45 Fall Art Projects for Kids: Quick & Fun

Fall is the perfect season for kids to get creative with colors, leaves, and natural materials. Fall art projects for kids allow them to try new crafts, improve fine motor skills, and learn about the changing season while having fun.

There are plenty of activities to keep children engaged. These range from simple leaf rubbings to more hands-on crafts using pinecones, pumpkins, and twigs.

These projects encourage imagination and sensory play. They also promote family bonding, making autumn an exciting time for arts and crafts.

With so many ideas to choose from, every child can find a project that matches their interests and skill level.

Why Fall Art Projects Are Perfect for Kids?

Fall art projects are a fun and simple way for kids to use their imagination while learning about the season.

Creating leaf rubbings, pumpkin paintings, or pinecone crafts helps children develop fine motor skills and encourages sensory play as they touch, paint, and arrange different materials.

These activities also give kids a chance to practice colors, shapes, and patterns while connecting with nature. Families can enjoy crafting together, making it a great way to spend quality time together.

Fall art projects range from easy, quick crafts to more detailed medium-level projects and nature-based ideas, offering something for every skill level and keeping kids engaged with both indoor and outdoor activities.

Quick & Easy Fall Art Projects for Kids

These quick and easy fall art projects are perfect for keeping kids busy while encouraging creativity and learning. They use simple materials and can be done at home or in the classroom.

1. Leaf Rubbings

Place a leaf with the veiny side up on a flat surface and cover it with a sheet of paper. Using crayons, gently rub over the paper to reveal the leaf’s texture.

Experiment with different leaves and colors to make a pattern or collage. Kids can layer multiple leaf rubbings for a fuller design. This activity encourages observation of nature while improving fine motor skills.

Needed Materials: Leaves, paper, crayons

2. Paper Plate Pumpkins

Paint a paper plate orange and let it dry completely. Add a green paper or painted stem at the top. Use markers or paint to draw a fun pumpkin face, patterns, or designs.

Kids can also add glitter or stickers for extra decoration. Once finished, the pumpkins can be displayed on walls or windows. This craft helps kids learn shapes, colors, and express their creativity.

Needed Materials: Paper plates, paint, markers, green paper (optional), glitter or stickers (optional)

3. Handprint Fall Trees

Paint a brown tree trunk in the center of a sheet of paper. Dip your hands in red, orange, yellow, or green paint and press them around the branches to form leaves. Repeat until the tree is full.

Allow it to dry completely. Kids can add grass, pumpkins, or animals to the scene. This project improves hand coordination and introduces color mixing as you create a seasonal masterpiece.

Needed Materials: Paint (brown, red, orange, yellow, green), paper, paintbrushes, and optional markers for details

4. Pinecone Painting

Collect pinecones and gently clean them. Use paint and brushes to color the tips or entire pinecone in fall shades like orange, red, yellow, or brown.

Kids can create patterns or mix colors for a marbled effect. Once dry, pinecones can be used in table centerpieces, wreaths, or other crafts. This activity encourages creativity and helps practice fine motor skills.

Needed Materials: Pinecones, paint (orange, red, yellow, brown), paintbrushes, newspaper or tray to protect surfaces

5. Coffee Filter Watercolor Leaves

Flatten coffee filters and lightly spray or sprinkle water on them. Use watercolors to paint in autumn colors like red, yellow, orange, and brown. Allow the colors to blend naturally.

Once dry, cut the filters into leaf shapes. Kids can glue them onto paper, create mobiles, or decorate windows. This project encourages experimentation with color and texture while developing hand-eye coordination.

Needed Materials: Coffee filters, watercolors, paintbrushes, scissors, water, paper (optional for collage)

6. Toilet Paper Roll Owls

Take an empty toilet paper roll and paint it in fall colors. Once dry, cut out small paper circles for eyes and a beak, then glue them onto the roll. Add feathers, paper wings, or patterns using markers or additional paper.

Kids can create different owl designs by mixing colors and shapes. These owls make cute decorations and encourage creativity while practicing fine motor skills.

Needed Materials: Toilet paper rolls, paint, paper, glue, markers (optional)

7. Cotton Ball Clouds on Fall Sky

Paint a sheet of paper with fall sky colors, such as orange, pink, or purple. While it dries, pull apart cotton balls to make fluffy clouds.

