Got a pile of paper plates and a kid who’s bouncing off the walls? You’re about to turn that boring stack into 31 awesome crafts that spin, swing, or sneak a secret note inside. No fancy supplies needed – just glue, scissors, and a little imagination.
I’ve tested these with my own chaos crew, and let me tell you, the spinning ones alone saved my sanity on a rainy Tuesday. Ready to get crafty? Let’s go.
1. Spinning Rainbow Disc
Cut the center out of a paper plate to leave a ring. Then glue a second plate underneath with a small slit cut into the top layer.
Slide a wooden skewer through the center so the whole thing can twirl. Decorate the top plate with rainbow stripes.
Give it a flick and watch the colors blur together. My kids argued over who got to spin it next.
2. Swingin’ Bee
Paint a paper plate yellow and black to look like a bee. Attach two strings to the top edges.
Tie the other ends to a craft stick held horizontally. Now your bee swings back and forth when you tilt the stick.
3. Secret Message Heart
Cut a paper plate in half and glue the two halves together along the curved edge, leaving the straight edge open. You’ve got a pocket.
Write a note on a small piece of paper and slide it inside. Decorate the outside like a valentine heart with “Open me” written on it.
The best part? Hide it under a pillow for a surprise. My daughter left one for the mailman once – he still talks about it.
Fold the opening shut with a paper clip so the note doesn’t fall out during play.
4. Twirling Sun Catcher
Cut the middle out of a plate and tape clear plastic wrap over the hole. Glue colorful tissue paper squares onto the wrap.
Poke a hole at the top and thread a string through. Hang it in a window and it spins slowly whenever someone walks past.
5. Swing Boat
Fold a paper plate in half and staple the curved edge to make a boat shape. Punch two holes on the top rim and run a string through each.
Tie the strings to a ruler balanced on two chairs. Your boat swings like a pendulum – perfect for sailing imaginary storms.
Add a tiny paper sail. My son spent an hour swinging his “pirate ship” back and forth, complete with dramatic sinking sounds.
You can even hide a note in the hull before stapling. Just fold it tiny and drop it in.
Try different string lengths to change the swing speed. Short strings swing fast, long ones go slow and dreamy.
6. Hidden Pocket Bear
Take two paper plates and glue them together around the rim, but leave a two-inch gap at the bottom. That gap is your secret pocket.
Paint the top plate to look like a bear face. Slide a note into the pocket through the gap – it comes out behind the bear’s chin.
Write a silly joke on the note. “What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear!” My kids now hide notes everywhere.
Push the note back in and squeeze the bear to pop it out again. Works like a charm.
Cut a small arrow on the bear’s belly that points to the pocket opening. No one ever finds it on the first try.
Your kid can pass these to friends during class – just don’t tell the teacher I said that.
7. Spin Art Spinner
Glue a paper plate to the center of a larger cardboard circle. Poke a pencil through both so it acts like an axle.
Drizzle washable paint onto the plate. Spin it fast and watch the paint fly outward in crazy patterns.
8. Swing Star
Cut a paper plate into a star shape. Attach a string to the top point and another to the bottom point.
Hang the top string from a doorknob and pull the bottom string gently. Your star swings side to side like a pendulum.
9. Note-in-a-Plate Flower
Cut a paper plate into a flower shape with five petals. Fold one petal backward and staple a small paper envelope onto the back of that petal.
Write a note and slip it into the envelope. When you fold the petal forward again, the note stays hidden until someone unfolds it.
10. Dizzy Dinosaur Spinner
Paint a paper plate green and draw a stegosaurus on it. Cut a small slit in the center and insert a penny.
Give the plate a hard flick. The penny makes it spin unevenly and wobble like a dizzy dinosaur.
11. Swing Starfish
Cut a starfish shape from a paper plate. Punch a hole in each arm and tie strings of different lengths to each hole.
Tie all the strings to a single ring. Hang the ring and watch the starfish swing in slow motion because of the uneven strings.
12. Secret Agent Watch
Cut a small circle from the center of a paper plate to leave a ring. Glue the ring to a strip of cardboard to make a watch band.
Slide a folded note between the ring and the band. The note hides right under the watch face – perfect for spy messages.
13. Fidget Spinner Plate
Trace a fidget spinner shape onto three stacked paper plates. Cut them out together so they’re identical.
Glue a button in the center of each. Stack them and poke a brad through all three so each layer spins independently.
14. Swing Owl
Cut a paper plate into an owl shape with big round eyes. Attach two strings to the top of the head.
