We make YOUR holidays craft adventures super simple! Just check out my latest Paper Plate Santa & Elf Hat kid craft tutorial to see what I’m talking about.
It only takes a few supplies and THREE steps! That’s it! Keep scrolling to learn the how-to and then recreate your own paper hats for Santa & his elves, today!
Looking for a quick and easy Christmas craft idea? This kid-friendly tutorial will show you how to make adorable Paper Plate Santa and Elf Hats using supplies that you probably already have around the house. So get ready to deck the halls with some festive crafts this year!
Santa and his elves wouldn’t be “quite themselves” without their hats, right? Least in my world anyways. You can’t exactly work hard on Christmas eve if your head is cold!
So that’s why I was recently inspired to take my favorite craft material {a large paper plate} and make my friends some holiday work attire pieces that they will want and WILL wear on their busiest work day of the year!
Like I mentioned in the beginning of this very post, our latest and greatest kids craft for Christmas is super easy to recreate. Even the supplies are extra simple for this paper plate hat idea and you probably don’t even need to leave your home to buy any of it!
To recreate it this holiday art project idea, all you need is a large paper plate, red or green craft paint and a little white cotton ball to tie it all together. That’s it!
From there – you can make your paper holiday hats as elaborate or as simple as you like, when it comes to the embellishments. I threw some loose craft glitter on mine for extra sparkle but you can of course dig out the stickers, rhinestones, craft feathers – whatever you like!
Well enough chit chat from me – I’m let you get to the strikingly easy Santa and elf hat craft tutorial below!
So come one, come all! Let’s make some paper plate holiday hat creations to show off this Christmas season! Find all the crafty details below! Don’t forget to share pictures of the hats you design, on our Facebook page! I can’t wait to see how you give it your own sign! #gluedtomycrafts
RELATED: Paper Plate Santa and Christmas Gnome Puppets
Paper Plate Santa & Elf Hat
Looking for a last minute craft idea? Check out our paper plate Santa and elf hat tutorial! These crafts are perfect for kids of all ages.
Craft Supplies:
- Large Paper Plate
- Paper Craft Scissors
- Red or Green Craft Paint
- Foam Paint Brush
- School Glue
- White Cotton Balls
- Embellishments {optional}
Directions:
- First things first – take your paper plate and cut the sides off to make a triangle/hat shape. See our picture above for an example.
- Now that you have your paper plate hat piece, squirt your choice of color of craft paint in the center of it. The red paint is for a paper plate Santa hat, while the green is for an elf.
- Now carefully, use the foam paint brush to paint ONLY the top, triangle part of the paper plate piece. You want to leave the rim of the paper plate BLANK so it looks like the white cotton part of a hat.
- Now this next step is completely optional but I threw some loose craft glitter on top of the wet paint for some added sparkle and cheer. You can of course skip this if you like!
- To finish off the Paper Plate Santa or Elf Hat craft, simple glue ONE white cotton ball onto the tip of the painted paper plate.
- Add any other embellishments you like {maybe some stickers or sparkly rhinestones!}
- Then allow it to dry completely before you display it proudly for ALL to see!
- Don’t forget to share pictures of your paper Santa and elf hats with us on your various social media sites! #gluedtomycrafts
RELATED POST —> Santa & Elf Cards
At Glued To My Crafts we STRIVE to make you holiday craft plans fun on a budget!
So before you go, please be sure to check out our Joy Keepsake Craft and Christmas Tractor craft posts for a few more inexpensive ideas you can recreate with your preschooler or school-aged child today!

Paper Plate Santa And Elf Hat
- 2 Large Paper Plates
- Red or Green Craft Paint
- Loose Craft Glitter
- White Cotton Balls
- Embellishments
Instructions
- First things first - take your paper plate and cut the sides off to make a triangle/hat shape.
- Now that you have your paper plate hat piece, squirt your choice of color of craft paint in the center of it. The red paint is for a paper plate Santa hat, while the green is for an elf.
- Now carefully, use the foam paint brush to paint ONLY the top, triangle part of the paper plate piece. You want to leave the rim of the paper plate BLANK so it looks like the white cotton part of a hat.
- Now this next step is completely optional but I threw some loose craft glitter on top of the wet paint for some added sparkle and cheer. You can of course skip this if you like!
- To finish off the Paper Plate Santa or Elf Hat craft, simple glue ONE white cotton ball onto the tip of the painted paper plate.
- Add any other embellishments you like {maybe some stickers or sparkly rhinestones!}
- Then allow it to dry completely before you display it proudly for ALL to see!