Paper Plate Fox Craft for Kids – Free Template
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Paper Plate Fox Craft for Kids – Free Template
If your little ones love woodland animals, this Paper Plate Fox craft is going to be an absolute showstopper! With a bold orange painted paper plate that folds into a clever V shape to create the fox's iconic white cheek muzzle, pointed ears with dark inner detail, big expressive googly eyes with optional drawn on eyelashes, and a black pompom nose sitting right where the two folds meet at the bottom, this fox is as striking and clever as the animal itself. Whether you're exploring forest and woodland animals at home, planning a fall nature theme in the classroom, or just looking for a fun creative craft with a satisfying folding technique, this Paper Plate Fox is guaranteed to impress from the very first fold.
Why Kids Love This Craft
There's something wonderfully clever about this fox — the folding technique is the magic trick at the heart of the whole craft, and kids absolutely love the moment the two sides of the plate fold inward and the white cheek muzzle suddenly appears like a fox face forming right before their eyes. The bold orange and white contrast looks incredibly striking and realistic, and the black pompom nose sitting right at the point where the folds meet gives the finished fox a beautifully polished and professional look. It's a wonderful craft for building fine motor skills through painting, folding, and gluing, and because every kid folds their plate slightly differently and adds their own touch to the eyelashes and ears, no two foxes ever look exactly the same.
What You'll Need
- Free printable Paper Plate Fox template from CraftyYak.com
- 6 inch paper plate or template circle
- Orange paint or orange markers for the head
- Scrap paper for the ears
- Black marker for the ear detail and optional eyelashes
- Googly eyes — ½ inch
- Black pompom — ½ inch for the nose
- Scissors
- Glue
How to Make a Paper Plate Fox Craft
Step 1 — Paint the plate orange.
Paint the entire paper plate or template circle a bold bright orange. This is your fox's face — the brighter and more even the orange the more striking the finished fox will look! Let the paint dry completely before moving on.
Step 2 — Fold the plate on the solid lines.
Fold both sides of the plate inward along the two solid fold lines so they meet in the middle at the bottom and form a V shape. This is the magic step that creates the fox's iconic white cheek muzzle — the white underside of the plate is revealed as the folds come together and it looks exactly like a real fox face!
Step 3 — Glue the folds in place.
Glue both folded sections down firmly so the V shape holds its form. Press down firmly along all the glued edges and let everything set completely before moving on.
Step 4 — Cut out and color the ears.
Cut out the two ear pieces from the template and color them orange with a dark black inner ear detail. The pointed ear shape is what gives the finished fox its wonderfully characterful and realistic silhouette.
Step 5 — Glue the ears onto the head.
Glue the two ears onto the top of the plate about half an inch from where the fold starts on each side. Position them symmetrically for the most polished finished look and press firmly.
Step 6 — Add the googly eyes.
Glue two large googly eyes onto the upper white muzzle area of the fox face, one on each side of the center fold line. The bigger the googly eyes the more expressive and adorable the finished fox will look!
Step 7 — Add the pompom nose.
Glue a black pompom right at the very bottom point where the two folds meet. This is the most satisfying step — the pompom nose completes the fox face instantly and makes the whole craft suddenly look exactly like a real fox!
Step 8 — Draw the eyelashes.
Using a black marker draw two or three small lash lines above each googly eye for optional eyelashes. This finishing touch gives the fox a wonderfully expressive and charming personality!
Your adorable paper plate fox is ready to sneak through the forest! 🦊🍂
Tips for Making It Even Better
- Paint the plate in two coats of orange for the richest most vibrant color — one thin coat can look patchy and doesn't give the same bold finished look.
- Score the fold lines lightly with a butter knife or the back of a scissor blade before folding — it makes the folds much cleaner and crisper and gives the finished fox a more polished professional appearance.
- Use actual orange construction paper instead of paint if you want to skip the drying time — just trace the template circle onto orange paper and cut it out for an instant no mess version!
- This fox looks amazing displayed on a fall colored leaf background with some orange and red leaf cutouts scattered around it — perfect for a fall classroom bulletin board or an autumn woodland animal wall display!