20 DIY Fall Crafts for Kids That Are Easy!)

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You do not need expensive supplies or hours of preparation to enjoy fall crafts with your kids. A few sheets of construction paper, a paper plate, some paint, and those little hands are more than enough to create something fun and memorable.

Mom and toddler sitting at a table doing paper fall crafts for kids

I put together this list of 20 easy DIY fall crafts for your kids using only paper, paper plates, paper cups, fingerprints, footprints, paper collage, and leaf prints. Everything here is simple, low-cost, and genuinely fun for toddlers and older kids alike.

So if you are ready to make some memories and probably get a little paint on the table, here are the best fall crafts for kids to try this season.

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What You Need for These Fall Crafts

The best part about this list is that it uses only a small set of simple supplies. Here is what to have on hand:

Construction paper and cardstock in fall colors
Paper plates and paper cups
Washable paint in red, orange, yellow, brown, and green
Real leaves collected from outside
A glue stick or craft glue
Scissors (child-safe for little ones)
Markers or crayons
Tissue paper for collage

That is it. Now, let us get into all the fun fall crafts for kids that you can make with just these supplies.

1. Torn Paper Autumn Tree

Draw a bare tree trunk on brown construction paper or cardstock. Then let kids tear small pieces of red, orange, and yellow paper and glue them on as falling leaves. This is one of the most beautiful fall crafts for kids, and it requires absolutely zero cutting. Furthermore, tearing paper is a great fine motor activity for toddlers.

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2. Paper Plate Pumpkin

Paint a paper plate orange and let it dry. Next, cut a green stem from construction paper and glue it to the top. Finally, let kids draw a pumpkin face with a black marker. This is one of those classic fall crafts that toddlers can do almost entirely on their own.

A paper plate painted orange with a green paper stem and jack-o-lantern face drawn in black marker

3. Leaf Print Art

Collect a few leaves from outside on your next walk. Cover one side of each leaf with paint, then press it firmly onto white paper and lift it off carefully. The print left behind is always stunning. Additionally, kids can use multiple colors to layer different leaf prints all over the page. This is genuinely one of the most satisfying fall crafts for kids because the results look so impressive with so little effort.

Colorful leaf prints made by pressing painted fall leaves onto white paper

4. Fingerprint Fall Wreath

Draw or trace a circle on paper to make a wreath outline. Then let kids cover it entirely with fingerprints in fall colors like orange, red, yellow, and brown. Each fingerprint becomes a tiny leaf. Moreover, this fall craft for kids makes a beautiful piece of seasonal wall art and an even better keepsake gift for grandparents. It is also one of the easiest setups on this whole list.

5. Paper Cup Scarecrow

Flip a paper cup upside down and use it as the scarecrow’s body. Add a small square of paper on top as a hat, glue on yarn pieces for hair, and draw a face with markers. This is a really fun 3D fall craft for kids that stands up on its own and looks great as a little centerpiece on the table. Kids also love making a whole family of scarecrows.

6. Footprint Apple Tree

Press your child’s foot in brown paint and stamp it onto paper for the tree trunk. Next, use a green handprint at the top for the leafy crown. Finally, let them add little red fingerprint apples all over the green. This is one of the most special fall crafts for kids because it captures exactly how tiny their hands and feet are right now. It is also hilarious because kids love stepping in paint.

Footprint apple tree made by pressing a child's foot in brown paint for the trunk and adding red fingerprint apples at the top

7. Paper Collage Pumpkin Patch

Cut or tear orange circles from paper for pumpkins, add green paper curly vines, and glue everything onto a blue or black paper background. This paper collage fall craft for kids is great for building creativity and spatial thinking. In addition, older kids can add details like fences, hay bales, and clouds cut from paper to make the whole scene come alive.

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8. Paper Plate Owl

Paint a paper plate brown or tan and let it dry. Then cut two triangular ears from brown paper and glue them to the top. Add two large circle eyes cut from white paper, draw pupils, and cut a small triangle beak from yellow paper.

