Paper Plate Horse Craft for Kids
This paper plate horse craft is packed with the little details that make a simple kids’ project feel extra fun. The paper-strip mane gives it loads of texture, while the oversized googly eyes, pink cheeks, and big rounded muzzle give each horse its own wonderfully goofy expression.
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Materials for This Paper Plate Horse Craft
A simple stack of supplies is really all it takes here.
Print-ready templates and step-by-step instructions.
Less prep, more crafting.
How to Make a Paper Plate Horse Craft
Now for the fun part, let's get building.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Get your supplies together first, especially anything that needs to dry, so you're not waiting around later.
Step 2: Paint the Plate
Paint the outside of the plate brown and let it dry, adding a second coat if needed.
Step 3: Trace the Face and Mane Pieces
Print the horse patterns, then trace a muzzle onto tan cardstock, two outer ears and several mane pieces onto brown cardstock, and two inner ears onto pink cardstock.
Step 4: Cut Out the Face and Mane Pieces
Cut out every traced piece, then glue the inner ears onto the outer ears.
Step 5: Attach the Ears and Muzzle
Glue the inner ears onto the outer ears, then attach the ears to the top corners of the plate and the muzzle to the bottom center.
Step 6: Build the Forelock
Glue three mane pieces together in a “Y” shape to form the horse's forelock, and set it aside.
Step 7: Attach the Eyes and Forelock
Add the wiggle eyes above the muzzle, then glue the forelock to the top center of the plate, right between the ears.
Step 8: Attach the Mane
Starting under one ear, glue the remaining mane pieces in a loose row down the back of the head.
Step 9: Fringe the Mane
Snip horizontal cuts into each mane piece to fringe it, so it reads as shaggy hair rather than flat rectangles. This is the step worth doing slowly, that's what gives it the windblown look.
Step 10: Stamp On Cheeks
Dab pink paint onto the sponge and stamp cheeks on either side of the muzzle, then let dry.
Step 11: Add the Final Details
Finish with a black marker mouth and two nostrils on the muzzle.
All done!
Then hang your horse up for display!
We'd love to see yours! Snap a photo and share it in the comments.
Grab the Paper Plate Horse Craftivity
The mane fringing is the fun part, but the muzzle and ears still need a real shape underneath it, so the Paper Plate Horse Craftivity comes with both pre-drawn plus a mini guide for layering the fringed mane on top.
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Please Share This Paper Plate Horse Craft
That shaggy paper mane is too fun not to share. Send this paper plate horse craft to a friend who loves easy farm animal crafts for kids.
