as two round circles for the rosy cheeks from the red construction paper.

5. Glue the cut pieces on to the face. The lips should be closer to the bottom in the middle. Leave enough room to add some cotton balls for a beard. Paste on the cheek circles a little higher than the lips, with one on each side. Finally, paste the bottom part of the hat on the top of the paper plate. It is okay if some of the hat hangs over the plate.

6. Cut out a nose from some beige construction paper. Paste it above the lips with some room in between for a cotton mustache.

7. Pull apart some cotton balls for a mustache and a beard. You will need a lot of glue to attach the mustache and beard. Don't worry about using too much glue because it will eventually dry, and most glue dries clear.

8. Glue one whole cotton ball to the tip of the Santa hat. Then glue several whole cotton balls across the bottom of the Santa hat.

9. Use a hole puncher close to the edge of the plate where the child's ears will go. Punch one hole on each side.

10. Tie a piece of string around the hole and knot it. Hold the mask up to your child's face and wrap the string around his head to measure it. Then tie the other end of the string to the other hole in the mask.

Tips & Warnings

• To act out a scene with your Santa mask, tape a few pieces of paper together to form a long list. Add some of your family's and friend's names to the list and roll it up like a scroll. Use this and your Santa mask to put on a small play.