These paper plate wreaths are a great group project as the steps are simple and the finished product is such a sweet one. Use a large paper plate and hang your wreath on the door or a dessert paper plate to make a holiday wreath ornament.
What do you need to make paper plate Christmas wreath…
What do you need to make a Christmas wreath ornament out of a paper plate. Well, first, a paper plate. In the examples below I used a small, dessert sized, heavy Chinet paper plate. I also tried it with a larger, dinner sized, inexpensive, uncoated paper plate and it held the “curls” well too! Choose your paper plate based on the size you’d like your finished wreath!
You’ll need paint to create the color on your paper plate, unless you choose to start with a colored plate, which is a great option if you’re short on time! We used these acrylic paints because they come in awesome colors and they’re inexpensive. But, acrylics aren’t super washable so you’ve got to know your crowd!
For the embellishments you’ll need some scraps of card stock, markers, and maybe some little poms poms! Use what you have!
Paint your wreath…
If you’re not starting with a colored plate you’ll probably want to add some color to your plate before you begin to cut and curl the edges!
Grab some acrylic paint, or tempera if your little people need washable paint, and paint the back of the plate. Don’t be tied down to a green wreath. I’ think a series of these paper plate wreaths would look amazing in neon bright colors!
Making the wreath shape….
Draw a circle in the middle of your plate either by using a compass or tracing a cup or a bowl. The size of your circle will be the inside space of your wreath. The space outside of the circle will be the body of the wreath itself.
Now, make cuts from the edge of the paper plate to the pencil line. Ideally these cuts will hit that center line at about the ninety degree mark. To help kids keep their marks somewhat evenly spaced I like to start by making cuts at the 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00 marks. Then make one cut between each of those first cuts. And lastly, go around the plate making one cut between each of the previous cuts.
The strips for the wreath do not need to be spaced equally or cut perfectly. But, providing the above “formula” will helps kids space them somewhat evenly and prevent them from having a million teeny tiny strips.
Roll that wreath up….
Now, flip your paper plate over so that the painted back is face down. The plate should be right side up, white side up. Use a pencil to roll each strip around. Start at the outside of each strip and roll it as far in as it will go. Work around the entire paper plate.
The curls can start to lay inside one another and create a bit of a tunnel effect. I like to alternate rolling one, then pull the next strip to the front before rolling it. This creates a nice alternating look.
Decorate your paper plate wreath…
Once you’ve gotten all the way around your wreath it’s ready to decorate. We decorated circles of card stock and added them to the center. (Our plates said “Chinet” in the middle so that extra layer of decoration was helpful!)
Add tiny pom poms, pine cones, homemade mini ornaments, whatever your little people can think of to make their paper plate wreaths more personal is a go!
Use hot glue or tape to add a bit of yarn to the back if your wreath is going to be used as an ornament and your paper plate wreath is ready to go!
More easy Christmas crafts…
Print these paper lacing ornaments on card stock and practice lacing skills with yarn for gem like ornaments!
Print this stand up snow globe template, draw away, and decorate a mantle or a table top with winter-y goodness!
Draw a snowflake the easiest way ever with these simple tricks!
These printable Christmas tree templates are ready to decorate and fold into tiny Christmas tree luminaries!
