Paper Plate Fun

Create with a plate! Sharing paper plate crafts and DIY projects for all ages!

Sand Art Mandala Craft: A Wonderful Art & History Project

Children, teens, and adults generally love working with materials they don’t encounter regularly, and colored sand is one of those materials!  The vibrant colors and soothing texture make sand a fantastic addition to any art project.  And, when a project contains a strong connection to another area of learning, the experience is enhanced further.  This paper plate sand art mandala craft does just that – blending art and history into one incredible project for people of all ages!  Kids and teens will love making colored sand art mandalas with paper plates! This great craft blends art and history so it's extra educational!

What are Mandalas?

Before jumping into this project, we thought it might be useful to explain what a mandala is!  In its most general sense, a mandala is a circle with designs inside.  More traditionally, however, mandalas are religious symbols (typically in Buddhism) that usually depict an ideal universe.  Mandalas are often created with intricate designs, using colored sand, and then demolished upon completion in an act that represents the impermanence of everything.

This is just a brief overview, and to learn more about mandalas, read this article from The Asia Society.  It would be an amazing addition to this mandala craft project to give some historical context.

Supplies Needed to Make Sand Art Mandalas

The supplies listed here are the ones we used to create the project as shown in this post.  As with all posts on Paper Plate Fun, we encourage you to modify the supplies to fit your needs!

  • Paper plate
  • Pencil
  • Glue
  • Small paint brush
  • Colored sand
  • Suggested: aluminum baking pan

How to Make Paper Plate Mandala Crafts

This project is so fun!  It’s also very simple to make, especially if the designs drawn are not too intricate.

Step One

Begin by drawing a design onto a paper plate with a pencil.  If you need creative inspiration, look up mandala designs on the internet and you’ll find lots of ideas for patterns. Or,just draw any design you like!

Draw a pattern on a paper plate to begin creating a mandala craft.

Step Two

Squeeze a little bit of craft glue into a section of the design drawn on the paper plate.  Use a craft paint brush to spread the glue in that area.  Make sure the glue is not too thick, and try to get it to be as even a layer as possible.  Spread a thin layer of glue on the paper plate. This will form the base of the pattern of the mandala.

Step Three

Sprinkle sand over the glue – just like you’re sprinkling glitter!  Once the glue surface is covered, shake off the excess colored sand into a trash can or a disposable aluminum tray.  Sprinkle colored sand on the paper plate mandala.

Step Four

Repeat the glue and sand process until the entire mandala design is complete.  Use colored sand to create a bright sand art mandala.

Kids love this paper plate sand art mandala craft.

No mandala looks alike!

Step Five

Once all of the sand has been applied to the mandala craft, set aside to dry thoroughly.  Paper plate sand art mandalas are a great craft that blend art and history.

Perhaps surprisingly, the sand sticks to the paper plates very well and does not come off easily!  Definitely a bonus for keeping the mess controlled.

Use paper plates and colored sand to create beautiful sand art mandalas.

This paper plate craft can be modified to fit any age group or activity, making it a definite win!

You May Also Like This Recycled Ring Toss Game Craft

How to Make Paper Plate Flowers for Crafts and Decor

Large paper flowers are all the rage for photo backdrops, party decor, and kids room decor, and it’s not surprising because they’re beautiful! When grouped together they make quite a statement.  Did you know that it’s so easy to use paper plates to make paper flowers?  It’s true! Let us show you how to make paper plate flowers, and we think you’ll be hooked!  So cute! Learn how to make paper plate flowers for crafts and decor! These paper flowers are great for photo backdrops, party decor, dorm decor, and more.

Each paper plate flower only requires two paper plates be used, so these large flowers are very economical! Use them as a photo backdrop at parties and events or as room decor for teens and dorm rooms.

Supplies Needed to Make Flowers with Paper Plates

These are the supplies we used to make the paper flowers shown in this post.  Feel free to supplement with supplies you already have on hand!

  • Two paper plates
  • Scissors
  • Small cup
  • Pencil
  • Hot glue gun and glue

How to Make Large Paper Plate Flowers

These instructions and photos should help you make the perfect flower, but we also have a video tutorial at the end of this post!

Step One

Take one paper plate and cut five rounded edge triangles along the edges.  This forms the outer petals of the paper plate flower.  With just two paper plates you can make paper plate flowers! Learn how in this post.

Step Two

Set that paper plate aside, and get another paper plate.  Cut out the inner circle from that paper plate. This portion of the paper plate will become the center of the flower.

Step Three

Flip over the cut out circle and trace the bottom of a cup in the middle of that paper plate circle.  Draw a circle as a guide to know where to cut the paper plate flower.