Once the background is ready, glue the cotton balls onto the paper to create cloud shapes. Kids can add birds, leaves, or other details to make the scene more lively. This activity supports creativity and sensory exploration.

Needed Materials: Paper, paint, cotton balls, glue

8. Paper Leaf Garland

Cut out leaf shapes from colored paper in fall shades such as red, yellow, and orange. Punch holes at the top of each leaf and string them together with thread or yarn.

Hang the garland on walls, windows, or doorways to create seasonal decoration. Kids can mix shapes and sizes for variety. This craft helps develop cutting skills and introduces patterns while creating a decorative piece.

Needed Materials: Paper, scissors, string or yarn, hole punch

9. Pumpkin Stamping

Dip the bottom of a small pumpkin into paint and press it onto paper to create pumpkin shapes. Kids can repeat this with different colors and pumpkin sizes to make a fun, colorful pattern.

Once dry, they can add stems, faces, or leaves with markers or paint. This activity encourages creativity, pattern making, and hand-eye coordination while letting kids experiment with colors and shapes.

Needed Materials: Small pumpkins, paint, paper, paintbrushes (optional)

10. Leaf Collage

Collect different leaves from outside and arrange them on a sheet of paper. Use glue to stick each leaf in place. Kids can create patterns, trees, or abstract designs using the leaves’ natural colors and shapes.

This project helps children observe nature closely while developing fine motor skills and artistic expression. Once finished, the collage can be displayed as a seasonal decoration.

Needed Materials: Leaves, paper, glue

11. Handprint Turkeys

Paint a child’s hand with brown, red, and yellow paint. Press the hand onto paper with fingers spread to create the turkey’s feathers and body. Once dry, use markers or paint to add eyes, a beak, and a wattle.

Kids can make multiple turkeys on one sheet or decorate each differently. This craft helps with hand-eye coordination and is a fun way to celebrate the fall season.

Needed Materials: paint (brown, red, yellow), paper, markers (optional)

12. Paper Bag Scarecrow Faces

Take a plain paper bag and draw a cheerful scarecrow face using markers. Add details like a stitched mouth, button eyes, and a straw hat using scraps of paper or fabric.

Kids can also glue on yarn for hair or decorate the hat. Once complete, these scarecrow faces can stand on a table or be used as puppets, providing both creativity and imaginative play.

Needed Materials: Paper bags, markers, paper scraps, yarn, glue

13. Fall Color Dot Painting

Dip the tip of a Q-tip into fall-colored paint such as red, orange, yellow, or brown. Press the Q-tip onto paper to make a series of dots in patterns, shapes, or random designs.

Kids can layer colors to create depth or make simple autumn-themed pictures like pumpkins or trees. This activity encourages fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and experimentation with colors.

Needed Materials: Q-tips, paint (red, orange, yellow, brown), paper

14. Apple Stamps and Prints

Cut an apple in half and dip the flat side into fall-colored paints. Press the apple firmly onto a piece of paper to create a stamped shape.

Experiment with different colors and overlap prints for a layered effect, making unique apple prints. This project encourages kids to explore textures and patterns while creating beautiful fall-themed artwork.

Needed Materials: Apples, paint, paper, knife (adult supervision)

15. Paper Acorn Hats

Cut small acorn shapes from colored paper. Make a separate “cap” shape and glue it to the top of each acorn. Kids can decorate the acorn caps with patterns, dots, or lines for added detail.

Once complete, the paper acorns can be used as decorations, in collages, or in seasonal crafts. This project supports cutting, gluing, and fine-motor skills while allowing children to create their own fall-themed items.

Needed Materials: Colored paper, glue, scissors, markers (optional)

Creative Fall Crafts for Kids

These creative fall crafts encourage kids to combine various materials and techniques to create seasonal projects. They allow for experimentation with color, texture, and design while keeping children engaged and hands-on.

16. Mixed-Media Pumpkin Patch

Draw or trace pumpkin shapes on paper. Kids can paint the pumpkins, then add collage materials such as scraps of colored paper, tissue, or magazine cutouts for texture. Use markers to add details like stems, lines, or patterns.

Layering paint, collage, and markers creates a fun, textured pumpkin patch scene. This activity encourages creativity and helps develop fine motor skills as participants experiment with multiple materials.

