It is a story we have heard a thousand times: A beautiful woman meets a charming prince at a ball, he falls head over heels in love, searches the kingdom to find her, and they live happily ever after. It sounds like the plot of a classic bedtime story, doesn’t it? But sometimes, fairy tales are actually real life.
Take the story of Grace Kelly, the Hollywood actress who met the Prince of Monaco at the Cannes Film Festival. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage, transforming her from a star of the silver screen into the real-life Princess of Monaco. It is proof that magic exists and that the allure of the “Princess” archetype isn’t just about fantasy—it’s about grace, strength, and transformation.
With National Princess Day approaching on November 18th, there is no better time to celebrate the little royals in your life. But today’s princess isn’t just sitting in a tower waiting to be rescued. She is brave, she is smart, and she can slay her own dragons!
To help you celebrate, we have curated a list of 15 Pretty Princess Crafts for Kids. These projects are perfect for sparking imagination, building fine motor skills, and having a royal amount of fun.
Redefining the Princess: Beyond the Glass Slipper
Before we dive into the glitter and glue, it is a great opportunity to talk to your children about what being a princess really means. While we all love the classic ballgowns, modern princesses—both real and fictional—are complex, powerful characters.
While Disney princesses often steal the spotlight, let’s look at some iconic princesses from other movies who prove that royalty comes in many forms:
- Shuri (The Black Panther): Played by Letitia Wright, she proves that a princess can be a brilliant scientist and a tech genius.
- Princess Leia (Star Wars): Carrie Fisher’s iconic character showed the world that a princess can lead a rebellion and handle a blaster better than anyone.
- Princess Anne (Roman Holiday): Audrey Hepburn’s character taught us that sometimes, a princess just wants a day of freedom and fun.
- Giselle (Enchanted): Amy Adams showed us that kindness and optimism are superpowers in their own right.
- Arwen (Lord of the Rings): Liv Tyler portrayed an Elven princess who chose love and courage over immortality.
Even in real life, princesses are breaking barriers. Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, is a talented equestrian who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics, becoming the first British royal to do so.
Now that we have established that princesses are pretty and powerful, let’s get crafting!
15 Pretty Princess Crafts for Kids
Here is a collection of creative, affordable, and adorable crafts to keep your little ones entertained.
1. The Frozen-Inspired “Elsa” Tube Craft
Since 2013, no princess has captured hearts quite like Elsa. Interestingly, while most Disney princesses are teenagers, Elsa is the only one who is 21 at the start of her story, bringing a sense of maturity and power.
- The Craft: Use a cardboard toilet paper roll as the body. Paint it blue and glue on a glittery foam sheet for the cape. Use yellow yarn for her famous braid. This is a simple recycled craft that turns trash into treasure.
2. Paper Plate Dancing Princesses
We love this kinetic craft because it actually moves!
- The Craft: Cut a slit in the middle of a paper plate. Create a princess stick puppet using cardstock and a popsicle stick. Slide the stick through the slit so the princess can “twirl” and dance across the plate “ballroom.” You can decorate the plate with markers to look like a castle floor.
3. DIY Bejeweled Crowns
No princess is complete without her crown. This craft allows for total customization.
- The Craft: Cut a zigzag crown shape out of yellow cardstock or foam. Provide the kids with adhesive gemstones, sequins, and glitter glue. Let them go wild decorating their headpieces. Staple the ends together to fit their head perfectly.
4. Magic Star Wands
Every royal needs a scepter or a wand to cast good spells.
- The Craft: Cut a star shape out of thick cardboard. Paint it gold or silver. Glue it to a wooden dowel or a sturdy straw. Tie long ribbons (pink, purple, and gold) to the base of the star so they swirl when the wand is waved.
5. Handprint Princess Keepsake
This is a wonderful craft for toddlers and preschoolers that doubles as a memory keeper.
- The Craft: Paint the child’s hand. The palm becomes the princess’s face and bodice, while the fingers can be the spikes of her crown. Once the paint dries, draw on the facial features and a dress skirt below the palm.
6. The “Pea in the Mattress” Craft
Inspired by The Princess and the Pea, this is great for storytelling.
- The Craft: Use rectangular scraps of fabric or felt to create “mattresses.” Stack them high and glue them together. Place a small green bead (the pea) at the bottom. You can draw a tiny princess to sleep on top of the precarious pile.
