Pirate Ship Wheel Paper Plate Craft

This pirate ship wheel paper plate craft is a fun hands-on activity for kids who love pirates, ocean adventures, and imaginative play. Using simple supplies like a paper plate and craft sticks, you can create a ship wheel that looks ready to steer a pirate ship across the seven seas.

Materials for This Pirate Ship Wheel Craft

Before you start building your ship’s wheel, gather a few simple craft supplies. Most of these materials can easily be found at the Dollar Store or in your craft stash.

Materials:

Once everything is gathered, you’re ready to start creating your pirate ship wheel.

How to Make a Paper Plate Ship Wheel

This pirate-inspired craft comes together step by step as the wheel shape begins to form. Follow the instructions below to build the ship wheel using simple craft materials.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Gather all the materials needed to complete the craft.

Paper plate, pack of wooden craft sticks, two bottles of brown acrylic paint, paintbrush, scissors, glue gun, and adhesive gem stickers on a wooden background.

Step 2: Paint the Plate

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

Upside-down paper plate partially painted brown with a paintbrush and bottle of brown acrylic paint beside it.

Step 3: Paint the Craft Sticks

Basecoat eight jumbo craft sticks with dark brown acrylic craft paint. Set the sticks aside to dry and apply a second coat if necessary so the color appears solid and even.

Several wooden craft sticks laid out in a row with brown paint being applied using a paintbrush.

Step 4: Prepare the Pattern Pieces

Cut the circular center out of the paper plate using scissors. Download and print the ship wheel patterns, then cut them out. Trace the axel circle once and the handle accents eight times onto the medium brown paper plate. Trace the center accent circle once onto black cardstock with a pencil. Cut out all the traced pieces, making sure to cut inside the lines for a clean finished look.

Brown-painted paper plate with oval shapes traced on the surface and paper templates nearby with a pencil.

Step 5: Create the Wheel Spokes

Place the medium brown circle flat on your work surface. Attach a jumbo craft stick at the 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock positions using a glue gun and glue sticks. This forms a plus sign shape. Glue the remaining craft sticks between those to create an X pattern, forming the wheel spokes.

Wooden craft sticks arranged in a circular pattern around a small round cardboard piece with a glue gun nearby.

Step 6: Flip the Wheel Base

Carefully flip the ship wheel structure over so the craft sticks are facing down on your work surface.

Brown-painted paper plate ring placed on top of painted craft sticks arranged in a wheel shape.

Step 7: Attach the Paper Plate Rim

Attach the painted paper plate ring to the craft sticks using a glue gun and glue sticks. The plate will form the outer rim of the ship wheel. Liquid craft glue can also be used, but it will require additional drying time.

Paper plate ring attached to painted craft sticks arranged like spokes around a central circle.

Step 8: Add the Handle Accents

Glue one handle accent onto each craft stick where it meets the outer paper plate rim. Use a glue gun and glue sticks to secure each piece.

Step 9: Finish the Ship Wheel

Glue the black circle to the center of the medium brown circle. Then add a black rhinestone to the end of each handle to complete the pirate ship wheel.

Craft sticks and oval pieces attached around the paper plate ring with adhesive gem stickers being added.

Then hang your pirate ship helm up for all to see!

Finished paper plate craft shaped like a ship wheel made with painted craft sticks and adhesive gem stickers.

Grab the Pirate Craftivity

Want to make this pirate ship wheel craft even easier to prepare? Grab the craftivity that includes the printable patterns and a mini instruction ebook so everything you need is ready to go.

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: