DIY Paper Plate Lion Craft

This DIY paper plate lion craft is one of those bright, happy animal crafts that kids get excited about before you even finish setting the supplies on the table. I mean, a lion with a big paper mane? That is already a win.

I love this craft because it uses basic supplies, and it feels impressive without being hard. You need a paper plate, paint, construction paper, glue, googly eyes, and a marker. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, and nothing that requires me to visit three stores with kids asking for snacks.

This easy lion craft for kids works especially well for preschool and kindergarten. Younger kids can help with painting and gluing, while older kids can cut the mane strips and add more details.

This craft is great for:

• Animal theme activities
• Preschool craft time
• Kindergarten classrooms
• Zoo theme lessons
• Rainy day crafts
• Homeschool art projects
• Simple paper plate crafts for kids

The best part is that every lion can look different. Some kids will make a neat orange and yellow mane. Some will glue the strips in every possible direction. Both are cute, and honestly, the wild ones usually have the most personality.

Why Kids Will Love This Paper Plate Lion Craft

Kids will love this paper plate lion craft because it is bright, bold, and easy to customize. The lion’s mane is the fun part, and kids can make it yellow, orange, brown, or a mix of all three.

I like that this craft has a few simple parts that come together in a satisfying way. First the paper plate becomes the lion’s face. Then the paper strips turn into the mane. After that, the eyes, nose, ears, and whiskers bring the whole thing to life.

This craft is also great because it:

• Uses simple supplies
• Is fun for animal lovers
• Works well for preschool and kindergarten
• Helps kids practice cutting and gluing
• Teaches basic animal features
• Makes a cute classroom display
• Lets kids make creative choices

I also like that the lion mane gives kids lots of fine motor practice without feeling like “work.” They are cutting, folding, gluing, and arranging, but to them it just feels like making a very cheerful lion.

Supplies You’ll Need

You do not need a huge pile of supplies for this paper plate animal craft. I usually keep paper plates and construction paper around because they can become almost anything with enough glue and imagination.

Here is what you will need:

• 1 paper plate
• Yellow, orange, or brown paint
• Paintbrush
• Yellow construction paper
• Orange construction paper
• Brown construction paper, optional
• Tan or beige paper for the face
• Googly eyes
• Glue
• Scissors
• Black marker
• Optional pom-pom for the nose

I usually use yellow paint for the paper plate because it makes the lion look bright and friendly. Orange and brown also work well if you want a warmer look.

For the mane, construction paper strips are easy and budget-friendly. If you want a fuller mane, cut more strips than you think you need. Somehow a lion always looks better with a little extra drama around the face.

A glue stick works well for most paper pieces. For googly eyes or a pom-pom nose, I prefer liquid glue because those little pieces like to fall off at the worst time.

How to Make a DIY Paper Plate Lion Craft

Follow these simple steps to make your own paper plate lion craft. I like to set out all the supplies first, especially the paper strips, because once kids start gluing the mane, they usually want to keep going fast.

Step 1: Paint the Paper Plate

Paint the paper plate yellow, orange, tan, or light brown. This will be the base of your lion craft.

Let the plate dry completely before adding the face and mane pieces. I know, waiting is not the most exciting part. If your kids are anything like mine, they will ask if it is dry every fifteen seconds.

A little trick is to paint the plate first, then cut the mane strips while it dries. That way the waiting time feels useful instead of endless.

Washable paint is my favorite here. It still gets messy, but at least it is the kind of mess that usually comes off hands, tables, and the occasional sleeve.

Step 2: Make the Lion Mane

Cut strips, loops, or triangle pieces from yellow, orange, and brown construction paper. These will become the lion’s mane.

For a simple mane, cut straight paper strips. This is easiest for preschoolers and younger kids. For a fuller look, make loops by gluing the ends of each strip together before attaching them to the plate.

You can use one color or mix several colors. I like yellow and orange together because it makes the mane look sunny and playful.

Easy Mane Option

For younger kids, cut simple paper strips ahead of time and let them glue the pieces around the outside of the plate. This keeps the craft moving and avoids frustration.

