Unicorn Paper Plate Puppet Craft (Free Template)

Ready to sprinkle a touch of magic into your day? Use our free template to make your own unicorn puppet craft with paper plates and popsicle sticks. 

This magical unicorn craft uses simple supplies you probably already have at home. It’s the perfect activity for unicorn lovers and kids of all ages. The best part is you can play with this craft or put on a puppet show after you’ve put it together. 

• Table Of Contents:
  • Materials
  • Instructions
  • Unicorn Craft Template Download
  • Tips & Troubleshooting
  • Variation Ideas
  • Benefits of This Unicorn Craft For Kids
  • Final Thoughts

Materials

• Paper plate
• Markers
• Green and blue paint
• Paintbrush
• Glitter
• Scissors
• Glue
• Popsicle stick

Instructions

Step 1)

Gather your craft supplies and print the free template PDF. 

Step 2)

Paint your first paper plate blue and let it dry completely. 

Step 3)

Cut a second paper plate in half with wavy lines that look like hills and paint it green. Let it dry completely. Once it’s dry, you can use a green marker to make some letter ‘M’ shapes or squiggles on top to look more like grass.

Step 4)

Cut out the template pieces and add glitter to the unicorn horn and hooves. 

Step 5)

Finish decorating the unicorn with markers by coloring the mane and tail, then use tape or glue to attach it to a popsicle stick. You can use markers to color the popsicle stick pink like we did if you like.

Step 6)

Use markers to color the rainbow template, then glue it to the blue paper plate. Also, glue the cloud template pieces to the blue paper plate.

Step 7)

Use strong double sided tape or glue to attach the green paper plate half to the blue paper plate, leaving space at the bottom for the popsicle stick unicorn puppet to fit into. 

Video Instructions

Prefer watching video instructions for crafts? Check out the YouTube channel for Crafty Kids Play and watch the full video for this unicorn puppet craft right here.

Unicorn Craft Template Download

Print this free unicorn template at home on regular white paper or light cardstock to make it more sturdy.

This free printable template is for personal use only, not for commercial use or for resale purposes.

Tips & Troubleshooting

Prepare Ahead

Older kids should be able to manage this craft on their own but Adult supervision is still recommended, especially for younger kids. Lay out all materials and tools before starting. This helps to avoid interruptions during the crafting process and keeps kids engaged. 

For your youngest crafters, you may want to cut out the template pieces ahead of time to avoid cutting frustration.

​Glue & Tape Tricks

If your unicorn won’t stick to your popsicle stick with glue, try adding a piece of tape to the back of the unicorn. 

If you’ve tried glue and double-sided tape to keep the two paper plates together and it’s not working, you can use a stapler as an easy way to keep the pieces together. Remember to leave space for the popsicle stick puppet, don’t glue it completely shut.

Use Kid-Friendly Materials:

Opt for non-toxic, washable paints and child-safe scissors for young crafters. Ensure that all materials are age-appropriate to guarantee a safe and enjoyable crafting experience.

Demonstrate Steps

You can use this video tutorial on our YouTube channel to help demonstrate the steps of this craft. If you’re using this craft with a large group of children, showing them a finished product can help them see how to put things together and avoid frustration.

Variation Ideas

Customize Your Unicorn

Add a googly eye on the unicorn head, change up the colors of the mane and tail… You can customize this unicorn puppet in so many different ways to make it your own.

Background Variations

Instead of a blue sky and green meadow, you can change up the background of this craft to be anything you’d like. Want your unicorn to skip along the beach? How about an outer space unicorn? The options are endless.

Benefits of This Unicorn Craft For Kids

Encourages Imagination and Storytelling:

Crafting their own unicorn puppet sparks imaginative play, allowing children to create magical narratives and explore their creative thinking.

Use this unicorn puppet craft for story time and let it enhance your storytelling.

Developing Fine Motor Skills

Crafting is a great way for little kids to build up their fine motor skills muscles while having so much fun. Cutting, coloring, and gluing during the crafting process help strengthen hand and finger muscles in young children.

Fosters Patience and Focus:

Waiting for paint to dry, carefully cutting out template pieces, and adding glitter require patience and concentration, promoting the development of these essential skills.

Promotes Artistic Expression:

The use of markers, paint, and glitter encourages artistic expression, allowing kids to express themselves freely and develop a sense of pride in their unique creations.

Final Thoughts

Making a unicorn craft together is a great way to spend some quality time, and this fun craft is no exception. Grab your markers, paintbrushes, and glitter, and let the magic unfold! The joy of crafting isn’t just in the finished product but in the shared experience of crafting together.

For another great mythical craft, check out this fire breathing dragon craft next! Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more fun ideas.