DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Plate Crab Craft

Contributed by Leanne Guenther

This is a simple paper plate craft that's suitable for young children to make.

My daughter usually loves painting paper plates, but this time she decided to use a children's marker and spray it with a spritz bottle so the color ran a little bit.

If you don't have a paper plate, trace a regular plate on a piece of cardboard (old cereal box) or use a margarine container lid.

Materials:

• paper plate or alternate (we used snack size in this picture, but dinner size would work too).
• Pipecleaners or two twist tie's twisted together - 9 of these.  If using snack size, cut pipecleaners in half
• 1 inch(ish) pieces of drinking straw
• hole punch
• markers or paint

Instructions:

• punch 8 holes around the edge of the plate.
• thread pipecleaners/twistties through these holes and twist to secure.
• Put three pieces of straw on each of the pipecleaners.  (represents real leg segments).
• bend legs to shape/make look like he's walking
• Punch two more holes, close together in the "front" and put 1 pipecleaner through with ends sticking up.  Twist to secure and add beads to the end to decorate (if desired).
• Color or paint