How to Make a Paper Snake

Gather your supplies., Cut off the raised edge of a paper plate., Paint or decorate the paper plate., Draw a spiral on the back of the plate., Cut out the spiral shape., Add more decorations to the snake., Add the eyes onto the front of the head...

9 Steps 4 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Gather your supplies.

    This is a simple snake that you can make out of a paper plate.

    It lays flat on your table, but springs up into a long snake when you hang it! Here's a list of what you will need:
    Paper plate Acrylic or tempera paint Paintbrushes, spongers, etc Pencil or pen Scissors Crayons, markers, or googly eyes Red paper or ribbon White school glue or tacky glue String, thumbtack, hole punch (optional) Rhinestones, glitter, etc (optional)
  2. Step 2: Cut off the raised edge of a paper plate.

    Be sure not to go too far into the middle or else it may not be big enough.

    If you don't have a paper plate, use a small plate to trace a circle onto a large sheet of paper.

    Cut the circle out using a pair of scissors, and use that circle instead. , You can paint the snake however you want.

    You can use a paintbrush, a sponge, or even your fingers.

    Snakes come in many different colors and patterns.

    Here are some ideas to get you started:
    Paint the plate a solid color and let the paint dry.

    Next, dip a sponge into a different color and tap the excess paint off onto a paper towel.

    Then, dab the sponge all over the plate.

    If you want to add another color, wait for the first one to dry.

    This will give you a scale-like effect.Wrap a sheet of bubble wrap (bubble-side-out) around a rolling pin and secure it with tape.

    Pour two colors of paint onto a palette and gently roll the pin across.

    Next, roll the pin across the plate.

    You will get a scale effect.You can also color the other side of the plate to make the snake's belly.

    Most snakes have a plain, light colored belly.

    Do this once the top of the snake dries., Make the spiral about half an inch thick.

    It doesn't have to be perfect, but try to make it even all the way around.

    The center of the spiral will be the snake's head, so make it rounded.

    You are drawing the spiral on the back so that you won't see it on the top. , Start front the outside of the spiral, and work your way in.

    Try to do this right on the line, because you don't want the line to show on the finished product. , At this point, you can paint on some extra designs to make your snake even more special.

    Here are some ideas to get you started:
    Paint thick stripes across the spiral to make a striped snake.

    Paint Xs or diamond shapes across the spiral to make a diamond pattern.

    Glue some colorful rhinestones using white school glue or tacky glue.Try not to add too many, or your snake will be too heavy.

    Make some squiggles and patterns on the snake using white glue.

    Then, shake some glitter onto the glue.

    Tap off the excess glitter and let the glue dry. , You can draw the eyes on using a marker or crayons.

    You can also paint the eyes on.

    If you have googly eyes at home, you can glue them on using white school glue or tacky glue.

    Remember, the head is the rounded part in the middle of the spiral. , Cut a thin 1 to 2 inch (2.54 to
    5.08) long rectangle out of red paper.

    You can also use a piece of thin, red ribbon.

    Cut a V shape into one end of the rectangle.

    This will be the snake's forked tongue.

    Lift the head up and glue the tongue under it. , You can punch the hole at the end of the tail, right between the eyes, or even in the tongue.

    Thread a piece of string through the hole and tie it in a knot.

    Use the other end of the string to hang the snake from a door knob, a stick, or even a thumbtack in the wall.
  3. Step 3: Paint or decorate the paper plate.

  4. Step 4: Draw a spiral on the back of the plate.

  5. Step 5: Cut out the spiral shape.

  6. Step 6: Add more decorations to the snake.

  7. Step 7: Add the eyes onto the front of the head.

  8. Step 8: Add the tongue.

  9. Step 9: Punch a hole through the snake if you want to hang it.

Detailed Guide

This is a simple snake that you can make out of a paper plate.

It lays flat on your table, but springs up into a long snake when you hang it! Here's a list of what you will need:
Paper plate Acrylic or tempera paint Paintbrushes, spongers, etc Pencil or pen Scissors Crayons, markers, or googly eyes Red paper or ribbon White school glue or tacky glue String, thumbtack, hole punch (optional) Rhinestones, glitter, etc (optional)

Be sure not to go too far into the middle or else it may not be big enough.

If you don't have a paper plate, use a small plate to trace a circle onto a large sheet of paper.

Cut the circle out using a pair of scissors, and use that circle instead. , You can paint the snake however you want.

You can use a paintbrush, a sponge, or even your fingers.

Snakes come in many different colors and patterns.

Here are some ideas to get you started:
Paint the plate a solid color and let the paint dry.

Next, dip a sponge into a different color and tap the excess paint off onto a paper towel.

Then, dab the sponge all over the plate.

If you want to add another color, wait for the first one to dry.

This will give you a scale-like effect.Wrap a sheet of bubble wrap (bubble-side-out) around a rolling pin and secure it with tape.

Pour two colors of paint onto a palette and gently roll the pin across.

Next, roll the pin across the plate.

You will get a scale effect.You can also color the other side of the plate to make the snake's belly.

Most snakes have a plain, light colored belly.

Do this once the top of the snake dries., Make the spiral about half an inch thick.

It doesn't have to be perfect, but try to make it even all the way around.

The center of the spiral will be the snake's head, so make it rounded.

You are drawing the spiral on the back so that you won't see it on the top. , Start front the outside of the spiral, and work your way in.

Try to do this right on the line, because you don't want the line to show on the finished product. , At this point, you can paint on some extra designs to make your snake even more special.

Here are some ideas to get you started:
Paint thick stripes across the spiral to make a striped snake.

Paint Xs or diamond shapes across the spiral to make a diamond pattern.

Glue some colorful rhinestones using white school glue or tacky glue.Try not to add too many, or your snake will be too heavy.

Make some squiggles and patterns on the snake using white glue.

Then, shake some glitter onto the glue.

Tap off the excess glitter and let the glue dry. , You can draw the eyes on using a marker or crayons.

You can also paint the eyes on.

If you have googly eyes at home, you can glue them on using white school glue or tacky glue.

Remember, the head is the rounded part in the middle of the spiral. , Cut a thin 1 to 2 inch (2.54 to
5.08) long rectangle out of red paper.

You can also use a piece of thin, red ribbon.

Cut a V shape into one end of the rectangle.

This will be the snake's forked tongue.

Lift the head up and glue the tongue under it. , You can punch the hole at the end of the tail, right between the eyes, or even in the tongue.

Thread a piece of string through the hole and tie it in a knot.

Use the other end of the string to hang the snake from a door knob, a stick, or even a thumbtack in the wall.

About the Author

D

Dennis Mendoza

Enthusiastic about teaching lifestyle techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.

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