Fluffy Mane Option

For a fuller lion mane, curl the paper strips slightly or make looped paper pieces. The loops add texture and make the lion look extra fun on a bulletin board or fridge.

Step 3: Glue the Mane Around the Plate

Glue the paper mane pieces around the edge of the paper plate. Keep going until the lion’s mane looks full and colorful.

I like to turn the plate over and glue the strips to the back edge. Then when you flip it back, the mane peeks out all around the face.

If you are using loops, press each one down for a few seconds so it stays in place. Kids may need a reminder that glue needs a moment to work. It is not magic, even though I wish it were.

For classroom groups, keep a little basket of extra mane strips nearby. Some kids will use three strips and announce they are done. Others will build the fullest lion mane in the room.

Step 4: Cut Out the Lion’s Face

Cut a round or oval face shape from tan or beige paper. Glue it in the center of the paper plate.

You can also cut two smaller circles for the muzzle, like little cheeks under the nose. This gives the lion a softer, cuter face.

If you want to keep it simple, one tan oval works fine. If your kids enjoy layering pieces, the two-circle muzzle is adorable.

For younger kids, I would pre-cut the face shapes. Kindergarten kids can usually cut these pieces if you draw the shapes first.

Step 5: Add the Eyes

Glue on two googly eyes above the center of the lion’s face. This is always the step where the craft suddenly has personality.

If you do not have googly eyes, you can draw the eyes with a black marker or cut circles from white and black paper. I have done this many times when the googly eye bag mysteriously disappeared into the craft drawer.

Try to place the eyes above the muzzle area, but do not worry if they are not perfectly even. A slightly crooked lion can still be very charming.

Step 6: Make the Nose and Mouth

Draw a small triangle or oval nose with a black marker, or glue on a small pom-pom nose. Then draw a smile under the nose.

I like using a black marker because it is simple and quick. A brown or black pom-pom nose adds texture, which kids usually love.

Add little whisker dots on the tan muzzle area. You can also draw a line down from the nose and two curved smile lines to make the lion look friendly.

Optional Face Detail

You can add small paper cheeks, extra whisker dots, or a silly expression. A happy lion feels best for younger kids, especially if you are using this craft during storytime or a zoo theme.

Step 7: Add the Ears

Cut two round ears from yellow or brown paper and glue them near the top of the paper plate.

For extra detail, add smaller orange or tan circles inside the ears. This makes the lion look more finished without adding much work.

I usually tuck the ears slightly behind the mane. If the mane is very full, the ears may need a little extra glue or a small piece of tape on the back.

Again, do not worry if the ears are not exactly the same size. Real kid crafts should look like kids made them.

Step 8: Decorate the Lion

Add extra details like rosy cheeks, a bow, jungle leaves, or fun background pieces. Kids can also use stickers if you want to keep the decorating part quick.

Black paper strips make great whiskers. You can glue three strips on each side of the lion’s face, or just draw whiskers with a marker.

If your child wants to make a jungle scene, green paper leaves around the lion look cute. This is a nice option if you want the craft to feel more like a full art project.

Easy Classroom Idea

Let each child design a different mane color pattern, then display all the lions together on an animal or zoo bulletin board. It looks bright, cheerful, and very kid-made in the best way.

Step 9: Let It Dry and Display

Let the craft dry completely before moving it around. The mane pieces, eyes, and nose need time to stay secure.

Once it is dry, you can hang it on a wall, add it to an animal craft board, or place it in a child’s art folder.

If you are making this in a classroom, write each child’s name on the back before the lions start getting mixed together. A room full of yellow paper plate lions can get confusing fast.

Easy Lion Craft Tips

This easy lion craft is simple, but a few small tips make it smoother, especially with younger kids.

• Pre-cut the mane and face pieces for younger kids
• Use washable paint for easy cleanup
• Let kids choose their own mane colors
• Use a glue stick for paper pieces
• Use liquid glue for googly eyes or pom-pom noses
• Write the child’s name on the back
• Keep extra mane strips ready for classroom groups
• Let the paint dry flat before adding paper
• Use tape on the back if the mane needs extra support

My biggest tip is to not rush the drying time. Wet paint and glue can make the paper pieces slide around, and then everyone gets annoyed. A short snack break usually fixes that problem.

