Recently I stumbled upon a whole genre of craft that I didn’t realize existed: paper plate animals! There are so many inspiring images that use paper plates in playful new ways. I was especially drawn to the birds – there are just so many different types!

For today’s DIY, I was inspired to make a flock of coordinating paper plate birds. This craft can be as simple or complex as you choose to make it – I used only plates and cardstock for these birds, but you could add in feathers, tissue paper, or felt to add more texture. I love this idea just for the fun and creativity of it, but they’d make cute wall décor for a baby shower or birthday party, don’t you think?

• Paper plates (various sizes and colors)
• Cardstock
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Black marker
• Scissors
• Washi tape
• Glue

Step 1
To make the magenta bird, I started by laying out the paper plates into a shape that I liked (I was inspired by this parrot.) I used big and little white plates, and cut little ones in half for the wings and tail. The beak is cut from the center of another plate. Paint the plates as you like – I used a couple shades of magenta. Let dry.

Step 2
To assemble the bird, glue the overlapping areas together as shown. Cut and glue down small feet and the eye detail.

Step 3
The geese plates are very simple: simply cut a plate in half, cut a rounded rectangle for the neck/face out of matching plate or paper, and then cut a beak in a contrasting color. I also cut wings from matching paper plates. Glue all pieces together, and use a black marker to draw eyes.

Step 4
For the flamingo plate, cut a pink plate in half for the body. Use the other half as the neck by cutting out the center and then gluing onto the body as shown. Cut and glue down an eye and beak out of black cardstock. Cut pink cardstock into long thin legs and glue in place. Use the leftover pink plate center to cut a wing, and glue onto the body.

Step 5
The swans are probably my favorite ones – cut a kind of D shape out of the plate, leaving the edge as the swan’s neck and face. Round the edge for the face and then attach a beak and eye in contrasting colors. You can cut a wing out of another plate, or the scrap from the middle. Use washi tape to attach all the birds onto your wall.

Happy crafting!