Paper Plate Snail Craft
Slow and steady wins the race… especially when it comes to crafting! This paper plate snail craft is colorful, cheerful, and surprisingly easy to put together. With a swirly shell decorated in bright pom poms and silly little antennae, it’s the perfect project for spring, garden units, or just an afternoon of play. Bonus: kids get to use a mix of paint, pom poms, and pipe cleaners, so it’s as hands-on as it gets.
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Materials You’ll Need to Make a Paper Plate Snail
Print-ready templates and step-by-step instructions.
Less prep, more crafting.
- Paper plate Shop
- Green acrylic paint Shop
- Pink acrylic paint Shop
- Purple construction paper Shop
- Googly eyes Shop
- Pom poms (assorted colors) Shop
- Pipe cleaners (red or pink) Shop
- White pom poms (small, for antenna tips) Shop
- Glue gun or school glue Shop
- Black marker Shop
- Paintbrush Shop
- Scissors Shop
How to Make a Paper Plate Snail Craft
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Gather your supplies, including a paper plate, paint, pom poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and glue.
Step 2: Paint the Plate Green
Paint the entire front of your paper plate with green paint and let it dry completely.
Step 3: Draw the Spiral Shell
On purple construction paper draw a spiral snail shell.
Step 4: Cut Out the Shell
Carefully cut along the spiral line to create the snail shell shape.
Step 5: Decorate the Shell
Glue colorful pom poms around the spiral to decorate the snail’s shell.
Step 6: Add the Eyes and Cheeks
Glue two googly eyes near the top of the snail’s head.
Use pink paint to add two rosy cheeks under the eyes.
Step 7: Add the Antennae
Attach two short pieces of pipe cleaner to the top of the head for antennae, then glue a small white pom pom to the tip of each antenna.
Step 8: Attach the Shell
Glue the decorated spiral shell onto the center of the plate.
Step 9: Trim the Bottom
Trim the bottom of the snail to create a flat bottom.
Step 10: Draw the Smile
Use a black marker to draw a happy smile on the snail’s face.
All done!
Admire your adorable finished snail!
We'd love to see yours! Snap a photo and share it in the comments.
Grab the Printable
Skip the prep and grab the print-ready templates for this craft from my shop.
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Please Share This Paper Plate Snail Craft
Did this little snail make you smile? Share it with other parents, teachers, or crafters! Pin it to your favorite kids’ crafts board or share it on Facebook so more families can enjoy some spring crafting fun.
