Easy Paper Plate Mermaid Craft for Kids (Underwater Collage Idea)

Looking for an easy mermaid craft for kids? This paper plate mermaid craft is a fun and creative way to make a magical underwater collage scene using simple materials you probably already have at home.

It’s colourful, textured, sparkly — and makes a brilliant piece of art for bedroom walls or classroom displays.

If you love low-prep crafts with high wow-factor, this one’s for you.

More Ocean Crafts to Try

More Ocean Crafts to Try

If your kids love this mermaid craft, you can explore the full Ocean Crafts for Kids collection for even more under-the-sea ideas.

Or jump straight into another sea-themed project below:

• Mixed Media Mermaid Collage
• Whale Collage Craft
• Seashell Aquarium Craft
• Seashell Puppets
• Seashell Fairy Cups

Why Paper Plate Crafts Work So Well for Kids

Paper plates are perfect for collage projects because they:

• Are sturdy and easy to hold
• Create a ready-made circular “underwater window”
• Take paint well (especially non-glossy plates)
• Make framing super simple

They’re ideal for younger children learning how to layer and glue materials, but older kids can easily add more detail and creativity.

Materials You’ll Need

This project uses two paper plates, allowing you to work on the outer porthole whilst waiting for the main plate to dry.

• 2 plain white paper plates (non-glossy works best)
• Blue or turquoise paint
• Glitter (optional but magical ✨)
• Tissue paper scraps
• Shells (real or craft shells)
• Sequins
• Pompoms
• Skeleton leaves
• Sparkly pipe cleaners
• Matchsticks
• Glitter glue
• Craft glue
• Double-sided sticky squares

This is a wonderful “use what you have” collage project — there’s no right or wrong way to design your mermaid.

How to Make a Paper Plate Mermaid Craft

Step 1: Paint Your Underwater Background And Porthole Frame

Paint two paper plate in ocean shades — blues, teals, a little green, even a splash of each.

While the paint is still wet, sprinkle over some glitter for sparkle and let it dry completely before adding anything else.

Step 2: Create Your Underwater Collage Scene

Start building your scene from the back forward.

• Tear tissue paper for seaweed or waves
• Add shells or sand at the bottom
• Stick sequins for bubbles
• Layer different shades for depth

Encourage children to experiment with texture and colour. This is where the collage becomes really interesting.

Step 3: Make Your Mermaid

Now for the fun part! We made our mermaid using:

• A pompom for the head
• A sparkly pipe cleaner for flowing hair
• Small googly eyes
• A crescent sequin for the mouth
• A skeleton leaf for the tail
• Glitter glue for tail scales
• Matchsticks for arms
• Shells for her top

But you could use anything and everything. Just collect as many crafty bits as they can and have fun being creative. You could:

• Draw and cut out a paper mermaid
• Use fabric scraps for the tail
• Use paper mache pulp for the mermaid if you’d like a more textured, sculpted look.

Let your kids design their own unique mermaid — that’s half the fun.

Top Tip: Cut out your portal and lay it loosely in place to help with positioning the mermaid.

Step 4: Make the Porthole Frame

When dry, cut the centre out of the second paper plate to create a circular frame and decorate it with trinkets and treasure.

Once your underwater collage is dry, glue the frame on top. You can use PVA (white glue), a hot glue gun, but the best option is slightly raised double-sided sticky squares.

This transforms the craft into a magical underwater window scene — and gives it a lovely finished look.

Easy Underwater Collage Ideas to Extend the Craft

Want to take this mermaid craft further?

You could:

• Add fish, crabs or starfish
• Create a whole ocean series
• Make a pirate or treasure theme version
• Turn it into a classroom display wall
• Add glow-in-the-dark paint for extra magic

This is a fantastic ocean-themed craft for summer, beach topics, or mermaid-loving children.

 Why This Mermaid Craft Is a Winner

• Budget-friendly
• Uses scrap materials
• Great for mixed ages
• Encourages creativity
• Looks impressive when finished

It’s one of those paper plate crafts that feels special without being complicated — exactly what you want in an easy kids craft.

More Paper Plate Craft Ideas

• Paper Plate Rainbow Garden