Paper Plate Dragonfly Craft
Brighten up craft time with this colorful and whimsical dragonfly paper plate craft that kids will have so much fun creating.
This dragonfly craft is a cheerful and simple project that uses a paper plate for the wings and a jumbo craft stick for the body. With bright paint colors, a happy face, and fun antennae topped with pom poms, kids can make a friendly dragonfly that’s ready to “fly” right into their imaginative play. No printable pattern is needed—just cut, paint, and glue.
It’s a great craft for preschoolers, elementary-aged kids, and even older children who want to experiment with patterns and colors. Younger kids will love painting and assembling the pieces, while older kids can add extra flair with decorative details like glitter, stickers, or patterned paper. The craft is a perfect balance of creativity and fine motor skill practice.
Make this craft during spring or summer when dragonflies can be spotted around ponds and gardens. It’s also a wonderful choice for an insect or nature unit study, a rainy-day project, or a summer camp activity. You could even use it as a decoration for an outdoor-themed party or pair it with a dragonfly-themed book for a creative learning day.
You’ll love this dragonfly paper plate craft because it’s quick to prepare, uses easy-to-find materials, and encourages creativity without the need for a pattern. Each dragonfly turns out unique as kids mix and match colors, add decorations, and give their dragonflies personality.
Tips for making the craft:
- Instead of paint, you can color the wings and body with markers or crayons.
- No wiggle eyes? Draw eyes on with a marker or cut them from paper.
- Replace the chenille stem with strips of craft paper or pipe cleaners wrapped in yarn for the antennae.
- Swap out pom poms for beads, buttons, or even rolled-up bits of tissue paper.
- Craft glue works well for assembly, but a glue gun makes the process faster (best for adults or supervised use).
Now that you know how simple this project is, gather your supplies and follow the step-by-step instructions below. Since there’s no pattern required, kids can jump right in and start creating their dragonflies.
Paper Plate Dragonfly Craft
Materials:
- Paper Plate
- Jumbo Wooden Craft Stick
- Wiggle Eyes
- Chenille Stem
- Pom Poms
- Craft Paint – (two colors)
- Craft Glue or a Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Black Marker
Instructions:
Paint the inside of the paper plate with craft paint. We used light blue. Set aside to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary.
Paint a jumbo craft stick with craft paint. We used purple. Set aside to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary.
Fold the paper plate in half and crease the fold sharply, then fold in half the opposite direction. Cut the paper plate in quarters with scissors.
Cut each of the quarters into petal or leaf shapes with scissors.
Cut a chenille stem in half with scissors. Bend in half, then attach a purple pom pom to each end to create antennae. Attach two wiggle eyes to the dragonfly’s face with glue. Attach the antennae to the back top center of the dragonfly with glue.
Outline each of the four dragonfly wings with a black marker.
Attach two of the wings together at the points with glue, then repeat with the other two wings.
Secure both sets of wings to the back of the dragonfly’s body with glue.
To finish, draw a smile with a black marker to create the dragonfly’s mouth.
With its colorful wings and playful design, this paper plate craft is sure to become a favorite project for any insect-loving crafter. Whether you make one or a whole swarm, each dragonfly will be a one-of-a-kind creation.
