Bring some sunshine indoors with this bright and easy paper plate sun craft! If you are looking for a simple summer craft for toddlers and preschoolers, this cheerful activity uses everyday supplies you probably already have at home.
We made our sunshine craft using a yellow paper plate, colourful card, googly eyes, and pom pom cheeks to give it a friendly face. It’s a quick craft that doesn’t need lots of preparation, making it perfect for a rainy afternoon, summer holiday activity, or classroom craft project.
The finished sun looks great displayed on a wall, fridge, or window and can easily be adapted using different materials if you don’t have everything listed below.
Most importantly, my son Robbie and I had a great time making it!
Paper Plate Sun Craft Supplies
- Yellow paper plate (or a white plate and yellow paint)
- Yellow crafting card
- Orange crafting card
- Black craft card
- Googly eyes
- Yellow or orange pom pom balls
- Scissors
- Glue
How to Make a Paper Plate Sun
Step 1: Prepare the Sun
Start with a yellow paper plate.
If you only have white paper plates, simply paint one yellow and allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
This will form the centre of your sunshine.
Step 2: Cut the Sun Rays
Using your yellow and orange crafting card, cut lots of thin strips.
Don’t worry about making them perfectly even. Slightly different lengths can actually make the finished sun look more natural and fun.
Step 3: Create the Sunshine
Now it’s time to begin gluing the card strips around the outside edge.
Alternate between orange and yellow strips to create bright, colourful sun rays.
Continue until you’ve worked your way all around the plate.
Step 4: Add the Face
Every great sun craft needs a big smiley face! Cut a smiling mouth shape from black craft card and glue it onto the front of the plate.
Position the googly eyes near the top of the plate to give your sunshine a friendly face.
Step 5: Add Rosy Cheeks
Glue two pom pom balls underneath the eyes.
We used pom poms because they give the sun cute rosy cheeks and make it look like it’s been shining all day long. This was entirely Robbie’s idea and I doubted him at first, though I must admit it really did work!
Once the glue has dried, your smiling paper plate sun is ready to display.
Why Kids Love This Summer Craft
This is one of those crafts that works well for a wide range of ages.
Toddlers can help stick on the sun rays, preschoolers can practise cutting and gluing, and older children can personalise their sunshine with different facial expressions and decorations.
It’s also a great opportunity to talk about:
- Summer weather
- The seasons
- Day and night
- Why the sun is important for plants and animals
The craft is simple enough to keep younger children engaged without becoming frustrating.
Alternative Ways to Make Your Sunshine
One of the best things about paper plate crafts is how easy they are to adapt.
Use Painted Lollipop Sticks
Instead of card strips, try painting lollipop sticks yellow and orange.
Once dry, glue them around the edge of the plate to create sturdy sun rays.
Draw the Face
Don’t have googly eyes?
Simply draw or paint the eyes directly onto the paper plate.
You could also cut eye shapes from black and white card.
Keep It Simple
If you prefer a more traditional sunshine, leave off the pom pom cheeks altogether.
A plain smiling yellow sun still looks fantastic and takes even less time to make.
Add Extra Decorations
Older children might enjoy decorating their sunshine with:
- Glitter
- Sequins
- Stickers
- Fingerprint designs
- Craft gems
Tips for Making This Sun Craft with Toddlers
When crafting with younger children, it’s often easier to prepare some of the materials beforehand.
You can:
- Pre-cut the card strips
- Draw the mouth shape ready to cut out
- Use washable glue
- Let toddlers choose where the sun rays are placed
Remember that the finished craft doesn’t need to look perfect. Half the fun is letting children make their own creative choices.
Paper plate crafts are a great way to develop fine motor skills in toddlers and these fun crafts also help with their hand eye co-ordination.
Paper Plate Sun FAQ’s
What age is this paper plate sun craft suitable for?
This activity is perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and younger primary school children. Toddlers will need help cutting out the card strips, while older kids can easily complete most of the steps independently.
Can I make this craft without googly eyes?
Absolutely! If you don’t have googly eyes on hand, simply draw the eyes directly onto the paper plate with pens or paint, or cut eye shapes from coloured card. Robbie actually enjoys choosing and drawing different facial expressions whenever we make similar paper plate crafts.
What can I use instead of card for the sun rays?
If you don’t have coloured card available, painted lollipop sticks, cardboard strips, craft foam, or even painted pasta work brilliantly as sun rays. One of the best things about a paper plate sun is how easy it is to adapt using materials you already have around the house.
How long does a paper plate sun take to make?
Most families can complete this summer craft for kids in around 15 to 30 minutes. However, if you need to paint a white paper plate yellow first, remember to allow extra time for the paint to dry before adding the sun rays and face.
What skills does this activity help develop?
This simple summer craft helps children practise fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, cutting, gluing, and creative thinking. When Robbie made his sunshine, he loved deciding where each sun ray should go and coming up with ideas for decorating the face.
More Great Crafts And Activities For Kids
The Diary Of Dad is full of great ideas and boredom busters for kids. If you are still searching for that perfect craft, give our activity finder a spin!
⚡ Dad’s Ultimate Activity Finder
Stuck indoors or running low on parental energy? Choose an option below to instantly surface one of our step-by-step dad guides.
Final Thoughts
This paper plate sun craft is a bright and cheerful summer activity that’s quick to set up and easy for young children to enjoy.
With simple materials and plenty of opportunities for creativity, it’s a great addition to a summer craft afternoon, weather-themed lesson, or school holiday activity.
Whether you use card strips, painted lollipop sticks, googly eyes, or drawn features, every sunshine will end up with its own unique personality — and that’s exactly what makes children’s crafts so much fun.
