There’s something about Halloween that makes my kids want to turn every paper plate in the house into a monster. So of course, we had to make a vampire.
This vampire paper plate craft is a little dramatic (as vampires tend to be). We’re talking bold eyebrows, pointy fangs, and a grin that says, “I definitely ate the last piece of candy.”
This is one of those crafts that takes barely any time but turns into instant Halloween decor. Stick your vampire on the wall with the rest of the spooky crew from our Halloween paper plate crafts collection – and boom, your house is officially haunted (in the cute way).
Supplies for Your Paper Plate Vampire Craft
This is one of those crafts where you don’t need a secret stash of supplies hidden in a closet somewhere. A few basics, a glue stick (always), and a willingness to embrace a little mess and you’re good.
Vampire Paper Plate Craft (visual directions + template)
Get the printablePaper Plate
View on AmazonBlack Construction Paper
View on AmazonRed Construction Paper
View on AmazonWhite Paper
View on AmazonPreschool Scissors
View on AmazonGlue Stick
View on AmazonBlack marker
View on AmazonPencil
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📝 And speaking of templates — there’s a printable packet with all the template pieces ready to go if you’re not in the mood to freehand it.
Step-by-Step Vampire Paper Plate Craft
Alright, ready to make your little vampire come to life? This is where the magic (and occasional glue disaster) happens. Think of it like assembling your Halloween dream team…just like when we made our Mummy Paper Plate Craft, but with way more attitude and sharper teeth. Your table might get messy, your vampire might end up with a crooked grin, and honestly? That’s the best part. Let’s do this.
Gather your supplies.
Supplies ready? This is the calm before the crafting storm. Lay everything out so there’s no mid-project chaos (because nothing derails a craft faster than realizing the glue stick is missing).
And hey – if you’ve got any extra bits left over, they’ll come in handy for your other Halloween paper plate crafts too.
Paint your paper plate.
Grab that purple paint and let the kids go wild. A few uneven brushstrokes just make your vampire more unique. While the paint dries (because staring at it won’t make it faster), make and play with this Taste Safe Pumpkin Playdough to keep little hands busy. Trust me, it’s a game changer for drying-time wiggles.
Cut out the hair, cape, and bow tie.
Snip a swoopy hair shape and two pointy ears from black paper, then a dramatic bow tie from red. This is your vampire’s fashion statement, so have fun with the shapes. (Tiny fashion designers in the making, really.)
Glue on the hair, cape, and bowtie.
Glue the black hair to the top of the plate, the cape to the lower sides, and the bowtie under the vampire’s face. If the hair ends up crooked? Congratulations – you’ve made him extra sassy.
Cut out the eyes and fangs.
Cut two big ovals from white paper for the eyes and two tiny triangles for the fangs. If freestyling isn’t your jam, the printable template has your back.
Draw the pupils.
Use your black marker to draw big, expressive eyes. You can go cute, creepy, or totally silly. My kids went with “googly chaos,” and honestly? 10/10.
Glue on the eyes.
Stick those eyes on the plate. Centered looks polished, but slightly uneven gives major personality. It’s giving “adorably unhinged.”
Add a mouth and eyebrows.
With the black marker, give your vampire a smile and some bold brows. Big arched eyebrows make him look mischievous…like he just spotted your candy stash.
Add the fangs.
Glue those little triangles right under the smile, pointing down. Fangs = instant vampire. No negotiation.
Let it dry and display.
That’s it! You’ve got a vampire buddy ready to join your Halloween crew. Pop him on the wall, line him up with your Owl Paper Plate Craft, or let him guard the candy bowl.
More Halloween Fun
If your table’s already covered in glitter, paint smudges, and glue caps that have mysteriously disappeared…congrats, you’re doing Halloween right. But why stop at one craft when you can turn it into a full-on spooky play day? Here are a few other favorites that’ll keep the fun (and the chaos) rolling:
- Witch’s Brew Science Experiment — fizzy, bubbly, and guaranteed to make little scientists cackle with glee.
- Pumpkin Scented Sensory Rice — a low-mess, hands-on sensory activity that smells amazing.
- Build a Monster Playdough Tray — open-ended play that’s perfect for little imaginations.
- Unplugged Coding Halloween Pathway — a sneaky-fun way to mix learning with spooky fun.
- Halloween Movement Cards for Brain Breaks — because sometimes the best way to reset after a craft is to wiggle like a skeleton.
- Vampire Story Books for Kids — a not-so-spooky round-up of silly, giggle-worthy reads perfect for classroom or bedtime storytime.
Fair warning: once the crafts, fizzing potions, and monster mayhem start, your house might just turn into the neighborhood Halloween HQ.
Grab the Vampire Paper Plate Craft Printable
Want to make this Vampire Paper Plate Craft even easier? The printable pack comes with visual directions, ready-to-trace templates, and writing paper to turn your craft time into a full-on activity. Perfect for classrooms, centers, or a cozy Halloween afternoon at home. No measuring, no guessing…just print, cut, and let the spooky fun roll.
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Paper Plate Vampire Craft for Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten
Preschool
Paint, glue and decorate. Grown-ups handle the tricky cutting, and kids talk through each step with the picture directions.
Pre-K
Trace the template and cut the straight lines. Follow the visual steps in order and point to each picture as you go.
Kindergarten and up
Cut out every piece, add their own details, and retell or write the steps in order on the writing pages.
Get the Printable Visual Directions
Want to make this at home or with a whole class? The printable visual directions walk kids through every step of the vampire craft with pictures, plus a ready-to-trace template.
What’s included
- A picture supply list
- Visual step-by-step directions
- Photo step cards
- A printable template
- Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped
Perfect for
- Preschool and kindergarten classrooms
- Special education and speech therapy
- Following directions practice
- Thematic units
- Homeschool art time
Paper Plate Vampire Craft FAQ
A paper plate, paint, a paintbrush, scissors, glue and construction paper. The printable template makes cutting out the pieces much easier.
It’s perfect for ages 3 to 6. Preschoolers paint and glue with a little help, and kindergartners can trace and cut the pieces themselves.
About 30 minutes, plus time for the paint to dry. Paint the plate first and do the cutting while it dries.
Yes. Crayons, markers, tissue paper squares or torn construction paper all work and are a little less messy.
You can freehand the pieces, but the template and picture directions help little ones work more independently and make it easy to do with a whole class.
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From families like yours
Did you try it? Tell us how it went!
We love seeing these activities out in the wild: the lumpy letters, the snack breaks, the proud “I made a B!” moments. Leave a star rating, tell other parents what worked (and what totally didn’t), and add a photo of your setup if you’d like.
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