This easy paper plate spider craft is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Simple to make and adorable to display on a door or window, it’s a great Halloween or fall activity for young kids.
We made this spider on the second day of our 31 days of Halloween crafts. My child loved decorating it and added extra eyes, mouths, and eyebrows for fun. One finished spider now hangs on our front door; the other lives in my child’s room and is occasionally used to sneakily surprise family members.
Looking for more ideas? There are many other Halloween paper plate crafts that are just as simple and kid-friendly.
Materials for the Paper Plate Spider Craft:
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- Paper plates — choose black plates to skip painting
- Black tempera paint (if using white plates)
- White tempera paint for facial details
- Paintbrushes
- Black pipe cleaners, cut in half for legs
- Googly eyes (or craft eyes you have on hand)
- Hot glue gun or school glue
How to Make Paper Plate Spiders:
1. Paint the backs of the paper plates black if you started with white plates. Allow the paint a couple of hours to dry before continuing.
2. Attach the pipe cleaner legs to the front (non-painted side) of the plate. Hot glue works quickly; school glue can be used if you prefer a non-heated option. If your plates were used for painting earlier, they may show some marks on the inside — that’s fine.
3. Glue the googly eyes onto the painted side of the plate. You can add one, two, or many eyes—kids love being creative with this step.
4. Use white paint to add a mouth and other facial details. Encourage kids to personalize their spiders with eyebrows, spots, or additional expressions.
My son made playful changes: he used seven eyes, painted one leg blue, and added several mouths and eyebrows. The result was perfectly imperfect and full of character.
If you start with black paper plates, this craft can be completed in 10–15 minutes, making it ideal for quick activities, group projects, or busy days when you’re supervising several children.
