• Home
  • About
    • About Crafts by Amanda
    • Visit Our Recipe Site
  • Work With Us
  • Join
    • Free Newsletters
    • Join our Facebook craft group
↑
  • Tutorials
    • Tutorial Index
    • Adult Crafts
    • Crafts for Kids
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Seasonal Crafts
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Free Printables
    • Craft Collections
  • Adult Crafts
    • Bath & Body
    • Beach Crafts
    • Clay Pot Crafts
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Decoupage Crafts for Adults
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Garden Crafts
    • Home Decor Projects
    • Kitchen Crafts
    • Light Bulb Crafts
    • Luminary Crafts
    • Mason Jar Crafts
    • Needlework
    • Photo Display Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts for Adults
    • Wearable Crafts for Adults
  • Crafts for Kids
    • Animal Crafts for Kids
    • Back to School Crafts
    • Beach Crafts for Kids
    • Camp Crafts
    • Cardboard Tube Crafts for Kids
    • Decoupage Crafts for Kids
    • Easy Crafts for Kids
    • Nature Crafts for Kids
    • Other Kid’s Crafts
    • Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
    • Recycled Crafts for Kids
    • Slimes, Doughs, & Clay
    • Wearable Crafts for Kids
  • Holiday Crafts
    • 4th of July Crafts
    • Christmas Crafts
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Earth Day Crafts
    • Easter Crafts
    • Father’s Day Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
    • Memorial Day Crafts
    • Mother’s Day Crafts
    • New Year’s
    • Other Holidays
    • Patriot Day Crafts
    • St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
    • Thanksgiving Crafts
    • Valentine’s Day Crafts
  • Seasonal Crafts
    • Winter Crafts
    • Spring Crafts
    • Summer Crafts
    • Fall Crafts
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Crafts by Amanda

crafts for adults and kid's crafts

  • Tutorials
    • Tutorial Index
    • Adult Crafts
    • Crafts for Kids
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Seasonal Crafts
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Free Printables
    • Craft Collections
  • Adult Crafts
    • Bath & Body
    • Beach Crafts
    • Clay Pot Crafts
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Decoupage Crafts for Adults
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Garden Crafts
    • Home Decor Projects
    • Kitchen Crafts
    • Light Bulb Crafts
    • Luminary Crafts
    • Mason Jar Crafts
    • Needlework
    • Photo Display Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts for Adults
    • Wearable Crafts for Adults
  • Crafts for Kids
    • Animal Crafts for Kids
    • Back to School Crafts
    • Beach Crafts for Kids
    • Camp Crafts
    • Cardboard Tube Crafts for Kids
    • Decoupage Crafts for Kids
    • Easy Crafts for Kids
    • Nature Crafts for Kids
    • Other Kid’s Crafts
    • Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
    • Recycled Crafts for Kids
    • Slimes, Doughs, & Clay
    • Wearable Crafts for Kids
  • Holiday Crafts
    • 4th of July Crafts
    • Christmas Crafts
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Earth Day Crafts
    • Easter Crafts
    • Father’s Day Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
    • Memorial Day Crafts
    • Mother’s Day Crafts
    • New Year’s
    • Other Holidays
    • Patriot Day Crafts
    • St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
    • Thanksgiving Crafts
    • Valentine’s Day Crafts
  • Seasonal Crafts
    • Winter Crafts
    • Spring Crafts
    • Summer Crafts
    • Fall Crafts
Craft Tutorials | Recycled Crafts | Paper Plate Crafts for Kids | Paper Plate Aquarium Craft
Paper Plate Crafts for Kids

Paper Plate Aquarium Craft

Author by Amanda Davis on June 17, 2025 Updated on June 17, 2025

5 from 21 votes
Kids will love making this adorable Paper Plate Aquarium! Makes a great decoration for their room as well.
Jump to Project
paper plate aquarium
9021 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Email

Create a miniature underwater world with a paper plate, colorful paper, and cereal. The classic paper plate aquarium has stood the test of time because it’s fun to make and cute to look at!

paper plate aquarium


 

Why this project works


If there’s one thing that I love to do, it’s to make things that are just plain cute. Googly eyes add a certain cuteness to simple pieces of paper, cardboard tubes, and other such recyclables.

In this particular case, the cuteness is inside two paper plates made to look like an aquarium. It’s a classic kid’s craft that’s been done many times in a variety of different ways.

My version is just one of those many, and you and your kids should feel free to be creative and use whatever strikes you for decorations.

Helpful Project Information:


  • Age Level: 4 and up
  • Mess Factor: Low (glue)
  • Level of Difficulty: Easy
  • Time to Complete: less than 10 minutes
  • Cost Estimate: Less than $1.00

How to Make a Paper Plate Aquarium


These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

  1. Cut fish and plants from colorful paper/construction paper and glue to the blue side of the first light blue colored plate.
  2. Glue cereal (I used Kix cereal) to the bottom of the plate, overlapping the plants.
  3. Glue fish into place and add googly eyes.
  4. Glue tri-beads to the cereal.
  5. Cut the center out of the second paper plate and glue it to the front of the aquarium.

RELATED: How To Choose The Best Glue For Your Craft Projects

step photos showing process of making paper plate aquarium

Expert Tips & FAQs


  • Instead of cereal, dry oatmeal or sand also makes a great seafloor.
  • You can find blue plates in the party section of most big box stores.
  • Can’t find the plates or don’t want to buy a package? You can paint a couple of regular paper plates with acrylic paint.

