Indoor Craft Fun With Paper Plates

By Deborah Shelton

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Being stuck indoors doesn't have to be boring. With a few paper plates, everyone can have a good time!

1. Indoor "Ice Skating"
If there isn't a frozen pond in your neck of the woods, don't worry. You can ice skate in your living room by attaching paper plates to the bottom of your shoes with big rubber bands.

This technique works great on carpet. For hardwood or tile floors, simply wear a thick pair of wool socks and skate the day away!

2. Smooch Masks
Create a cool mask by decorating a paper plate. Use ribbon or yarn, or even grass clippings for the hair. Cut out holes for eyes and surround them with long eyelashes, bushy eyebrows or a pair of glasses.

Instead of drawing a mouth, apply dark lipstick to your own lips and "smooch" the paper plate. To hold your mask, glue a popsicle stick to the bottom of the plate. To wear the mask, thread a piece of yarn through a hole on each side of the mask and tie the ends together behind your head.

3. Tambourines
Form a family tambourine band! Simply staple two paper plates together and fill with uncooked rice or beans (for a quiet, softer sound), or a few small jingle bells (for louder, livelier music). Staple the opening closed and decorate the outside with markers, stickers, glitter and streamers.

4. Turtle Puppets
This little pal won't mind being cooped up inside with you. Color the bottoms of two paper plates with a green crayon. Staple the plates together on two sides, with the green sides facing out.

Be sure to leave an opening for your arm to fit all the way through. Wear a sock on your hand (green if you have one) and slide your arm through the opening. Make eyes on the sock with a marker. An instant turtle friend!

5. Giant Snowflakes
Bring the beauty of snow into your home without the cold! Fold a paper plate in half a couple of times. Cut notches and patterns into the folded and straight edges with a pair of scissors.

Unfold the plate to reveal a giant snowflake. Make your snowflakes really stand out by trimming the edges with different colored markers.

About the author: Deborah Shelton is a mother, a freelance writer, and author of The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones. Visit Deborah's web site for more fun ideas and book ordering information: www.fiveminuteparent.com.