Anchor Paper Plate Craft

This anchor paper plate craft is a fun and simple activity for kids who love ocean adventures and pirate themes. With just a paper plate, paint, and twine, you can turn basic supplies into a creative anchor craft that’s perfect for imaginative play or nautical-themed decorations.

Materials for This Pirate Anchor Craft

Before you begin making your anchor craft, gather a few simple supplies. Many of these materials can easily be found at the Dollar Store or already in your craft stash.

Materials:

Once your materials are ready, it’s time to start creating your anchor craft.

How to Make a Paper Plate Pirate Anchor

This nautical-themed craft comes together in just a few steps. Follow along to transform a simple paper plate into a pirate ship anchor.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Gather all the supplies needed for the project.

Paper plate, twine, gray acrylic paint bottle, paintbrush, scissors, and hot glue gun on a wooden surface.

Step 2: Paint the Plate

Basecoat the outside of the paper plate with gray acrylic craft paint. Allow the paint to dry completely and apply a second coat if needed for even coverage.

Upside-down paper plate being painted gray with a paintbrush beside a bottle of gray acrylic paint.

Step 3: Download and Trace the Anchor Pattern

Download and print the anchor pattern, then cut it out with scissors. Trace the anchor shape onto the gray painted paper plate using a pencil. Cut out the traced anchor, making sure to cut inside the lines for a clean finished look.

Gray-painted paper plate with anchor shape traced on the surface next to a paper anchor template and pencil.

Step 4: Trace the Circle Pattern

Using the remaining paper plate scrap, trace the circle pattern once onto the gray painted paper plate with a pencil. Colored craft foam, cardstock, or craft felt could also be used for this piece if preferred.

Gray painted paper plate cut into an anchor shape with a small circular piece and scissors nearby.

Step 5: Cut Out the Circle

Cut out the traced circle shape using scissors, again cutting just inside the lines for a neat finished piece.

Small gray circular paper plate piece being glued to the top of a gray anchor shape with a hot glue gun.

Step 6: Attach the Circle

Attach the circle to the top of the anchor using a glue gun and glue sticks. Liquid craft glue may also be used, but it will require additional drying time.

Gray anchor-shaped paper plate with twine wrapped around the center and a spool of twine nearby.

Step 7: Wrap the Twine Around the Anchor

Wrap natural jute twine around the top or head of the anchor in an “X” pattern. Then continue wrapping around the center or shaft of the anchor. Secure the ends of the twine with hot glue.

X wrapping twine around the top of the anchor paper plate craft.

Step 8: Add Twine to the Anchor Arms

Attach natural jute twine around both arms of the anchor, just under the pointed fluke. Secure the twine using a glue gun and glue sticks.

Gray anchor-shaped paper plate with twine wrapped around multiple sections of the anchor.

Then hang your finished anchor craft up for all to see!

Finished gray anchor craft made from a paper plate with twine wrapped around the center and sides.

Grab the Pirate Craftivity

If you’d like to make this pirate ship anchor craft even easier to prepare, grab the craftivity that includes the printable patterns and a mini instruction ebook.

More Pirate Crafts Your Kids Will Love

If your kiddos had fun making this pirate craft, don’t stop the adventure here! Below you will find some more of our favorite pirate crafts that we have shared on site: