Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project – making Australian crafts with paper plates.

We celebrated Australia Day last week and I just couldn’t resist adding some more fun crafts, highlighting some of this country’s unique and wonderful animals.

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You have to love paper plates – not only good to eat off during picnics and parties but so versatile when it comes to creating crafts.

You can use them to make all manner of masks and hats and creatures.

This week’s projects include a cute koala, an echidna, and the Sydney Opera House.

I made these projects with my art students and they were a big hit.

CUTE PAPER PLATE KOALAS

MATERIALS

• 2 x paper plates
• Black cardboard
• Scissors
• Glue
• Grey paint
• 2 x large googly eyes

METHOD

• Cut two circles from one of the plates.
• Paint the circles and the other plate (eating side down) grey.
• Cut an oval shape from the black cardboard.
• Glue the circles to the back (eating side) of the plate to form ears.
• Glue the eyes and nose into position.

CUTE PAPER PLATE ECHIDNAS

Like koalas, echidnas are unique to Australia and these ones are super cute.

MATERIALS

• 1 x paper plate
• Scissors
• Glue
• Brown paint
• 1 x medium googly eye

METHOD

• Cut about one-third of the paper plate across.
• From the smaller portion of the plate, cut the echidna’s head – basically a circle with a long snout attached (see picture).
• Cut out two feet.
• Cut small lines from the curved edge of the larger portion of the plate towards the flat centre, about 3 cm long. These represent the spikes. NOTE: This exercise is really good for fine motor development.
• Paint all the plate pieces brown.
• Glue the head, feet and eye into position.

THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

Like a giant sailing ship resting on the sea, Sydney’s Opera House is an easily recognisable landmark and a focal point for Australia Day’s fireworks display.

MATERIALS

• 1 x paper plate
• black or blue paper
• 1 cardboard roll
• Scissors
• Glue
• Colourful paints

METHOD

• Cut lines in from the edge of the cardboard roll about one-third of the way towards the other end, creating a cardboard fringe.
• Spread the cardboard fringe outwards.
• Dip the roll into paints, ensuring all the little fringe ends are covered.
• Gently press the roll onto the paper to make a fireworks effect.
• When you are happy with your fireworks display, cut the plate so that you have two large pieces and three smaller ones, as in the picture.
• Using the picture as a guide, glue the plate pieces into position to form the Opera House.

Follow me on Pinterest for more fun project ideas.

Happy crafting and have a gleeful week, Tamuria.