We’ve been getting creative again and this time we turned a simple paper plate into a bright green, cheeky little frog.
This paper plate frog craft for kids is a brilliant hands-on activity for primary school age children. There’s plenty of cutting, sticking, and designing involved, which makes it perfect for building confidence with scissors and glue and it’s also just good, messy fun.
The best part? We cut one plate in half so that both Robbie and I had our own frog to decorate. Two frogs, one plate. Bargain.
What You’ll Need to Make a Paper Plate Frog
- 1 paper plate
- Green paint
- Green card
- White card
- Red card
- Googly eyes
- Pink pom poms
- Black Sharpie (or similar marker)
- Scissors
- Glue
As always, don’t worry if you don’t have everything exactly as listed. Kids crafts are flexible, use what you’ve got.
Free Paper Plate Frog Template (Printable PDF)
If you’d like to make this craft even easier, I’ve created a simple frog template you can print and cut out. It includes the eyes, mouth, feet and cheek circles to save prep time.
This printable paper plate frog template is designed for toddlers and pre-k children and works perfectly with standard paper plates.
How to Make a Paper Plate Frog
Step 1: Paint the Plate
Start by colouring your paper plate green. We used paint to give it a nice bold look (and because painting is half the fun).
Leave it to dry completely before moving on — unless you enjoy green fingerprints everywhere.
Once dry, cut the plate in half. That gives you two frog bodies — perfect if you’re crafting together.
Step 2: Make the Frog’s Eyes
Cut two large circles from green card and glue them to the top edge of the plate. These form the outline of the frog’s big eyes.
Next, cut slightly smaller circles from white card and glue them on top of the green circles.
Finally, cut very small green circles and stick googly eyes on top before gluing them into place.
Layering the card like this gives the frog a lovely 3D effect.
Step 3: Add the Face
Using a black Sharpie, draw:
- A wide smiling mouth
- Two small dots for the nose
We cut a thin strip of red card for the tongue and gently rolled one end slightly to give it a bit of curl. Glue this into the centre of the mouth so it hangs down.
Already full of character.
Step 4: Make the Legs
Cut simple frog foot shapes from green card and glue them to the back of the plate so they stick out underneath.
This instantly transforms it from “half a plate” to “actual frog”.
Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches
Glue pink pom poms onto the cheeks to give your frog some dimples.
At this point, you can customise as much as you like — freckles, eyelashes, glitter (if you’re brave), or even a crown if you fancy a frog prince.
A Simpler Toddler Version
Because this paper plate frog involves quite a bit of cutting and gluing, it is more suitable for children at school age rather than toddlers or pre-school.
However, you can easily adapt it for younger children.
For a toddler-friendly version:
- Paint the whole plate green as before.
- Instead of cutting layered eyes, simply paint large white circles and add black dots for pupils.
- Paint the mouth and tongue directly onto the plate.
- Skip the separate legs and just draw them on instead.
This keeps the fun sensory painting element but removes the tricky cutting and glueing steps.
Why This Craft Is Great for Kids
This paper plate frog craft helps children:
- Practise cutting skills
- Improve hand-eye coordination
- Build confidence using glue
- Develop creativity
- Follow step-by-step instructions
Plus, it’s just a brilliant rainy afternoon activity.
If you’re looking for more creative animal ideas, you might also enjoy our other easy craft projects around the house.
Display Ideas for Your Frog
Once finished, these frogs can be:
- Stuck onto bedroom walls
- Used as part of a classroom display
- Turned into puppets by attaching a stick
- Made into birthday cards
- Made into fun masks
Or simply placed proudly on the fridge (the natural habitat of all children’s artwork).
More paper plate craft ideas for kids
Paper plate butterfly: This is my all time favourite paper plate craft as it has no real pattern to follow. Once you have made the butterfly shape there really is no right or wrong way to decorate which gives kids a great opportunity to bring out their creative side.
Paper plate cars: This one is perfect for toddlers and those kids new to crafting. It is really simple to make and unlike the butterfly, the cars can be made to look great using just one colour and a pair of scissors. Great for young vehicle enthusiasts!
Paper plate ladybird: Another chance for kids to show off their incredible imaginations and design skills! Robbie insisted we replaced the dots with little hearts on ours and I have to admit, I think he was right! A really good paper plate craft to make in the Spring.
FAQs About Paper Plate Frog Crafts
What age is this craft suitable for?
The full version is best for children aged 5+, depending on their scissor skills. A simplified painted version works well for toddlers with supervision.
Can I make this without card?
Yes. You can paint the eyes, mouth, and legs directly onto the plate instead of cutting shapes.
How long does it take to make?
Around 30–45 minutes including drying time for paint.
Can I use coloured paper plates instead?
Absolutely. Using green plates skips the painting step and makes it quicker.
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