Needed Materials: Paper, paint, collage materials (colored paper, tissue, magazine scraps), markers, glue

17. Leaf Crown or Headband

Cut a strip of paper to fit around a child’s head. Attach paper or real leaves along the strip using glue or tape, layering different colors and shapes for a fuller crown.

Once complete, the crown can be worn for play, photos, or fall celebrations. This craft encourages creativity, color recognition, and basic cutting and gluing skills while letting kids experiment with arranging leaves.

Needed Materials: Paper or real leaves, glue, tape, scissors

18. Leaf Pressing with Clay

Roll out a slab of air-dry clay, then place a leaf flat onto the surface. Gently press down on the leaf to make an imprint in the clay, capturing its texture and shape.

Carefully remove the leaf, leaving a natural design behind. Let the clay dry, then paint the imprint or leave it as is. These clay leaf impressions can be turned into ornaments or small decorative pieces.

Needed Materials: Air-dry clay, leaves, paint (optional)

19. Yarn-Wrapped Cardboard Shapes

Cut pumpkin, leaf, or tree shapes from cardboard. Wrap colorful yarn around each shape, gluing the ends securely. Kids can mix yarn colors for patterns or create a solid color design.

These yarn-wrapped shapes can be displayed on walls, used in collages, or strung together as decorations. This craft promotes hand-eye coordination, patience, and creativity with textures.

Needed Materials: Cardboard, yarn, glue, scissors

20. Handprint Turkey Banner

Paint each child’s hand with different colors and press it onto paper to make a turkey’s feathers. Draw or paint a turkey body on each handprint.

Repeat on several sheets, then attach them to a string to create a banner. This banner can be hung for Thanksgiving or fall decoration. It’s a fun group activity that develops motor skills and encourages teamwork.

Needed Materials: Paper, paint, paintbrushes, string, markers (optional)

21. Paper Bag Pumpkins

Stuff small paper bags with newspaper or tissue to create round pumpkin shapes. Twist the tops and secure with tape or rubber bands.

Paint or color the bags in orange, then add stems, leaves, or faces with markers or paper. Kids can make pumpkins of different sizes and colors, creating a fun fall display while practicing hand-eye coordination.

Needed Materials: Paper bags, newspaper or tissue, paint, markers, tape or rubber bands

22. Pinecone Forest

During a nature walk, collect pinecones, acorns, twigs, and small rocks. Back home, glue the natural materials onto a piece of cardboard to create a mini forest scene.

Arrange the pinecones as trees, use acorns for animals, and rocks for pathways. This craft helps kids learn about the outdoors while improving fine motor skills through arranging and gluing materials.

Needed Materials: Pinecones, acorns, twigs, small rocks, cardboard, glue

23. Painted Pinecone Turkeys

Paint pinecones in fall colors for the turkey body. Cut paper feathers and glue them to the pinecone. Add small details for eyes, beak, and wattle.

Kids can make multiple turkeys to display as decorations. This activity builds painting skills, fine motor coordination, and creativity while letting children work with simple, natural materials.

Needed Materials: Pinecones, paint, paper, glue, markers (optional)

24. Autumn Suncatchers

Cut leaf shapes from tissue paper and place them on contact paper. Cover with another sheet to seal the design. Hang the suncatcher in a sunny window to brighten a room.

Kids can mix colors and layer leaves to create patterns. This craft develops cutting skills, color recognition, and hands-on creativity while producing a cheerful seasonal decoration.

Needed Materials: Tissue paper, contact paper, scissors

25. Cork Stamp Leaves

Cut corks into simple leaf shapes with adult supervision. Dip the cork stamps into paint and press onto paper to create patterns. Kids can try different colors and directions to make unique designs.

This activity encourages creativity, hand-eye coordination, and pattern-making while offering a fun stamping project that can be turned into cards or wall art.

Needed Materials: Corks, paint, paper, knife or cutter (adult supervision)

26. Acorn Necklaces

Paint acorns in different fall colors and let them dry. Thread the painted acorns onto a piece of string or yarn to create necklaces or bracelets.

Children can mix colors, patterns, and bead spacing to make each piece unique. This activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination while turning natural materials into wearable fall art.

Needed Materials: Acorns, paint, string

27. Pumpkin Spice Paint Art

Mix cinnamon or nutmeg into paint to create scented fall artwork. Kids can paint on paper using brushes or fingers, enjoying the added sensory element.

