Easy Paper Plate Animal Masks

Creative play with props is a great way to get your child’s imagination soaring. These paper plate animal masks are sure to become not only a fun craft project to do with your toddler but a fun tool to use while reading books (we have some great ones listed at the bottom of this post) or playing pretend. We love how easy they are to make too! My 2-year old daughter is particularly fond of the cat as she seems to think all animals and insects say “meow!” at the moment. :)

You could  make so many different types of paper plate animal masks using these same methods. Let us know how they turn out for you! Find the instructions for the cat mask, pig mask and duck mask below. We love doing paper plate crafts and we know you will love it too!

Paper Plate Animal Masks Supplies Needed:

• Paper Plates
• Paint – You can use any paint you want or even markers will work, but tempera paint is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers!  
• Paint Brushes
• Foam Sheets 
• Feathers (optional)
• Pipe Cleaners (optional)
• Toilet Paper Tube (optional)
• Paper Straws
• Hot Glue Gun
• Kid Friendly Glue
• Scissors

Paper Plate Animal Masks Instructions:

Cat mask instructions:

1. Cut your paper plate.  You will want the mask area to be a little larger than half.
2. Draw two round eyes and carefully cut them out.
3. Out of the discarded part of the paper plate, cut out two triangle ears.  Glue them to the top of your mask.
4. Paint your kitty mask.  We picked gray! Allow the mask to dry.
5. Cut out a small heart shaped nose out of a pink foam sheet.  If you have the sticky kind, peel and stick it in place. Otherwise, glue it on the mask.  
6. Also out of the pink foam sheet, cut out two small triangles and stick (or glue) them to the center of the ears.
7. Cut a pipe cleaner in half.  Then, fold the pipe cleaner in half.  This will be your whiskers. Glue into place to the left of the nose.  Repeat on the right side.
8. Glue a straw to the back of the mask to form a handle for your kitty mask.

Pig mask instructions:

1. Cut your paper plate.  You will want the mask area to be a little larger than half.
2. Draw two round eyes and carefully cut them out.
3. To make the snout, cut the end of a paper towel or toilet paper tube.  
4. Using the discarded part of the paper plate, trace the paper towel snout and cut it out.  This will fit on the top of your snout.
5. On the discarded part of the paper plate, cut out two triangles for the pig’s ears.  
6. Using a hot glue gun, glue the paper towel tube to the paper plate.  
7. Glue the paper plate circle on top of the toilet paper tube.  
8. Glue the two ears to the top of the plate.  
9. Paint the mask pink.  Allow it to dry.
10. Hot glue a straw to the back of the mask to make a handle for your mask.  

Duck mask instructions:

1. Cut your paper plate.  You will want the mask area to be a little larger than half.
2. Draw two round eyes and carefully cut them out.
3. Fold the discarded part of the paper plate in half.  Cut out a triangle shape to make the beak.
4. Trace the beak onto an orange foam sheet and cut out.  Stick (or glue) onto your paper plate beak.
5. Glue the beak onto the paper plate mask.
6. Paint the mask yellow.  Allow to dry.
7. Glue a few feathers to the top of the mask.
8. Glue a straw to the back of the mask to form a handle for your mask.

Check out these adorable books that you can read to your toddler to go along with these fun paper plate animal masks: 

• The Adventures of Esther The Wonder Pig 
• Pigs 
• Have You Seen My Cat 
• Pete The Cat and the Treasure Map 
• Duck and Goose Go The Beach 
• Ping

See Also: 20 Farm Animal Activities for Toddlers