Tie the strings to a coat hanger bent into a U shape. Hang the hanger and your owl swings gently every time someone walks by.
15. Hide-and-Seek Monster
Take two paper plates and glue them together around the rim, but leave the top quarter unglued. That’s the monster’s mouth.
Paint the top plate to look like a monster with big teeth. Slide a note into the mouth – it’s hidden in plain sight between the plates.
16. Whirligig Bird
Cut a paper plate into a bird shape with long wings. Poke a hole in the center of the body and thread a loop of string through.
Twist the string tight, then pull. The bird spins like a whirligig as the string unwinds.
17. Swing Caterpillar
Cut a paper plate into five circles. Connect them with brads so they form a caterpillar that can bend.
Attach a string to the head and another to the tail. Hang both strings and the caterpillar swings in an arc while its body wiggles.
18. Secret Message Fish
Cut a paper plate into a fish shape. Cut a slit along the top fin and another along the bottom fin.
Slide a rolled-up note through both slits. The note hides inside the fish’s body and only comes out when you pull the tail.
19. Spinning Top Plate
Fold a paper plate into a cone shape and tape the edge. Poke a toothpick through the tip from the inside.
Place the toothpick on a table and spin the cone like a top. The plate’s curved shape keeps it balanced.
20. Swing Ghost
Cut a paper plate into a ghost shape with wavy bottom edges. Attach a string to the top of the head.
Tie the string to a ceiling hook. Your ghost swings in circles when you give it a push – creepy fun for Halloween.
21. Hidden Note Ladybug
Paint a paper plate red with black spots. Cut a small flap in the center that lifts up like a shell.
Glue a tiny paper pocket under the flap. Write a note and slide it in. The flap hides the note completely when closed.
22. Pinwheel Plate
Cut a paper plate into a square. Cut slits from each corner toward the center, stopping an inch short.
Fold every other corner into the center and glue them down. Poke a pushpin through the middle and attach it to a pencil – now it spins in the wind.
23. Swing Sloth
Cut a paper plate into a sloth shape with long arms. Glue a craft stick between the arms as a perch.
Attach strings to both ends of the stick. Hang the strings and your sloth swings upside down just like the real thing.
24. Secret Pocket Unicorn
Take two paper plates and glue them together only along the bottom half. The top half stays open like a pouch.
Paint the front plate like a unicorn face with a horn. Slide a note into the pouch – it’s hidden behind the unicorn’s mane you cut from yarn.
25. Twirling Butterfly
Cut a paper plate into a butterfly shape. Poke a hole in the center of the body and thread a rubber band through.
Twist the rubber band, then let go. The butterfly spins wildly as the rubber band untwists.
26. Swing Frog
Cut a paper plate into a frog shape with long back legs. Attach a string to each leg.
Tie the strings to a small hoop. Swing the hoop and the frog swings its legs like it’s doing the breaststroke.
27. Hidden Note Ice Cream
Cut a paper plate into a triangle for the cone and a circle for the scoop. Glue them together but leave a gap at the bottom of the scoop.
Write a note and tuck it into the gap. The note hides right where the cone meets the scoop – no one thinks to look there.
28. Spin the Wheel Game
Draw a circle on a paper plate and divide it into eight slices. Write a different activity in each slice (like “jump” or “sing”).
Poke a arrow-shaped paper clip through the center. Spin the clip and do whatever it lands on.
29. Swing Spider
Cut a paper plate into a spider shape with eight legs. Punch a hole in the center of the body and thread a long string through.
Tie a small weight to the bottom of the string. Hang the top and your spider swings in a circle while the weight pulls it straight.
30. Secret Note Robot
Cut a paper plate into a robot head shape. Cut a small rectangular door on the side that opens like a flap.
Glue a tiny paper box behind the flap. Slide a note into the box. The flap hides the note and makes the robot look high-tech.
31. Spinning Galaxy
Paint a paper plate black with white dots for stars. Cut a smaller plate to look like a spiral galaxy and glue it on top off-center.
Poke a brad through the center of both plates so the top galaxy spins around the black plate. Twist it to find hidden constellations.
You made it through all 31 – give yourself a high five (and maybe a coffee). Your kids now have enough spinning, swinging, note-hiding fun to last through several rainy afternoons.
Try combining a few: hide a note inside a spinner, or make a swing that carries a secret message. My youngest once hid a note in every single craft we made. I found “you’re the best mom” in a swinging bee three days later.
Grab those paper plates and get started. And hey, if a craft flops? Just call it “modern art” and try another one. Happy crafting.