Experiment with layering colors or making leaf, pumpkin, or abstract designs. This craft encourages creativity, sensory exploration, and painting skills, making art both fun and aromatic for a true fall experience.

Needed Materials: Paint, cinnamon or nutmeg, paper, brushes

28. Pumpkin Carving with Playdough

Take a lump of playdough and shape it into a small pumpkin. Use plastic tools to carve out faces or patterns, just like traditional pumpkin carving, but safely with playdough.

Encourage kids to get creative by adding details like little playdough leaves or stems on top. This activity offers a fun, mess-free alternative to carving real pumpkins while helping kids practice fine motor skills.

Needed Materials: Playdough, plastic tools

29. Cardboard Leaf Lanterns

Cut leaf shapes into a cardboard cylinder or box to create a lantern holder. Place a tealight or LED light inside to cast leaf-shaped shadows.

Kids can design different leaf patterns and layer shapes for extra detail. This project helps with cutting skills, planning, and creativity while producing a decorative fall lantern for home display.

Needed Materials: Cardboard, scissors, tealights (battery-operated recommended)

30. Fabric Leaf Collage

Cut or tear scrap fabric into leaf shapes and arrange them on paper. Glue the pieces in layers, mixing textures and patterns to create a colorful fall collage.

This activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, color recognition, and texture awareness while giving fabric scraps a new purpose. The finished artwork can be displayed on walls or used as a handmade card.

Needed Materials: Fabric scraps, glue, paper, scissors

Nature-Inspired Fall Art Projects for Kids

These projects encourage children to use natural materials collected outdoors, combining creativity, hands-on learning, and a connection to the fall season.

31. Nature Scavenger Art Walk

Take a walk outside and collect leaves, twigs, acorns, and other natural items. Arrange the collected materials on paper to create a collage, gluing them in place.

Kids can experiment with shapes, colors, and textures to make a unique fall scene. This activity encourages observation, creativity, and fine motor skills while turning a nature walk into a fun art project.

Needed Materials: Leaves, twigs, acorns, glue, paper

32. Twig Frame Art

Use twigs to create decorative frames for pictures or artwork. Break or cut twigs into pieces, then glue them in patterns along the edges of the cardboard.

Children can arrange twigs in straight, diagonal, or crisscross designs. This craft helps with planning, hand-eye coordination, and creativity as it turns simple twigs into a functional and decorative frame for fall memories.

Needed Materials: Twigs, cardboard, glue

33. Pressed Leaf Bookmarks

Collect leaves and press them between heavy books for a few days to flatten and dry them. Place the pressed leaves between two sheets of laminated paper or cover them with tape to create a bookmark.

Kids can decorate further with markers or stickers. This craft promotes fine motor skills, creativity, and an appreciation for natural textures while producing a practical reading aid.

Needed Materials: Leaves, laminator or paper, tape

34. Nature Mobile

Find a sturdy stick and hang leaves, pinecones, and acorns from it using string or yarn. Attach items of different lengths to create a balanced mobile.

Children can arrange shapes and colors creatively to create a hanging decoration for their room. This project encourages fine motor skills, balance, and creativity while turning natural materials into a playful, moving display.

Needed Materials: Twigs, string, leaves, pinecones

35. Fall-Themed Collage with Magazine Scraps

Flip through old magazines and cut out pictures related to autumn, like leaves, pumpkins, and animals. Arrange the cutouts into a fun fall scene on a large sheet of paper.

Once satisfied with the layout, glue everything in place. This activity allows kids to practice their cutting and gluing skills while learning about shapes, colors, and the fall season.

Needed Materials: Old magazines, scissors, glue, large sheet of paper

36. Acorn Mosaic Art

Arrange acorns on paper to form a mosaic pattern or picture. Glue each acorn in place, experimenting with shapes, colors, and spacing to create a more detailed design. Kids can create pumpkins, leaves, or abstract designs.

This activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and pattern recognition while allowing children to work with natural materials to produce a textured, colorful fall-themed artwork.

Needed Materials: Acorns, glue, paper

37. Pinecone Bird Feeders

Spread peanut butter over a pinecone and roll it in birdseed until fully coated. Tie a string to hang the pinecone from a tree branch outside.

Children can watch birds enjoy their creation while learning about nature and seasonal changes. This craft develops fine motor skills and connects kids with wildlife while creating a fun, interactive fall project.