7. Clothespin Royal Dolls
Old-fashioned clothespins (the non-spring kind) make perfect doll bodies.
- The Craft: Paint the round top as the head. Wrap embroidery floss or yarn around the body to create a colorful dress. Use fine-tip markers to add eyes and a smile. These are small enough to fit in a pocket!
8. Popsicle Stick Castle
Where does a princess live? In a castle built by you!
- The Craft: Line up popsicle sticks and glue them together to create walls. Use triangle cutouts for the turret roofs. Paint the castle pink or grey and add a drawbridge made of brown paper.
9. No-Sew Tulle Tutu
You don’t need a sewing machine to make a princess outfit.
- The Craft: Take a thick elastic band that fits the child’s waist. Cut strips of tulle (about double the desired skirt length). Loop the tulle over the elastic and pull the ends through the loop to secure it. Repeat until the entire band is covered in fluffy tulle.
10. Princess Silhouette Art
A classy craft that looks great framed on a bedroom wall.
- The Craft: Print out a silhouette of a famous princess (like Cinderella or Tiana). Have the child paint a canvas with colorful swirls or galaxy patterns. Once dry, glue the black silhouette on top for a striking contrast.
11. Pipe Cleaner Tiaras
For a quick, low-mess activity.
- The Craft: Twist metallic pipe cleaners together to form a circle. Twist smaller pieces upward to create the points of the tiara. You can thread beads onto the pipe cleaners before twisting for extra sparkle.
12. Rapunzel’s Yarn Hair Braids
Let down your hair with this fun wearable craft.
- The Craft: Measure yellow yarn to be as long as your child is tall. Braid the yarn into a thick plait. Attach the braid to a plastic headband using hot glue (adult supervision required). Now they have instant long locks!
13. Cardboard Carriage
Transform a small box into a ride fit for royalty.
- The Craft: Take a small tissue box or shoe box. Cut out windows. Paint it pumpkin orange or elegant white. Glue on four large circles (jar lids work great) for wheels. Attach string to the front so it can be pulled along.
14. Wooden Spoon Puppets
Wooden kitchen spoons are the perfect shape for puppets.
- The Craft: The curved back of the spoon is the face. Paint it skin tone and add googly eyes. Glue yarn for hair and wrap the handle in fabric for the dress. These are excellent for putting on a puppet show.
15. Sparkly Princess Slime
Because even princesses like to get their hands messy!
- The Craft: Make a standard clear slime recipe (clear glue + activator). Add a generous amount of pink and purple biodegradable glitter and perhaps a few crown-shaped confetti pieces. It’s a sensory experience fit for a queen.
Featured Tutorial: How to Make the “Paper Plate Dancing Princess”
Since this is one of our favorites, here is a detailed step-by-step guide to making the dancing princess.
Supplies Needed:
- 1 Paper Plate
- Cardstock (White and Colored)
- Markers or Crayons
- 1 Popsicle Stick (Craft Stick)
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
Instructions:
- Prepare the Ballroom: Take your paper plate. This will be the ballroom floor. You can color it with swirls, checkerboard patterns, or glitter.
- The Path: Carefully use scissors to cut a curved slit across the bottom half of the plate. It should be wide enough for the popsicle stick to slide through comfortably.
- The Princess: Draw a small princess figure on white cardstock. Keep her simple—a head, a torso, and a big flowing skirt. Color her in. Cut her out.
- Assembly: Glue the princess figure to the top of the popsicle stick.
- Let’s Dance: Insert the bottom of the popsicle stick into the slit on the paper plate. Hold the plate with one hand and use the other hand beneath the plate to move the stick. Watch your princess glide and twirl across the floor!
Conclusion: Empowering Your Little Royal
Whether your child wants to be a princess who rules a kingdom, a princess who leads a rebellion like Leia, or a princess who invents gadgets like Shuri, these crafts are the perfect way to celebrate their potential.
Crafting allows children to express themselves, solve problems, and build confidence. So, this National Princess Day, clear off the kitchen table, dump out the craft supplies, and let your imaginations reign supreme.
Remember, a true princess isn’t defined by her dress or her crown, but by her kindness, her courage, and her creativity.
