Paper plate frisbees are the perfect craft for your next summer camp or an afternoon of creative fun! Imagine a colorful, lightweight disc that actually flies – that’s what we’re making today! This simple yet satisfying project is ideal for complete beginners and kids of all ages, and it’s so easy, you can whip up a few in under 30 minutes, perfect for party favors or just awesome backyard toys. We’ll transform ordinary paper plates into fantastic flying machines using just a few folds and a touch of imagination. Get ready to learn some basic origami folds and discover how a little paper can lead to hours of outdoor enjoyment. Let’s get crafting!
Summer Camp for Kids: Paper Plate Frisbees – Make and Takes
Welcome to our fun summer camp craft! Today, we’re going to transform simple paper plates into awesome flying frisbees. These are perfect for a quick game in the backyard, a picnic in the park, or even just practicing your aiming skills. We call these “Make and Takes” because they’re so easy and quick to assemble, you can make a whole batch in no time and have plenty to share or play with immediately.
Choosing Your Paper Plate
The most important part of making a great paper plate frisbee is choosing the right “paper.” While we call them paper plate frisbees, we’re actually going to use sturdy paper that’s the same size as a standard paper plate. This gives us that familiar disc shape without the messiness of actual paper plates, which can be a bit too flimsy for good flight.
Paper Type, Weight, and Size
For this project, I recommend using cardstock. Cardstock is thicker and more rigid than regular printer paper, which is exactly what we need for a frisbee that can hold its shape and fly well. You’ll want to look for cardstock that’s around 65 lb or 80 lb cover weight. Anything lighter might be too floppy, and anything much heavier might be difficult for younger hands to fold accurately.
The size of our paper should be the same as a standard dinner paper plate, which is usually 9 or 10 inches in diameter. You can find cardstock in this size, or you can cut it yourself from larger sheets of cardstock (like 12×12 inches). If you’re cutting it yourself, you’ll need a ruler and a craft knife or sturdy scissors to get a nice, clean circle. Don’t worry if your circle isn’t absolutely perfect; it will still fly!
Single or Double-Sided?
Whether you use single-sided or double-sided cardstock is entirely up to your preference. If you want a colourful frisbee, double-sided cardstock is fantastic because both sides will be visible as you fold and when the frisbee is in flight. If you have single-sided cardstock, you can still make a beautiful frisbee by decorating the side that will be facing up. We’ll talk more about decorating later. For the folding itself, it doesn’t make a difference if it’s single or double-sided.
The Base Folds: Making it Square and Crisp
Before we start turning our circle into a frisbee, we need to create some guiding creases. These folds are essential for making sure our frisbee is balanced and flies straight. We’ll be making four main creases that divide our circle into eight equal sections.
The first and most important fold is to create a perfect half-circle. Take your paper circle and imagine a line running straight across the middle. We want to bring one edge of the circle to meet the opposite edge. A good way to do this is to find the bottom edge and carefully bring it up to meet the top edge. As you bring them together, try to align them perfectly. Once the edges are aligned, run your finger firmly along the fold to create a sharp crease. This will give you a perfect half-circle.
Now, unfold the paper. You should see a nice, straight crease right down the middle of your circle. This is our first guiding line.
Next, we’re going to do the same thing, but in the other direction. Imagine a line running horizontally across your circle. We want to bring the left edge of the circle to meet the right edge. Again, align them as perfectly as you can and then press down firmly along the fold to make a sharp crease. Unfold the paper.
Now you have two perpendicular creases that cross in the center, dividing your circle into four equal quadrants. These folds are the foundation for all our subsequent steps. Making these base folds very sharp and accurate is key to a well-balanced frisbee.
Step-by-Step Frisbee Folding
Let’s get folding! Remember to be patient with yourself. Origami is all about practice, and even the most experienced folders make mistakes sometimes.
1. **Start with your circle facing you.** Imagine that the creases you just made form a big plus sign (+) in the center of your circle.
2. **Bring the bottom edge up to meet the center.** Take the very bottom point of your circle (where the two creases meet at the bottom). Fold this point up so that it touches the exact center point where your two creases intersect. Make a sharp crease along this fold. You should now have a shape that looks like a quarter-circle with a folded triangle on top.
3. **Bring the top edge down to meet the center.** Now, take the very top edge of your circle (where the two creases meet at the top). Fold this edge down so that it also touches the exact center point where your creases intersect. Make a sharp crease along this fold. You will now have two folded triangles, one on top and one on the bottom, meeting in the middle. The paper will look a bit like a kite with its tail cut off.
4. **Fold the left edge to the center crease.** Look at the left side of your paper. Find the edge that is currently the outer edge of your circle on the left. Fold this edge inwards so that it meets and aligns perfectly with the vertical center crease that you made earlier. Press down firmly along this new fold.
5. **Fold the right edge to the center crease.** Now, do the exact same thing on the right side. Find the outer edge of your circle on the right and fold it inwards so that it meets and aligns perfectly with the vertical center crease. Press down firmly along this fold. You should now have a shape that resembles a narrow diamond or a very pointy kite.
6. **Flip your paper over.** Turn the whole thing over so the side you haven’t folded yet is facing you.
7. **Fold the bottom point up to the center.** Take the bottom-most point of your diamond shape. Fold this point upwards so that it meets and touches the center point where the vertical and horizontal creases intersect. Make a sharp crease.
8. **Fold the top point down to the center.** Now, take the top-most point of your diamond shape. Fold this point downwards so that it also meets and touches the center point. Make a sharp crease. You should now have a shape that is roughly a square with two pointy bits sticking out from the top and bottom.