If you are short on time, skip the paint and use a yellow paper plate. It will not have that painted look, but it saves time and still turns out cute.

Fun Lion Craft Variations to Try

This lion craft for kids is easy to change depending on your supplies, age group, or theme.

Try one of these fun ideas:

• Make a yellow lion with an orange mane
• Create a brown lion with a darker mane
• Use looped paper strips for a fluffy lion mane
• Add a pom-pom nose for extra texture
• Make a baby lion with a smaller paper plate
• Add a jungle leaf background with green paper
• Create a zoo animal collection with other paper plate animals
• Use tissue paper squares for a softer mane
• Add a bow or crown for a playful lion

I love the looped mane version because it gives the craft more texture. It does take a little more time, so I would use that option with kindergarten kids or older children.

For preschoolers, simple flat strips are easier and still look adorable.

Skills Kids Practice With This Craft

This easy paper plate lion craft helps kids practice important early learning skills while having fun.

Kids can practice:

• Fine motor skills
• Cutting skills
• Gluing practice
• Color recognition
• Hand-eye coordination
• Creativity
• Following step-by-step directions
• Learning animal features
• Making choices

Cutting the mane strips gives kids practice with scissors. Gluing the strips around the plate helps them think about spacing and placement. Adding the face pieces helps them understand how small details can turn a plain plate into an animal.

This craft also gives kids a chance to follow directions while still adding their own ideas. That balance matters. I want a craft that teaches steps, but I also want kids to feel like the lion belongs to them.

When to Use This Lion Craft

This lion craft for kids works well for so many different activities. It is easy enough for a regular afternoon, but cute enough for a classroom display.

You can use it for:

• Preschool craft time
• Kindergarten classroom activities
• Zoo theme week
• Animal theme lessons
• Rainy day crafts
• Birthday party activities
• Homeschool art time
• Summer camp crafts
• Jungle storytime
• Paper plate animal craft days

This is a great craft to pair with a lion book or a zoo animal lesson. Kids can talk about the lion’s mane, ears, whiskers, nose, and face while they build each part.

For a party, I would pre-cut the mane strips and face pieces. That keeps the craft moving and makes cleanup less wild, which feels very appropriate for a lion craft.

Storage and Display Ideas

After the paper plate lion craft is dry, you can save it or display it in a few easy ways.

You can:

• Hang it on a classroom bulletin board
• Display it on the fridge
• Add it to an animal craft wall
• Use it for a zoo theme lesson
• Place it in a child’s art scrapbook
• Pair it with a lion or jungle storytime activity
• Tape it to a bedroom door
• Make a row of lions for classroom decor

If the mane is made with loops, store it carefully so the loops do not get flattened. A flat mane is easier to place in a folder, but the looped version looks better displayed on a wall.

For a classroom, I love displaying all the lions together. The different mane colors make the wall feel bright and cheerful.

Related Crafts for Kids

If your kids enjoyed this paper plate lion craft, they may also like a DIY Paper Plate Elephant Craft for another fun animal activity. It pairs nicely with this lion if you are making zoo animals.

For more paper plate animal ideas, try a DIY Paper Plate Dinosaur Craft or an Easy Toddler Paper Plate Rainbow Fish Craft. These are simple, kid-friendly crafts that use many of the same basic supplies.

I like keeping paper plate animal crafts together because it makes planning easier. Once the plates, paint, glue, and construction paper are already out, you can make several animals without starting from scratch.

Final Thoughts

This DIY paper plate lion craft is simple, bright, and fun for kids who love animal crafts. It uses easy supplies, works well for preschool and kindergarten, and makes a cute display craft for classrooms, bedrooms, or zoo-themed activities.

I love that the lion’s mane gives kids room to be creative. They can make it neat, fluffy, colorful, messy, or totally wild. In my house, the wilder the mane, the prouder the kid. Most of all, this craft feels realistic. It is budget-friendly, kid-friendly, and not too fussy. That is exactly the kind of project I like for a rainy day, homeschool art time, or a busy classroom craft table.

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