Garden Snail Paper Plate Craft for Kids – Free Templat
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Garden Snail Paper Plate Craft for Kids – Free Template
Inch your way into some crafty fun with this adorable garden snail paper plate craft! Kids turn a simple paper plate into a cheerful snail with a curved body, wiggly eyestalks, and a colorful button-covered shell. The best part? They get to decorate the shell however they like — with real buttons, paper buttons, or a design all their own — so every snail turns out completely unique. Whether you're exploring bugs and minibeasts at home, teaching a spring or garden theme in the classroom, or just love a cute button craft, this little snail is sure to charm.
Why Kids Love This Craft
Kids love that this snail is theirs to design from the shell up! Gluing buttons onto the shell is wonderfully satisfying — they get to sort through colors, choose their favorites, and fill the shell however they please, which makes each snail one of a kind. The wiggly eyestalks with googly eyes give the snail so much personality, and the curved paper plate body makes it look like it's ready to slowly slide across the garden. It's a fantastic way to build fine-motor skills through sorting, placing, and gluing, and the open-ended shell means there's no wrong way to make it.
What You'll Need
- 6-inch paper plate (or cardstock paper)
- Coloring tools (paint, markers, or crayons)
- Buttons (or use the paper buttons on the template, or color your own shell design)
- Googly eyes (or the template eyes)
- Black marker
- Scissors
- Glue
- Free printable template (download below!)
How to Make a Garden Snail Paper Plate Craft
Step 1 — Cut out the template. Print and cut out the template pieces.
Step 2 — Prep the plate. Trace the template onto your paper plate and cut it out, if needed.
Step 3 — Color the snail. Color the plate or template in your favorite snail body color — sunny yellow, green, or whatever you like!
Step 4 — Attach the shell. Glue the shell circle onto the top of the snail's "body."
Step 5 — Add the eyestalks. Glue on the two eyestalks so they stick up from the snail's head.
Step 6 — Decorate the shell. Glue on buttons, paper buttons, or color in your own design to fill the shell however you like. This is where kids get to make it their own!
Step 7 — Add the eyes. Glue the googly eyes (or template eyes) onto the tops of the eyestalks.
Step 8 — Draw the mouth. Use a black marker to draw on a happy little smile, and your garden snail is complete!
Your cheerful garden snail is ready to slide into the spotlight! 🐌
🖻️ Get the Free Template 🐾 See More Animal Crafts
Tips for Making It Even Better
- Raid your button jar for a mix of sizes, colors, and patterns — the more variety, the more fun the shell looks!
- No buttons on hand? The template includes paper buttons kids can color and cut, or they can draw their own swirl design right on the shell.
- Try a color theme for the shell — all blues and greens, warm reds and oranges, or a rainbow — for a fun sorting challenge.
- Use pom-poms, sequins, or bottle caps instead of buttons for a different texture.