9. Fingerprint Sunflower

Draw a large circle in the center of the paper in brown or dark paint. Next, let kids press their fingertips in yellow paint and stamp them all around the circle as petals. This fingerprint fall craft for kids is genuinely gorgeous and looks like real art when it is done. Furthermore, it is completely doable for toddlers as young as two.

10. Leaf Print Bookmarks

Cut cardstock into long, thin strips. Then press painted leaves onto each strip to create leaf print bookmarks. Once dry, laminate them or cover with clear tape to protect the prints. These make wonderful fall crafts for kids that are also useful, and they are a sweet, handmade gift idea for teachers or grandparents.

Colorful leaf print bookmarks made on white cardstock using painted real leaves, a practical and pretty fall craft for kids

11. Paper Bag Scarecrow

Stuff a small brown paper bag lightly with crumpled newspaper. Twist and tie the top closed to create a head. Then let kids paint a face on it and glue on yarn for hair and a little construction paper hat. This fall craft results in the cutest little scarecrow that can sit on a shelf or windowsill all season long.

12. Handprint Turkey

Trace your child’s hand on paper and color each finger a different fall color to make the turkey feathers. Then add an orange triangle beak and a red wattle to the thumb. This is one of those fall crafts that grandparents absolutely treasure. Therefore, make a few extras to send as cards or tuck into a fall memory book. It is fast, free, and completely adorable.

13. Paper Cup Acorn

Flip a paper cup upside down and paint it a warm brown or tan color for the acorn body. Next, cut a bumpy circle cap from brown cardstock and glue it on top. Add a small paper stick to the top of the cap. This is a quick and creative fall craft for kids that looks really sweet as a table decoration. You can also make a whole set in different sizes.

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14. Tissue Paper Leaf Collage

Draw a large leaf shape on white paper or cardstock. Then let kids tear small pieces of red, orange, and yellow tissue paper and glue them inside the outline. The overlapping tissue paper creates a beautiful stained-glass effect when held up to the light. Consequently, this is one of the most visually stunning fall crafts for kids, and it also works as a calm, focused activity for toddlers.

15. Footprint Leaf Wreath

Stamp your child’s feet in different fall paint colors and arrange the footprints in a circle on a large piece of paper to create a wreath shape. Once dry, add a paper ribbon bow at the top. This footprint fall craft for kids is one of those pieces you will genuinely want to frame and keep forever. Additionally, it works beautifully as a homemade fall door decoration.

16. Paper Plate Fall Tree

Glue a brown paper trunk to the bottom of a paper plate. Then let kids tear up pieces of red, orange, and yellow paper and cover the plate to create the fall canopy of the tree. This paper plate fall craft for kids is simple enough for toddlers, and the result looks really full and colorful. Furthermore, you can display these on the wall together as a little fall forest.

17. Leaf Print Thank You Cards

Fold pieces of cardstock in half to make cards. Then press painted leaves onto the front of each card to decorate it. Once dry, kids can write a little message inside. These leaf print fall crafts for kids double as a thoughtful activity and a lesson in gratitude all at once. Also, teachers, neighbors, and grandparents always love receiving a handmade card from a child.

18. Paper Collage Fall Landscape

Give kids a large piece of blue paper as the sky background. Then let them cut or tear paper trees, hills, falling leaves, and a big orange sun, and glue everything down to create a fall scene. This paper collage fall craft is perfect for older kids who love storytelling through art.

A fall landscape scene made entirely from cut and torn paper showing trees, hills, and falling leaves, a creative paper collage fall craft for kids

If your kids love making art from paper, they will adore these 25 aesthetic paper craft ideas you can make at home, too.

19. Fingerprint Pumpkin Patch Card

Fold a piece of cardstock in half for the card. Let kids press their fingers in orange paint to make fingerprint pumpkins all over the front. Next, use a fine marker or green pen to add little curly stems and vines connecting each pumpkin. This fingerprint fall craft for kids makes a gorgeous seasonal card and is perfect for mailing to a relative.

20. Paper Plate Harvest Sun

Paint a paper plate yellow or golden orange. While it dries, cut long strips of orange, red, and yellow construction paper for the sun rays. Then glue the strips all around the back edge of the plate so they stick out like rays. This paper plate fall craft is bold, bright, and beautiful as a piece of wall art.