15 Pirate Crafts for Kids: Ahoy, Easy DIY Fun for Your Little Buccaneers
Pirate crafts, also known as pirate crafts for preschoolers, can be made with a little imagination (and a whole lot of glue and glitter) to turn a boring afternoon into exciting pirate activities. A little imagination (and a whole lot of glue and glitter) can turn a boring afternoon into exciting pirate activities.
Pirate crafts keep our students busy, spark their creativity, and maybe even inspire a “yo ho ho” or two around the house.
Let’s be honest: whether our children are obsessed with treasure or just love pretending to be silly pirates, these fun activities and projects are a hit every single time.
We get to bond, make some super cute adorable messes, and hey—no one’s judging if we join in on the crafty chaos!
1) DIY Paper Plate Pirate Ship
Honestly, if we’ve got a paper plate and some glue, our preschoolers are already winning at crafts for kids.
For this pirate ship, just grab a plain paper plate and cut it in half for the bottom of the ship. We can color or paint the plate brown, or whatever wild color our kids want.
Add a triangle sail from construction paper and tape on a straw or stick. If you want extra flair, stick on some pirate flags or stickers.
These paper plate pirate ships totally sail the seven seas of our kitchen table.
2) Make Your Own Pirate Hat Crown
Alright, pirate pros, who’s ready to rule the living room seas? Grab some basic paper, scissors, and let’s get creative making our own pirate hat crown for preschool .
No sewing, no stress—just pure fun. We can use a free pirate hat template to keep it super simple.
Add stickers, markers, or even scraps of gold wrapping for that extra “captain” vibe. Once we pop these beauties on, you know the crew’s about to set sail—or at least own the snack table.
3) Popsicle Stick Pirate Figure
Let’s grab some craft sticks, a googly eye, and a button—because we’re about to make our very own pirate buddy that students will love !
Paint the sticks to look like a pirate’s shirt and glue on a cute little face. Adding a big black button for an eyepatch is always a win for kindergarten projects .
If you need ideas, check out this craft stick pirate how-to for inspiration. Let’s get our pirate swagger on!
4) Cardboard Pirate Ship Playhouse
Let’s turn those leftover boxes into the coolest pirate themed ship playhouse ever! We just need some big cardboard boxes, tape, scissors, and markers.
Cut out windows, add a cardboard steering wheel, and make a flag. The decorating part is where our little pirates take over with their wildest ideas.
If you need extra inspiration, check out these cardboard pirate ship ideas or see how others are rocking theirs on Pinterest.
5) Pirate Eye Patch Craft
No pirate costume feels complete without that classic eye patch! Make one in minutes using felt, cardboard, or even just a black button if you’re in a crunch.
There are so many ways to put your own twist on this. Check out this easy step-by-step idea for a DIY pirate eye patch that uses recycled materials most of us already have at home.
It’s quick, fun, and totally kid-approved!
6) Treasure Map Drawing and Aging
Let’s grab some paper and start mapping out our pirate adventure! Sketch islands, draw windy paths, and add classic spots like “X marks the spot” on our pirate maps.
Want to make it old-school? Crumple the paper, gently tear the edges, and rub a little bit of tea or coffee on it.
Now our treasure maps are ready for any pirate quest—or epic living room hunt! If you want a little inspiration or step-by-step help, this easy pirate map drawing guide is super fun for kids and grown-ups alike.
7) Clothespin Pirate Characters
If you haven’t tried making clothespin pirates with the preschoolers, you’re missing out! All you need are regular clothespins, a bit of paint or markers, and some scraps of fabric or paper for hats and eye patches.
Let your wild side show by making silly pirate faces or cool outfits. It’s a great little project to spark creativity and keep little hands busy.
For extra ideas, check out these adorable pirate puppets you can make at home.
8) Paper Sailboat with Pirate Flag
Who’s ready to set sail? We can make our own mini fleet with this paper sailboat and, yes, our own pirate flag!
It’s all paper, scissors, and a splash of imagination. There’s a cool video tutorial that breaks down each step.
Let’s get wild with markers, stickers, and whatever else we can find—pirate scissors not required but highly recommended.
9) Pirate Sticker Decorating Fun
Stickers make everything more fun, right? Grab some pirate sticker sets with hats, parrots, treasure chests, and let the kids mix and match to create their own silly pirate crew.
No art skills needed here—just peel, stick, and let those little imaginations loose. These pirate sticker sets are super easy to use and honestly, pretty cute.
10) Easy Jolly Roger Skull Mask
Let’s make a Jolly Roger skull mask—pirates are just cooler with a little flair. Grab some white paper plates, snip out eye holes, and draw on a big toothy grin and nose with a black marker.
If you have black construction paper, cut out a classic “crossbones” and glue those right behind the plate. Extra savage? Love that energy.
Perfect for pretending to talk like pirates, or just scaring the dog for a second. Need more ideas? Check out these pirate crafts for kids!
11) Treasure Chest Craft with Recycled Boxes
We all have those empty boxes hanging around that we swear we’ll use for something. Here’s your excuse!
Grab a small cardboard box and let the kids paint it, cover it in stickers, or slap on some foil for max pirate flair. This is a great way to use up all those random craft supplies we’ve collected.
You can even hide tiny “treasures” inside for a mini pirate surprise. Need more inspo? Check out this easy cardboard chest idea.
12) Pirate Hook Hand from Cardboard
Who wants to rock a pirate hook hand? We sure do! Here’s how you can make one using just some cardboard, a cup, and a bit of imagination.
