• 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 Tropical Fish Craft
Paper Plate Crafts for Kids

Paper Plate Tropical Fish Craft

Author by Amanda Davis on July 19, 2024 Updated on July 19, 2024

5 from 34 votes
These paper plate tropical fish have bright, cheery and vibrant colors. There's no doubt that your children will love making this paper plate craft!
Jump to Project
These paper plate tropical fish have bright, cheery and vibrant colors. There's no doubt that your children will love making this paper plate craft!
45831 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Email
paper plate tropical fish pin image

These paper plate tropical fish have bright and vibrant colors and are oh-so beautiful! With spring and summer in full bloom, it seemed a fitting time to share this fun paper plate craft your kids will love.

Paper Plate Tropical Fish


 

Why we love this project


There are so many different ideas when it comes to making your own fish, let the kids have fun and create their own species! These paper plate tropical fish are a great way to add a nice color pop to your kids room or even the refrigerator.

These cute and cheery paper plate tropical fish will spark your children’s imagination. I’ve certainly done my fair share of paper plate crafts, like this Paper Plate Aquarium, and they always seem to be an exciting thing for kids to create. I especially think these are great as a summer camp craft or something fun to do on a rainy day.

Yellow striped paper plate fish

Helpful Project Information:


  • Age Level: 6 and up
  • Mess Factor: Medium (paint)
  • Level of Difficulty: Medium (scissors)
  • Time to Complete: 30 minutes
  • Cost Estimate: Less than $5.00
Pin paper plate fish

Craft supplies you will need


Get full list of supplies and directions in the printable version at the end of this post.

I’ve included the patterns that you’ll need (pattern 1 and pattern 2) as well as the paint colors that I used, but you can certainly use any colors you want to make your fish your own. Listed below are the individual exact paint colors used in the project pictured. There’s also an acrylic craft paint sampler set which is a good deal and great paint for kids!

  • Bright Orange
  • Sour Apple (green)
  • Turquoise Blue
  • Ocean Blue
  • Bright Yellow
  • Vivid Violet
  • Carousel Pink
  • Black
  • Snow White
Orange striped clown paper plate fish

How to Make Paper Plate Tropical Fish

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. Use the patterns to trace the fins and mouths onto paper plates. Then paint the pieces before cutting them out as well as painting full plates for the bodies. When they are dry, you’ll cut those pieces out.Paper Plate Tropical Fish
  2. After you assemble the tropical paper plate fish then you can decorate with stripes, polka dots, googly eyes, and anything else you like!Paper Plate Tropical Fish

Expert Crafting Tips


  • Polka dots are easy to make by dipping the handle end of a paintbrush into the paint and drawing a circle with it. You can also use the pencil of an eraser or those spouncer sponges you get from the craft store.
Green and blue spotted paper plate fish

This paper plate tropical fish craft is a fun activity that brings out the creativity in kids and adults alike!

More Paper Plate Crafts

  • Paper Plate Fruit
  • Paper Plate Aquarium
  • Paper Plate Frisbees
  • Paper Plate Sea Crab
  • Decoupage Paper Plate Ladybug
  • Paper Plate Watermelon Suncatchers

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.

These paper plate tropical fish have bright, cheery and vibrant colors. There's no doubt that your children will love making this paper plate craft!
Print Project
5 from 34 votes

Paper Plate Tropical Fish

These paper plate tropical fish have bright, cheery and vibrant colors. There’s no doubt that your children will love making this paper plate craft!
Prep Time0 minutes mins
Crafting Time35 minutes mins
Age Group: Kids Crafts
Project Type: Crafts
Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

Supplies:

  • 8 miniature paper plates
  • brightly colored acrylic paints
  • 4 large wiggle eyes
  • white craft glue
  • glue stick
  • pattern 1 and pattern 2

Americana paint colors:

  • Bright Orange
  • Sour Apple green
  • Turquoise Blue
  • Ocean Blue
  • Bright Yellow
  • Vivid Violet
  • Carousel Pink
  • Black
  • White

Craft tools

  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors

Instructions

  • For each fish you will need two paper plates. Paint one paper plate pink, one yellow, the third one green and the fourth one orange. While those are drying, trace the patterns onto the other paper plates. Paint the pattern pieces the appropriate colors and let dry.
  • Cut the painted fish pieces out, you should be able to see your pencil lines through the paint.
  • Use a glue stick to attach the fish pieces to the appropriate plates, gluing the pieces to the back.
  • Use paint to add stripes or polka dots, decorate them however you like. Use white craft glue to attach wiggle eye.
  • Hang on your child’s bedroom wall for an instant no maintenance aquarium!