9. **Flip your paper back over.** Turn your origami back to the side where you made the folds in steps 4 and 5. You should see the two edges you folded to the center.
10. **Fold the entire shape in half, upwards.** Imagine a horizontal line going across the middle of your current shape. We are going to fold the bottom half upwards to meet the top half. Take the bottom edge of the folded shape and bring it up to meet the top edge. Align these edges as best as you can, and press down firmly to create a strong crease. You should now have a thicker, folded shape that is half the size of what it was in the previous step.
11. **Fold the entire shape in half again, sideways.** Now, imagine a vertical line going down the middle of your folded shape. We are going to fold the left side over to meet the right side. Take the left edge of your current folded shape and bring it over to meet the right edge. Align these edges as well as possible and press down firmly to create another strong crease. You now have a very compact, folded shape.
12. **Gently open the layers.** This is the magic step! Hold the folded shape with the widest part (the part that will become the rim of your frisbee) facing you. You should see that the layers are held together by the last two folds. Gently pull the two outermost layers apart. As you pull them apart, the shape will begin to open up and expand into a disc. You want to pull them until the two layers are lying flat against each other, forming the disc.
13. **Crease the rim.** Once you have your disc shape, you need to make sure the rim is well-defined. Run your fingers around the outside edge, pressing down firmly. This helps to give your frisbee its structure and make it fly better.
Congratulations! You’ve made your own paper plate frisbee! Give it a gentle toss and see how it flies.
Common Beginner Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
It’s completely normal to encounter a few bumps in the road when you’re learning origami. Here are some places where beginners often go wrong with this frisbee, and how to fix them:
* **Flimsy Creases:** One of the biggest issues is not making your folds sharp enough. If your creases are soft and rounded, the frisbee won’t hold its shape and will be wobbly in the air.
* **How to avoid:** Use the fingernail of your thumb or even a ruler edge to firmly press down and sharpen every single crease you make. Think of it like ironing your paper – you want a crisp line.
* **Misaligned Edges:** If your edges don’t meet up perfectly during the initial folds (steps 4 and 5), your frisbee will be lopsided.
* **How to avoid:** Take your time and be precise. When folding an edge to meet the center crease, lay the paper down and visually check that the edges are perfectly aligned before you press down. It’s better to take an extra few seconds here than to have a frisbee that veers off course.
* **Not Opening Properly:** Sometimes, when you get to step 12, the frisbee doesn’t open up into a nice disc. This usually happens if the folds in steps 10 and 11 weren’t made firmly enough, or if the paper got a bit crinkled in the middle.
* **How to avoid:** Ensure your half-folds (steps 10 and 11) are very firm. When you get to step 12, try to gently coax the layers apart, smoothing them out as you go. If it’s stubborn, you might need to go back and reinforce those half-folds.
Varying Your Frisbee Fun!
Once you’ve mastered the basic paper plate frisbee, you can start experimenting and making them your own!
Size Variations
While we used 9-10 inch paper, you can easily make smaller or larger frisbees. Simply use smaller or larger circles of cardstock. Smaller ones are great for indoor play or for younger kids with less throwing power. Larger ones might require a bit more strength to throw but can be fun for outdoor games. Just remember that the proportions of the folds remain the same, regardless of the size of your initial circle.
Paper Pattern and Colour
This is where you can really let your creativity shine!
* **Patterned Cardstock:** Look for cardstock with fun summer designs – stripes, polka dots, beach scenes, or even geometric patterns. Double-sided patterned cardstock is especially exciting because you get two designs to enjoy.
* **Solid Colours:** Use different colours of cardstock to make themed frisbees. Imagine a whole set of patriotic red, white, and blue frisbees for the Fourth of July! Or bright, cheerful colours for a sunny day.
* **Decorating the Top:** If you’re using single-sided cardstock, or if you want to add extra flair to a double-sided frisbee, you can decorate the top side before you start folding. Use markers, crayons, or even stick-on glitter glue to create your own unique designs. You could draw your favourite summer fruits, animals, or even write your name on it!
Displaying or Gifting Your Finished Model
Your amazing paper plate frisbees aren’t just for throwing! They make wonderful decorations or gifts too.
* **Fling Them Around!** The most obvious and fun use is to head outside and play! Have a frisbee competition with friends and family.
* **Wall Art:** If you’ve made particularly beautiful or colourful frisbees, you can treat them like artwork. Punch a small hole near the edge and thread a ribbon or string through it to hang them on a bedroom wall or in a craft display.
* **Gift Sets:** Bundle a few different coloured or patterned frisbees together with a ribbon. They make a fantastic, handmade gift for friends, neighbours, or even as party favours.
* **”Catch Me If You Can” Game:** For younger kids, you can simply place the frisbees on a low shelf or table for them to grab and explore. They can stack them, sort them by colour, or just admire their own creations.
Have a fantastic time making and playing with your summer camp paper plate frisbees!
Conclusion
Congratulations on completing your very own paper plate frisbees! Don’t worry if your first attempt at this fun origami project wasn’t perfect; every fold is a step in learning. The joy is in the making and the playing! We encourage you to take your creations outside and have a blast! Share your colorful frisbees with friends and family – they’ll be amazed by what you’ve made. For your next crafting adventure, try decorating your frisbees with glitter glue or making them even more aerodynamic by adding small weights to the edges. There are always more exciting paper projects to explore, so keep those hands busy and your imagination soaring!