Step Four

Cut inward toward the traced circle – all the way around the paper plate circle.  Make sure to stop cutting once you reach the pencil line.

Cutting fringe in the paper plate helps make for a 3D paper plate flower.

Step Five

Flip the paper plate circle over and gently bed the cut fringes upward.  Then alternate bending some higher than others to create even more dimension.

This step of the paper flower making process is very important!

Step Six

Cut along the inner rim of the paper plate so that you have a strip of paper.  This part of the paper plate will become the center of the flower.

Then, roll that strip inward to form a coil of sorts.  Roll the paper plate segment into a coil.

Step Seven

Finally, it’s time to fire up the hot glue gun!  Once it’s heated, glue the center circle portion onto the base portion of the paper plate flower.  Follow that with the coil portion on top of the center circle.

Create beautiful paper plate flowers with just two paper plates! These paper flowers are perfect for photo backdrops, paper plate wall decor, party decorations, and more!

That completes your paper plate flower craft.

So cute! Learn how to make paper plate flowers for crafts and decor! These paper flowers are great for photo backdrops, party decor, dorm decor, and more.

There are so many ways to customize these paper flowers for whatever look you are going for: paint them, use colored paper plates, add stems and leaves, and more!

Video Tutorial for Making Paper Plate Flowers

If any of those steps don’t make sense, check out our video on making flowers from paper plates! It should definitely help.

And, make sure to check out our ever-growing gallery of Paper Plate Decor Crafts for more great ideas!

You May Also Like This Paper Plate Boho Heart Wall Hanging Craft

DIY Paper Plate Boho Heart Wall Hanging

If you’re looking for DIY dorm room decor or an easy craft for teens and tweens, this DIY Paper Plate Boho Heart Wall Art is it!

Teens and tweens will love this paper plate craft! Create a boho heart wall hanging with a paper plate and yarn!

Totally customizable with colors of his or her choice, this inexpensive wall art is a fun way to get that bohemian style that’s so popular right now! The fringy yarn adds a macrame look, and the handwritten message on the paper plate heart sends a message near and dear to everyone’s heart – LOVE!

So what do you need to make one of these cute decor pieces? Not much – it’s definitely thrifty!

Supplies Needed for Paper Plate Boho Heart Wall Art

  • Paper plate in color of your choice
  • Scissors
  • Yarn
  • Hot glue and hot glue gun
  • Sharpie marker
  • Pencil
  • Ruler

How to Make Paper Plate Boho Heart Wall Art

You won’t believe how quickly you can transform a paper plate and yarn into adorable DIY wall art!

Step One

First, draw a straight line 2/3 of the way down the plate. Also draw the top of the heart (sort of a V-shape), and two indentations at the side to meet up with the straight line.

Draw the top half of a heart on a paper plate.

Step Two

Next, cut the paper plate on the lines just drawn.

Cut the paper plate to form the top half of a heart.

Step Three

Now, cut many pieces of yarn about 15″ long. For our boho heart, we cut approximately 40 pieces of yarn. We used a spool of ombre colored yarn to create the fun, multi-color look of our boho heart.

Cut long pieces of yarn to create a boho heart wall hanging.

Step Four

Flip over the paper plate and run a small line of hot glue along the flat, bottom edge. (TIP: Do not place hot glue along the entire bottom edge all at once, as the hot glue will harden before you can attach all of the yarn!) Begin fastening yarn to the hot glue. Careful not to burn your fingertips!

Hot glue the yarn to the paper plate.

Repeat this process until the entire bottom edge of the paper plate is filled with yarn. Run a line or two of hot glue over the yarn on the plate to help secure it even more.

Hot glue the yarn to the paper plate.

Step Five

Once the hot glue is totally hardened, flip the project over and smooth out all of the pieces of yarn.

Smooth out the yarn prior to cutting it.

Hold up the paper plate and the yarn, and carefully cut the yarn into a v-shape to form the bottom of the heart.

Cut the yarn into the shape of a v to create the paper plate heart.

Smooth out the yarn and cut any yarn that you missed to make the v-shape precise.

Step Six

Use a Sharpie marker to write a message like “LOVE”, draw a symbol like a peace sign, or write your monogram on the front of the paper plate. This is a great way to personalize your paper plate wall art!

Use a Sharpie to write a sweet message on the paper plate.

Attach removable mounting strips to the back of the paper plate wall art and hang it anywhere you like! Removable mounting tape is usually dorm room approved, and also mom and dad approved!

Love it? Make sure to PIN this paper plate decor project to help others find it, too!

Teens and tweens will love this paper plate craft! Create a boho heart wall hanging with a paper plate and yarn!

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