Kids will love making this adorable Paper Plate Aquarium! Makes a great decoration for their room as well.

More Paper Plate Crafts


  • Paper Plate Frisbees
  • Paper Plate Tropical Fish
  • Paper Plate Ship’s Porthole

Find all of our paper plate crafts here. For another fun idea, try this mason jar aquarium!

I love to create and share my projects with you! I know it’s hard to remember to come back and search, so I’ve made it easy for you with my weekly newsletter! You can subscribe for free and I’ll send you fun crafts and delicious recipes every week right to your email.

paper plate aquarium
Print Project
5 from 21 votes

Paper Plate Aquarium

Kids will love making this adorable Paper Plate Aquarium! Makes a great decoration for their room as well.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Crafting Time5 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Age Group: Kids Crafts
Project Type: Crafts

Supplies

  • 2 light blue paper plates or plain plates painted light blue
  • Colored paper or construction paper
  • Googly eyes
  • Handful of Kix cereal
  • Colorful tri-beads
  • Glue

Instructions

  • Cut fish and plants from colorful paper and glue to the blue side of the first plate.
  • Glue cereal to the bottom of the plate, overlapping the plants.
  • Glue fish into place and add googly eyes.
  • Glue tri-beads to the cereal.
  • Cut the center out of the second paper plate and glue it to the front of the aquarium.

Expert Tips & FAQs

  • Instead of cereal, dry oatmeal or sand also makes a great seafloor.
  • You can find blue plates in the party section of most big box stores.
  • Can’t find the plates or don’t want to buy a package? You can paint a couple of regular paper plates with acrylic paint.
  • Kids will love making this adorable Paper Plate Aquarium! Makes a great decoration for their room as well.

I originally made this paper plate aquarium for Kix Cereal.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
Latest posts by Amanda Davis (see all)
  • Patriotic Pinwheels - June 20, 2025
  • Paper Plate Aquarium Craft - June 17, 2025
  • Patriotic Bandana Wreath - June 13, 2025
9021 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Email

Filed Under: Animal Crafts for Kids, Beach Crafts for Kids, Easy Crafts for Kids, Paper Plate Crafts for Kids, Summer Crafts Tagged With: construction paper

Reader Interactions

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

Comments

  1. De Knutseljuf says

    June 28, 2024 at 4:19 am

    Hi Amanda, I have add your fish bowl also in my fishbowl blog! https://yoo.rs/vissenkom-van-papieren-bordjes-knutselen

    Reply
  2. Sherry says

    July 6, 2021 at 11:43 am

    Have you tried using small clear beads and glueing them on the background as bubbles? Also using cellophane to cover the hole that was cut out of the front paper plate could make it look like the clear glass of the aquarium. You could even get the clear blue cellophane to make the aquarium look blue. I’m thinking of trying this project when my grandchildren come to visit this summer. Thanks for the ideas.

    Reply
  3. Jeanine says

    June 19, 2014 at 9:29 pm

    So cool! We have an Ocean Theme (play-learning kids activities) coming up this Summer 2014, where this craft would come in handy! We’re just finishing up our rendition of your Paper Plate Fruit Art, & I will link it up to the post, as we complete them. Thanks ever so much for all of your inspiration! :D

    Reply
  4. claudia rossana says

    January 22, 2014 at 5:18 am

    ótimo…adorei…ficarei esperando mais novidades.Congratulations!!!

    Reply
  5. Frederica says

    January 3, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Ms. Amanda, I like your style! Please keep up the good work! Thank you for your sharing!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      January 4, 2014 at 6:39 am

      Thanks so much Frederica!

      Reply
5 from 21 votes (20 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate This Project




The maximum upload file size: 640 MB. You can upload: image, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m Amanda and I’m the founder and head designer of Crafts by Amanda. I have spent over 25 years creating projects to share, but it’s not just me anymore! It’s turned into a complete family affair. Come and meet the Creative Team!

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

All Time Favorites

Learn to make these adorable ladybug painted rocks. use special outdoor paint for this adorable garden craft so you can keep garden ladybugs all summer!

Ladybug Painted Rocks…

These colorful little ladybug painted rocks are the ... Go To project

snowy pinecone candle jar luminaries

Winter Luminaries: Snowy Pinecone…

Make pretty winter luminaries that appear to be covered ... Go To project

Make this wonderful deco mesh pumpkin wreath to hang on your door this fall!

Deco Mesh Pumpkin Wreath…

Adorn your door this fall with a pretty deco mesh ... Go To project

Reuse those empty prescription pill bottles in all sorts of ways. From organizing to making cookies. Yes, cookies! See how to use your empty pill bottles!

20 Uses for Prescription Pill…

You've been collecting prescription pill bottles for ... Go To project

Meet the Family

Amanda

Founder and Designer

Kristen

Editorial Manager

Lindsay

Social Media Manager

As seen on:

Footer

Favorites

  • Jar Photo Frames
  • No-Sew Roman Shade
  • Paper Flowers
  • How to Make a Scrunchie
  • Mermaid Slime

About

  • Home
  • Meet the Creative Team
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us

Images/text copyright Amanda Formaro 2020. To feature a post from Crafts by Amanda, you may use one photo credited and linked back directly to the project post.

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

Copyright ©2025, Crafts by Amanda. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs

Rate This Tutorial

Your vote:




To share a photo with your comment click here!

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.