This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no cost to you.
Make a paper plate cat craft based on the Sassafras character in the Zoe and Sassafras book series by Asia Citro.
This is a fun and easy craft for kids who are fans of the books (or for kids who love cats!). If you have a kid who loves cats on your hands I’m guessing that they’ll probably also love the books.
You might also like our printable paper guinea pigs.
When my girls were younger they both loved reading the science-based fantasy adventures of Zoey and Sassafras.
The main character in the story is Zoey, a girl who uses scientific methods to aid magical creatures in need of help. Sassafras is her trusty sidekick and pet cat.
There are so many great reasons for kids to read these books. They promote females in science, creative thinking, problem solving and imagination to name a few. Plus, there’s the main reason: reading is fun and the story is entertaining.
I’ve always intended to post a Zoey and Sassafras craft because I knew the author, Asia Citro, back when she was a kid blogger (we reviewed her first book here). I wanted to be supportive but somehow I never got around to sharing the craft based on the first Zoey and Sassafras book we were sent, Dragons and Marshmallows.
We no longer have that book because it’s been passed on to a family with younger kids but the girls really did love the series and we ended up buying quite a few of them. The book pictured above is the third one in the series (and the only one left on our shelves), Merhorses and Bubbles.
In the meantime, my girls have become pre-teens more interested in Sci-fi and dystopian fiction that doesn’t skimp on violence – and the gorier the better!
My how they’ve grown.
I did love those innocent years of early chapter books though. I found that this series provided a refreshing change from approximately a bazillion and one fairy books and a large collection of gross humor books that are so popular with that age group (I’m looking at you, Captain Underpants!).
Now I’ve FINALLY gotten around to sharing our Sassafras craft – isn’t he cute? Here’s how to make it.
You will need:
- 2 paper plates per cat (we’ve used side plate side)
- acrylic paint in orange, white and brown
- piece of sponge
- white paper
- paintbrush
- scissors
- stapler
- black marker
- glue stick
How to:
Fold one paper plate in half, then unfold and sketch two pointy cat ears along the fold line. Cut out along the fold and ear lines to make the head shape.
From the scrap of that paper plate along the rounded edge of the plate cut out a tail shape. Arrange the pieces together with the full circle plate to make a cat shape.
Paint the pieces orange and allow to dry.
Staple the orange paper plate pieces together.
Use a sponge piece to dab white around the bottom half of the face and the tip of his tail.
Use a fine-tipped paintbrush (or you could use a sharpie marker if preferred) to paint on the details of the cat’s ears, legs, stripes and the furry edges around his face. It’s helpful to use a picture of Sassafras as a guide when doing this, or you can print out our printable instructions which has a small picture of our version on the page.
Draw two eyes on a sheet of paper with black marker. Cut them out and glue onto your paper plate cat with a glue stick.
Your Sassafras craft is all done! Now he’s off to look for some magical creatures in need of help.
Make a paper plate Sassafras cat from the Zoey and Sassafras series of kids books.
Materials
- 2 paper plates per cat (we’ve used side plate side)
- acrylic paint in orange, white and brown
- piece of sponge
- white paper
- black marker
- glue stick
Tools
- paintbrushes – one fine and one thick
- scissors
- stapler
Instructions
- Fold one paper plate in half, then unfold and sketch two pointy cat ears along the fold line. Cut out along the fold and ear lines to make the head shape.
- From the scrap of that paper plate along the rounded edge of the plate cut out a tail shape. Arrange the pieces together with the full circle plate to make a cat shape.
- Paint the pieces orange and allow to dry.
- Staple the orange paper plate pieces together.
- Use a sponge piece to dab white around the bottom half of the face and the tip of his tail.
- Use a fine-tipped paintbrush (or you could use a sharpie marker if preferred) to paint on the details of the cat’s ears, legs, stripes and the furry edges around his face. It’s helpful to use a picture of Sassafras as a guide when doing this, or you can print use the small picture on this print out as a guide
- Draw two eyes on a sheet of paper with black marker. Cut them out and glue onto your paper plate cat with a glue stick.
- Your Sassafras craft is all done! Now he’s off to look for some magical creatures in need of help.
More paper plate animal crafts