Expert Tips & FAQs

!VARIATION: Hang from the ceiling
  • If you prefer to hang these from the ceiling there are a few adjustments that need to be made. You could hang them as constructed above, but the back of your fish won’t be pretty, it will be an unpainted plate with glued on pieces. When hanging from the ceiling these fish will undoubtedly twirl, so to make them visually pleasing on both sides make the following adjustments: For each fish body, paint TWO plates instead of one and paint the backsides of the plates instead of the front. Paint both sides of all the fins, tails, and lips. You will need TWO wiggle eyes for each fish instead of one. Glue the fins and tails to one of the plates (the unpainted side), and add a long piece of string. Sandwich the two painted plates together, painted sides facing outward.
  • Polka dots are easy to make by dipping the handle end of a paintbrush into the paint and drawing a circle with it. You can also use the pencil of an eraser or those spouncer sponges you get from the craft store
Colorful fish made out of paper plates

This post was originally published on this blog on March 4, 2012.

  • 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)
  • Mason Jar Aquarium - May 23, 2025
  • Make Bracelets from Recycled T-shirts - May 20, 2025
  • Spring Scavenger Hunt - May 9, 2025
45831 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Email

Filed Under: Animal Crafts for Kids, Camp Crafts, Easy Crafts for Kids, Paper Plate Crafts for Kids, Summer Crafts Tagged With: animals, beach, fish, ocean, paint, paper plates

Reader Interactions

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

Comments

  1. Kym says

    June 12, 2024 at 4:20 pm

    Great project for our Breaker Rock Beach VBS (2024) .. these little fish are perfect for decorating my preschool/kindergarten class

    Reply
  2. Kym says

    June 12, 2024 at 4:18 pm

    I was in need of some ideas for Breaker Rock Beach VBS this summer (2024) and these little fish are perfect . Thank you for sharing them with us 🐠!

    Reply
  3. Sayanika sarma says

    June 15, 2021 at 11:39 am

    Very beautiful craft lovely ❤️❤️❤️🙂🙃🙂 I am try at home

    Reply
  4. Paper Plate Hub says

    January 25, 2019 at 8:36 am

    My kids love your all paper plate crafts. After taking your inspiration I have created blog for crafts. Thanks and keep posting such a nice blogs!!

    Reply
  5. Linda Drummond says

    July 19, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    These projects for kids are great! Thank you for sharing with all of us.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      July 21, 2018 at 10:11 am

      Thanks Linda, so glad you like them! :)

      Reply
  6. Craft Zebra says

    December 8, 2017 at 9:10 pm

    What wonderful projects for kids! Also, the pictures are really great. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  7. Maria giannimara says

    May 20, 2015 at 9:48 am

    They are really great Amanda! Thank you from Greece <3 Beautiful ideas!

    Reply
  8. Sherri Osborn says

    July 1, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    I love this idea. My granddaughter is going through a Nemo faze right now so I think I will gather up the supplies so she can make herself a Nemo plate.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      July 2, 2013 at 7:21 am

      Thanks Sherri, that would be so cute!

      Reply
  9. Linda Danial says

    April 18, 2013 at 5:27 am

    those are really cute

    Reply
  10. Dixie Lee says

    January 9, 2013 at 9:16 am

    I want to try to use this idea as a mobile with my students during story hour. My students, 1st – 4th grades, do injoy paint crafts.

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      January 9, 2013 at 3:48 pm

      That’s a great idea, though I would decorate both sides then :)

      Reply
  11. Kay says

    July 9, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    This is so cute. We’re in the process of planning my daughters birthday party and as her and her friends are really creative we’ve been looking for fun crafts for them to do and this would be perfect. We can also plan a beach/sea theme around it too!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      July 16, 2012 at 3:25 pm

      How fun! Hoe you enjoy making them!

      Reply
  12. Jennifer says

    March 7, 2012 at 9:32 am

    those are really cute Amanda!

    Reply
  13. Maria says

    March 5, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    So fun!

    Reply
  14. Jill says

    March 5, 2012 at 1:24 pm

    Love this! We have our Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday link party going on now and would love for you to stop by and share this…http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2012/03/kitchen-fun-and-crafty-friday-link.html

    Reply
  15. Irina says

    March 5, 2012 at 9:09 am

    What a lovely idea, thank you…will definitely try it out in the summer.
    I have pinned it.

    Reply
  16. Cookie 17 says

    March 4, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    these are so cute great job,,,,,………….

    Reply
  17. JDaniel4's Mom says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    These make me long for summer!

    Reply
  18. Virginia says

    March 4, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    I’m 9 yrs old and I think these fish are so cool. I can’t wait to make them!

    Reply
5 from 34 votes (24 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

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

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…

I'm going to show you how to make these adorable ... 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.