Cut a simple hook shape from sturdy cardboard. Poke it through the bottom of a cup and tape it so it stays put.
Wrap the whole thing in foil for that shiny, pirate-y look for some extra fun . Boom—instant pirate vibes for everyone!
If you want to see a step-by-step DIY, check out this fun pirate hand hook tutorial on YouTube.
13) Rocking Paper Plate Pirate Boat
Ready to set sail right in the living room? Little pirates can totally rock this easy paper plate pirate boat craft.
Grab a paper plate, some paint, scissors, and let your imagination loose—no treasure map needed. The best part? These boats actually rock back and forth.
Once we’re done, we get to play with them, too! Check out this rocking paper plate pirate boat craft for simple steps and a free template.
14) Pirate-Themed Friendship Bracelets
Let’s be honest, nothing says “pirate crew” like matching friendship bracelets. Grab some beads, stretchy string, and maybe a skull charm or two.
Now we’ve got loot we made ourselves from pirate crafts for kids . These are awesome for pirate parties or just hanging out after school.
Personalize them with names, pirate words, or even special dates. For some real inspiration, check out this cute DIY pirate bracelet kit idea for an easy start.
Arrr, let’s make something cool and call each other “matey” for the rest of the day!
15) Pirate Ship Coloring Pages
Sometimes we just need a quiet activity where kids can chill—and pirate ship coloring pages totally save the day.
We love busting these out during snack time or when we need five minutes to breathe. There’s something about picking all those crayon colors and designing a dream ship that just feels like pure magic, especially when they add pictures .
You can grab a bunch of awesome free pirate ship coloring pages online, like the ones at iHeartCraftyThings or Crafting Jeannie.
How To Set The Pirate Scene
Turning our home into a pirate play paradise doesn’t have to cost a ton or eat up the whole day. With just a few smart supplies and silly touches, we can send everyone’s imaginations straight to the high seas.
Simple Supplies To Get Started
First up, we need those basic supplies. Don’t worry, you don’t have to get fancy.
Grab things from around the house: paper towel rolls, cardboard boxes, markers, glue, and scissors. Old buttons and fabric scraps are gold—pirate gold, honestly!
We’re also fans of easy dress-up. Bandanas, striped shirts, paper hats, and plastic cups make quick pirate gear for the teacher’s classroom .
Here’s a basic supply checklist:
Item | Use |
|---|---|
Cardboard tubes | Spyglasses or mini telescopes |
Paper plates | Pirate faces or eye patches |
String/ribbon | Pirate flags or sashes |
Brown bags | DIY treasure maps or loot bags |
Gold foil wrappers | Fake coins or treasure |
Don’t overthink it. Pirate scenes don’t need a ton of prep or shopping.
Let the kids raid the recycling bin—extra eco points for us!
Creating An Epic Pirate Adventure At Home
Let’s jump from “just crafts” to full-on adventure mode. Move some furniture and lay down a blue sheet or towel to become our mighty ocean.
Couch cushions are honestly the easiest pirate ship ever—no assembly required. Scatter paper “rocks” around for islands or shipwreck danger.
Hang up a homemade pirate flag (bonus points for stick figure skulls). Hide gold-wrapped chocolate coins behind chairs or in toy bins.
Nothing gets kids giggling faster than hunting for loot with a homemade spyglass, trust us. If you want to add major drama, throw in some sound effects!
Play ocean waves or silly pirate songs from a phone. For even more inspiration, check out pirate crafts and play ideas to make the adventure as wild or chill as your little pirates want.
Tips For Crafting With Little Buccaneers
We all know crafting with kids is about making memories, and teaching them to talk like a pirate (and, let’s be real, sometimes making messes). With a bit of prep and a dash of creativity, we can totally dial up the fun without losing our sanity.
Here’s how we keep craft time happy, smooth, and full of big pirate energy.
Mess-Friendly Prep Ideas
Let’s save our nerves and our furniture. Before anything gets sticky, we lay down a plastic tablecloth or just repurpose some old newspapers.
We swear by wearing old t-shirts, too—bring on the paint, glue, and glitter, because nobody’s feeling stressed about those stains. Here’s our secret sauce for writing during craft tim :
Must-Have Prep Items | Why We Love Them |
|---|---|
Old Newspaper | Cheap, recyclable, easy cleanup |
Plastic Tablecloth | Wipeable and reusable |
Aprons/Old Shirts | Kids can get messy, no worries |
Wet Wipes | Instantly fix sticky hands |
We also put all the craft stuff—scissors, paint, glue—within arm’s reach, but out of toddler tip-over range. Keeping a trash bin or bowl nearby? Total game-changer!
All those tiny scraps go straight in, and our table is a pirate ship, not a paper explosion.
Ways To Encourage Imagination And Play
Let’s turn craft time into adventure time! We ask the kiddos questions like, “What’s your pirate’s name?” or “Where did this treasure map come from?”
Sometimes, we even put together a quick scavenger hunt and search using our homemade pirate hats and spyglasses. If you need inspiration for the holidays , check out these awesome pirate craft ideas for kids.
Here are a few tricks we love:
- We make up silly pirate songs together while gluing or coloring.
- We pretend the living room is the high seas and the couch is the ship.
- We act out short stories with spoon puppets or paper bag pirates.
A few props—like a rolled-up paper telescope or cardboard cutlass—can take crafts from “cute” to “epic quest.” When we laugh and get silly, our little buccaneers are always ready to set sail, no instructions required. Honestly, isn’t that the best kind of play?
