Paper Plate Porthole Craft for Kids

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This paper plate porthole craft is perfect for little pirates and ocean explorers! A Dollar Store paper plate transforms into a golden porthole window looking out onto a colorful underwater world, complete with fish, shells, coral, and even some fun bubble details.

Materials for This Paper Plate Porthole Craft

Before you start, gather a few simple supplies. Most items can be found at the Dollar Store, making this a wonderfully budget-friendly pirate and ocean craft for kids.

Supplies

• Paper plates (2)
• Buttons (6)
• Acrylic craft paint – golden yellow, light blue, medium blue
• Colored pencils
• Cardstock, white
• Glue gun and glue sticks
• Glue stick
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Pencil with new eraser
• Patterns

Once your supplies are ready, it's time to look through the porthole!

How to Make a Paper Plate Porthole Craft

This paper plate porthole craft comes together with painting, coloring, and assembling. Follow the steps below to create your adorable ocean porthole scene.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Gather all the supplies for this paper plate porthole craft. Having everything ready before you begin makes the process smooth and enjoyable.

Step 2: Cut the Porthole Frame

Cut out the center of one paper plate with scissors, leaving just the rim to create the porthole frame.

Step 3: Paint the Porthole Frame

Basecoat the porthole frame paper plate with golden yellow acrylic craft paint. Set aside to dry and apply a second coat if necessary.

Step 4: Paint the Ocean Scene Plate

Basecoat a second paper plate with light blue acrylic craft paint, then swirl in a few brushstrokes of medium blue to simulate gentle ocean waves.

Step 5: Print and Color the Ocean Cutouts

Download and print the porthole pattern sheet onto white cardstock with images of fish, shells, coral, and sea grass.

Color in all the images with colored pencils, crayons, or markers.

Step 6: Cut Out the Ocean Pieces

Cut out all the ocean pattern pieces with scissors.

Step 7: Arrange the Ocean Scene

Arrange and dry fit the ocean cutouts onto the blue paper plate. Once happy with the placement, attach each piece using a glue stick.

Step 8: Add the Bubble Details

Dip a new pencil eraser into medium blue acrylic craft paint and stamp small bubbles above each fish on the blue plate.

Step 9: Assemble the Porthole

Attach the golden yellow porthole frame plate on top of the blue ocean scene plate with a glue gun and glue sticks.

Step 10: Add the Porthole Bolts

To finish, attach 6 buttons around the edge of the golden porthole frame to create the bolts that hold the porthole together.

Your adorable paper plate porthole craft is ready for a pirate adventure on the high seas!

Grab the Paper Plate Porthole Craftivity

Want to make this pirate craft even easier? The Paper Plate Porthole Craftivity includes printable patterns and a mini ebook with full step-by-step instructions — great for pirate-themed parties, ocean unit studies, homeschool, or summer crafting.

More Pirate and Ocean Crafts Your Kids Will Love

If your kiddos had fun making this paper plate porthole craft, don't stop the fun here! Below you will find some more of our favorite pirate and ocean crafts we have shared on the site.

Please Share This Paper Plate Porthole Craft

Did your little pirates love making this paper plate porthole craft? We'd love to see your ocean scenes! Share on social media and tag us, and pin this project to your pirate crafts board on Pinterest!

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