Paper Plate Tropical Fish Craft

These paper plate tropical fish have bright and vibrant colors and are oh so beautiful! So with spring and summer around the corner, it seemed a fitting time to share this fun paper plate craft your kids will love.

Another fun fish project, our seashell fish, are perfect to make after a trip to the beach!

Paper Plate Tropical Fish

Are you and your kids dreaming of summer like I am? I’ve had about enough of winter and I am totally ready for warmer weather!

These cute and cheery paper plate tropical fish will spark your children’s imagination. 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. So let’s get started!

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.

There are so many different ideas when it comes to making your own fish, let them 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!

Full printable instructions can be found at the end of this post.

What you need to make paper plate tropical fish:

• 8 miniature paper plates
• brightly colored acrylic paints
• paintbrushes
• 4 large wiggle eyes
• white craft glue
• glue stick
• scissors

Americana paint colors:

I’ve listed the individual exact colors I used below. There’s also a Craftsmart sample pack here 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
• White

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.

After you assemble the tropical paper plate fish then you can decorate with stripes, polka dots and anything else you like! Hint, 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.

I hope you enjoy making these tropical paper plate fish! They’re a great activity that brings out the creativity in kids and adults alike. Have fun!

Another fun fish craft – cardboard tube school of fish.

For more adorable paper plate craft ideas check out the links below or find all of our kids crafts here!

Check out all of my paper plate crafts!

Print Project

5 from 8 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!

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

Supplies:

• 8 miniature paper plates
• brightly colored acrylic paints
• paintbrush
• 4 large wiggle eyes
• white craft glue
• glue stick
• scissors
• 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

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 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 side 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.

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