October 6, 2026

Paper Plate Masks

Paper plate cat, bird, and half masks on a table

Paper plate masks are wearable, so the finish is obvious: it has to sit on a face. Eye holes are an adult job. The child chooses ears, a beak, or a pattern. The half-mask in the main plate guide is the simple start. These masks add a character.

Set up the table

Hold the plate on the child's face and mark eye spots with a pencil before any cutting. Cut the holes larger than you think, then try the mask. A paper strip stapled at each side is safer than elastic for young children, because elastic can snap.

Cat mask

Ages: 5+. Time: 25 minutes.

You need: paper plate, two triangles, crayon, paper strip.

  1. Mark and cut eye holes.
  2. Glue triangles at the top as ears.
  3. Draw a nose and three whiskers on each side.
  4. Staple the strip so it fits.

Whiskers drawn on the plate last longer than paper whiskers.

Bird mask

Ages: 5+. Time: 25 minutes.

You need: paper plate, a folded triangle beak, paper feathers, paper strip.

  1. Cut the eye holes.
  2. Glue the beak under the eyes.
  3. Add a few feathers at the sides.
  4. Fit the strip.

A beak that sticks out needs glue and a piece of tape on the back.

Crown mask

Ages: 6+. Time: 25 minutes.

You need: half a paper plate, paper points, crayon, strip.

  1. Use the straight side of the half plate as the bottom.
  2. Glue points along the curve.
  3. Decorate, then cut eyes if they want to see through it.
  4. Fit the strip.

A crown that is only a hat can skip the eye holes.

Monster mask

Ages: 6+. Time: 30 minutes.

You need: paper plate, one extra paper eye, crayon, strip.

  1. Cut two eye holes.
  2. Glue a third eye above them.
  3. Draw a wide mouth.
  4. Keep the colours to two so it still reads as a face.

Funny monsters are enough. Skip blood, scars, and sharp teeth for a group.

Night mask

Ages: 4+. Time: 15 minutes.

You need: paper plate, crayon, strip.

  1. Colour the plate one dark colour.
  2. Add dots as stars.
  3. An adult cuts eye holes.
  4. This is a mask with almost no pieces to lose.

One colour is the design. Extra stickers are optional.

Mask on a stick

Ages: 5+. Time: 20 minutes.

You need: paper plate, a craft stick or a strip of cardboard, tape.

  1. Decorate the plate first.
  2. Cut eye holes.
  3. Tape the stick to the back, low enough to hold.
  4. No strap, so nothing goes around the neck.

A stick is the better choice for a quick class or a parade across the room.

What to watch

Try the mask before you send a child off in it. Eye holes that are too small make them walk into things. Do not use string around the neck.

The Imagination Hive is a children’s art and STEM studio in Milton, Ontario. These projects use ordinary supplies so you can start at the kitchen table.

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