17 Easy Fall Craft Ideas for Kids

Last Updated on 04/02/2025 by Nell Marie

Fall is the perfect season for getting creative with kids, as the vibrant colors and natural materials of autumn offer endless inspiration for fun and easy crafts.

Whether you’re looking to celebrate the changing leaves, prepare for Halloween, or simply enjoy some cozy indoor activities, fall crafts provide a wonderful way to bond with your little ones while fostering their creativity.

From painting pumpkins to making leaf crowns, these hands-on projects will keep kids engaged and excited as they explore the magic of the season through art.

In this article, you’ll discover 17 cute fall craft ideas for your kiddo!

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Fall Craft Ideas for Kids

1- Leaf Rubbings

Gather colorful fall leaves during a nature walk or from your backyard, and let kids explore different shapes and textures by placing the leaves under a sheet of white paper. Have them use the side of a crayon to rub over the paper, revealing the leaf’s intricate patterns and veins.

Encourage kids to experiment with different colors and leaf arrangements to create a beautiful collage that celebrates the changing season.

2- Pinecone Owls

Head outdoors to collect pinecones, which are the perfect base for making adorable owl decorations. Provide felt in various colors for the wings and beak, and googly eyes to give the owls personality.

Kids can paint the pinecones in fall shades like orange, brown, or gold, then glue on the felt pieces to complete their owls. These can be displayed as festive fall decorations or used in imaginative play.

3- Paper Plate Scarecrows

Transform a simple paper plate into a friendly scarecrow face by cutting out a hat, nose, and patches from construction paper. Use yarn for the scarecrow’s hair, and let kids glue everything in place.

They can draw on eyes, a mouth, and rosy cheeks with markers. This craft is easy and allows for creativity, as kids can personalize their scarecrow faces with different expressions and colors.

4- Pumpkin Painting

Skip the carving and let kids enjoy mess-free pumpkin decorating with paint. Set up a painting station with an assortment of brushes, sponges, and stencils. Encourage kids to use bright colors, add glitter, or create fun patterns like polka dots or stripes.

They can even paint silly faces or their favorite characters on the pumpkins. This activity is safer for younger children and offers endless creative possibilities.

5- Acorn Necklaces

Take a walk to collect acorns, then have kids paint them in vibrant colors like red, yellow, and orange. Once the paint is dry, string the acorns onto a piece of twine or ribbon to create a one-of-a-kind fall necklace.

You can also add beads or small charms between the acorns for extra flair. This craft not only results in a cute accessory but also helps develop fine motor skills.

6- Leaf Wreaths

Create a beautiful fall wreath by cutting a ring out of cardboard and gluing colorful leaves onto it. You can use either real leaves collected from outside or make paper leaves in different shades of red, yellow, and orange.

Let kids arrange the leaves however they like, overlapping them to create a full, lush wreath. Add a ribbon for hanging, and you’ve got a perfect autumn decoration for your door.

7- Handprint Trees

Trace your child’s hand and arm on brown construction paper to form the tree’s trunk and branches. Then, let them tear or cut small pieces of colorful tissue paper to glue onto the branches as leaves.

This craft is not only fun but also a keepsake, as the handprint will remind you of how small they were at this age. You can even make a new one each year to watch the “tree” grow along with your child.

8- Corn Cob Painting

For a unique painting experience, roll corn cobs in paint and then across a sheet of paper. The corn’s texture creates interesting and unexpected patterns, making this a fun sensory activity.

Kids can experiment with different colors and pressure to see how it affects the patterns. This craft is perfect for exploring textures and learning about how different tools can create unique art.

9- Apple Stamping

Cut apples in half and dip them in paint to create apple-shaped prints on paper. Kids can try different patterns by pressing the apples in different directions or using different colors for each apple.

This activity is a great way to teach kids about fruit while letting them explore printmaking. You can even add details with a paintbrush to turn the apple prints into animals or characters.

10- Pumpkin Seed Art

After carving a pumpkin, don’t toss the seeds! Instead, clean and dry them, then let kids paint the seeds in bright colors. Once dry, they can use the seeds to create mosaics or pictures on construction paper, gluing them down to form shapes like leaves, pumpkins, or abstract designs.

This craft is a fun way to use all parts of the pumpkin and helps kids practice patience and fine motor skills.

11- Leaf Crowns

Collect an assortment of colorful fall leaves, then glue them to a strip of paper that fits around your child’s head. Let them choose their favorite leaves and arrange them to create a crown fit for a fall king or queen.

This activity can be paired with a storytime about woodland creatures or a pretend play session where they rule over a magical fall kingdom.

12- Clay Acorns

Using air-dry clay, kids can mold their own acorns, shaping them by hand or using tools to add texture. Once the clay acorns are dry, they can paint them in natural browns or fun colors.

These little acorns make cute decorations for the home or can be used in imaginative play. They’re also a great way for kids to practice sculpting and painting.

13- Paper Bag Trees

Take a brown paper bag and twist it to form the trunk and branches of a tree. Cut out leaves from colored paper and let kids glue them onto the branches to create a fall tree. This craft is easy and uses materials you likely already have at home.

Kids can make their trees as full or as sparse as they like, adding other elements like apples, birds, or even squirrels to their tree.

14- Scarecrow Puppets

Turn popsicle sticks into scarecrow puppets by adding fabric scraps for clothes, yarn for hair, and drawing on faces with markers. These puppets can be used for storytelling, allowing kids to act out fall-themed stories or create their own adventures.

This craft encourages creativity and can lead to hours of imaginative play.

15- Fall Sun Catchers

Cut a leaf shape out of clear contact paper and let kids stick pieces of tissue paper onto it. Once they’re finished, hang the sun catcher in a window where the light will shine through, creating a beautiful stained-glass effect.

This craft is simple and mess-free, perfect for younger children, and results in a lovely decoration that brings fall colors into your home.

16- Pumpkin Spice Playdough

Make a batch of homemade playdough and add pumpkin spice for a seasonal twist. The scent will make the activity even more enjoyable as kids mold the dough into fall shapes like pumpkins, leaves, or acorns.

This craft is perfect for sensory play, allowing kids to explore texture, smell, and creativity all at once.

17- Toilet Paper Roll Owls

Recycle toilet paper rolls by turning them into owls. Paint the rolls, then add construction paper wings, beaks, and feet. Glue on googly eyes to complete the look.

This craft is a fun way to repurpose materials and gives kids a chance to practice their fine motor skills while creating something cute to display or play with.

Final Thoughts

Fall crafts are a fantastic way to keep kids entertained while embracing all the beauty and fun this season has to offer.

Whether you’re making something simple like a leaf rubbing or diving into a more involved project like creating clay acorns, the time spent crafting together is what really counts.

Plus, these activities are a great excuse to unplug, get a little messy, and let your kids’ creativity shine.

So, grab some supplies, enjoy the crisp fall air, and make some memories you’ll both cherish long after the leaves have fallen.

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