I went to my local dollar store and picked up some supplies:

• Colorful plastic folders
• Letter stickers
• Other stickers as desired for decoration
• Zip ties to hook the license plates to the bike (not pictured)

Step 1: 

Pull apart the plastic folder - the cheap dollar store ones are perfect for this as they come apart easily. Flatten it so it's easy to fold.








Step 2: 

Cut on all lines. You can use the two big pieces and the small flap with no holes to make your license plate shapes. Discard the small side bits and the flap with holes.








Step 3:

Mark your ruler at 14.5 cm and 7.83 cm (the black folders I bought were "portfolios" and were a bit smaller, so I adjusted accordingly.








Step 4: 

Using your pencil, mark each short side at the top and bottom at the 14.5cm mark.

Mark each long side twice at 7.83cm (always measure from the bottom for consistency).

Using the ruler, draw straight lines across your sheet from a mark on one side to a mark on the other side.



Step 5:

Cut on your pencil lines to create 12 mini license plates.

Take one rectangle, put it on the leftover small flap, and trace it, then cut it out as well.

You will end up with 13 mini license plate rectangles per folder.





Repeat steps 1-5 for as many colored folders as you want, depending on how many kids you will have (we were expecting 40 at my son's party, so I made a lot).


Step 6:

With your hole punch, put one punch in each top corner (pick one of the long sides to be the top). Make sure they aren't too close to the edge so the zip ties don't cut through them and rip the plastic.


Your craft activity is ready to go!

I set up a little station for my son to make a sample plate. He needed letter stickers and the other stickers I bought for decoration.

You can also write on the plastic with Sharpie markers, but make sure it dries before touching it or it smears. At the party, I also had super glue available as some of the dollar store letters didn't stick very well.

Sean loved making his license plate and was excited about the finished product!
















His friends also enjoyed making them and got really creative with their designs. Some attached them to bikes and some to scooters, but all had fun!


Guest post by Mindee Forman

Mindee is a freelance writer, editor, web designer, and social media consultant. She lives in Denver with her husband, two kids, and two crazy cats.