Paper Plate Giraffe Craft for Kids – Free Template
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Paper Plate Giraffe Craft for Kids – Free Template
If your little ones love safari animals, this paper plate giraffe craft is going to be a huge hit! With golden spots, fluffy pom-pom ossicones, and the goofiest googly eyes, this adorable giraffe comes together with just a paper plate and a handful of simple supplies. Whether you're exploring zoo animals at home, planning a safari unit in the classroom, or just looking for a creative afternoon activity, this craft is neck-level awesome from start to finish.
Why Kids Love This Craft
This giraffe has so many fun details that kids absolutely love — the pom-pom ossicones feel fancy, the spots make every finished craft totally unique, and those big googly eyes give it so much personality. It's a great craft for building fine motor skills through cutting, painting, and gluing, and kids will feel so proud when they see how realistic and cute the finished giraffe looks. Fun fact: those little horns on a giraffe's head are called ossicones — so kids learn something new while they craft!
What You'll Need
- 6-inch paper plate
- Light yellow/orange paint
- Black and brown marker or paint
- Googly eyes (½ inch)
- Dark brown pom-poms
- Template
- Scissors
- Glue
How to Make a Paper Plate Giraffe
Step 1 — Print and prep the template. Print the template and use it to trace the pieces onto paper, or color and cut directly from the template for the facial features and spots.
Step 2 — Color the plate and template pieces. Paint or color the paper plate light yellow/orange. Color the muzzle, ears, spots, and ossicones using brown and black. Let everything dry before moving on.
Step 3 — Glue on the muzzle, ears, spots, and ossicones. Arrange all the pieces on the plate and glue them down. Position the ossicones at the top, ears on the sides, muzzle at the bottom center, and scatter the spots across the face for that classic giraffe pattern.
Step 4 — Add the googly eyes. Glue two ½-inch googly eyes onto the face just above the muzzle for maximum cuteness.
Step 5 — Add pom-poms to the ossicones. Glue a dark brown pom-pom to the top of each ossicone to give your giraffe those signature fuzzy horns.
Step 6 — Draw the finishing touches. Use a black marker to draw nostrils on the muzzle, a small curved smile, and crease lines inside the ears. Let everything dry completely.
Your neck-level awesome paper plate giraffe is ready to roam the savanna! 🦒
Tips for Making It Even Better
- Light yellow or tan paint gives the most realistic giraffe color — but orange works great too for a brighter, bolder look.
- Let kids freehand their own spots for a truly one-of-a-kind giraffe — no two will look the same!
- Pair this giraffe with the paper plate zebra and koala for an awesome safari animal wall display.