Paper Plate Apple Tree Craft for Kids
Some crafts are really just an excuse to let kids get their hands messy on purpose, and this paper plate apple tree craft is one of them. The leafy canopy comes from smooshing paint between two plates like a sandwich, which sounds too easy to work but produces this gorgeous mottled green texture every single time.
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Materials for This Paper Plate Apple Tree Craft
Round up this short list first and the rest goes fast.
Print-ready templates and step-by-step instructions.
Less prep, more crafting.
How to Make a Paper Plate Apple Tree Craft
Here's exactly how to bring this one to life, one step at a time.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Get everything from the list above within arm's reach before you dive in.
Step 2: Paint the First Plate
Paint the outside of one plate light green and let it dry.
Step 3: Make the Paint-Squish Print
Squeeze random dots of dark green paint onto the inside of a second plate, then press the dry light green plate face down on top and rub your hands all over the back.
Step 4: Peel and Reveal
Carefully peel the plates apart. You’ll see a mottled green pattern on the light green plate that looks just like leaves catching different amounts of sun.
Step 5: Let the Treetop Dry
Let the light green plate dry before moving on. Save the second plate for another project since it’ll have paint on it too.
Step 6: Trace the Trunk and Apples
Print and cut the tree trunk pattern, trace it onto dark brown cardstock, and trace seven apples onto red cardstock.
Step 7: Cut Out the Trunk and Apples
Cut out the trunk and all of the apples.
Step 8: Add Bark and Stems
Draw bark texture on the trunk with the brown marker, and give each apple a little stem line.
Step 9: Attach the Trunk
Glue the trunk to the bottom of the leafy canopy.
Step 10: Scatter the Apples
Glue the seven apples scattered across the canopy however your kid likes best, no two trees ever come out arranged the same way.
All done!
Then hang your finished apple tree up on display!
We'd love to see yours! Snap a photo and share it in the comments.
Grab the Paper Plate Apple Tree Craftivity
The paint-squish technique is foolproof, but getting a good trunk and apple shape without a pattern is not, so the Paper Plate Apple Tree Craftivity gives you both templates with a mini guide to make your crafting time a breeze.
More Fall Crafts Your Kids Will Love
If the squish technique won this one over, there's a whole stack of fall texture crafts waiting for messy hands next.
See all Fall Activities for Kids →
Please Share This Paper Plate Apple Tree Craft
Counting apples with your kid while you glue them on is basically a bonus math lesson, share this one with a friend who'd appreciate that trick too.