Needed Materials: Pinecones, peanut butter, birdseed, string

38. Acorn Sculptures

Gather acorns, twigs, and clay. Roll out small pieces of clay to form bodies, and use acorns for heads or main features of your sculpture. Attach twigs to create arms, legs, or even accessories.

Let the clay dry completely. Once dry, you can add more details with paint or markers to bring your acorn sculpture to life. Create tiny fall characters or scenes using your imagination!

Needed Materials: Acorns, twigs, clay or playdough, glue

39. Autumn Nature Crown

Collect twigs, leaves, and small flowers. Bend twigs into a circle and glue the leaves and flowers around it to form a full, decorative crown. Kids can layer colors, shapes, and textures to make each crown unique.

This craft encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and an appreciation for natural materials while providing a wearable fall accessory for play, photos, or display.

Needed Materials: Twigs, leaves, glue, flowers (optional)

40. Fall Leaf Lanterns

Glue pressed autumn leaves onto transparent colored paper, forming a lantern shape. Secure the paper into a cylinder and carefully add a battery-operated tea light inside.

The leaves will cast a soft, warm glow as the light shines through, making a beautiful fall decoration. This activity encourages fine motor skills and produces a charming, glowing lantern perfect for any room.

Needed Materials: Transparent colored paper or contact paper, pressed leaves, glue, battery-operated tea light

41. Pressed Leaf Wall Art

Collect colorful fall leaves and press them between sheets of paper, then place heavy books on them for a few days until fully flattened. Arrange the pressed leaves on cardstock or paper to create patterns, shapes, or scenes like trees or wreaths.

Glue them carefully and place the artwork in a frame. This activity encourages creativity, observation, and fine motor skills while turning natural leaves into a lasting seasonal decoration.

Needed Materials: Leaves, paper, frame, glue

42. Cinnamon Stick Ornaments

Start by gluing cinnamon sticks together to form shapes such as stars, hearts, or pumpkins. You can stack or arrange them in creative ways to build your ornament.

Once the glue dries, decorate the shapes with beads, ribbon, or small natural items, such as leaves. Add a string at the top for hanging. These ornaments will fill your space with a cozy, fall-inspired scent.

Needed Materials: Cinnamon sticks, glue, beads, string, decorations

43. Nature Collage Cards

Collect leaves, twigs, seeds, and other small natural items. Arrange and glue them onto cardstock or thick paper to make greeting cards. Children can create patterns, shapes, or autumn scenes while learning about textures and colors.

This craft promotes creativity, hand-eye coordination, and patience, resulting in personalized fall cards that can be given to family and friends for seasonal celebrations.

Needed Materials: Paper, leaves, twigs, seeds, glue

44. Autumn Silhouette Art

Paint a vibrant fall background with colors like orange, yellow, and red to represent autumn skies or trees. Once the background is dry, cut out silhouettes of trees, animals, or pumpkins from black construction paper.

Glue the shapes onto the painted surface. This project highlights the contrast between colorful fall hues and the dark silhouettes, creating a striking seasonal scene.

Needed Materials: Black construction paper, scissors, glue, fall-colored paints, paintbrushes

45. Autumn Nature Shadow Boxes

Use a shoebox to create a three-dimensional fall scene with leaves, twigs, and other natural items. Arrange and glue the materials to create representations of forests, trees, or autumn landscapes.

Kids can layer textures and colors to make each scene unique. This craft encourages imagination, spatial awareness, and creativity while producing a miniature seasonal display suitable for home decoration or gifts.

Needed Materials: Shoebox, leaves, twigs, glue, paper

Tips for Successful Fall Art Time With Kids

Fall art time can be fun and educational when planned well. With a little preparation, kids can enjoy creating without stress, while learning new skills and exploring their imagination.

• Choose Age-Appropriate Materials: Use safe scissors, non-toxic paints, and simple supplies for their skill level.
• Control the Mess: Lay down drop cloths, old shirts, or newspapers to protect surfaces and clothes.
• Focus on the Process: Let kids enjoy creating without worrying about a perfect result.
• Pick the Right Space: Use indoor tables for small crafts or outdoor areas for messy projects.
• Store and Display: Keep finished projects organized or display them on walls to celebrate their work.

Giving kids clear guidance and small choices helps them feel confident. Art time can also be a great way to teach colors, shapes, and nature. Most importantly, it’s a chance to have fun together and encourage creativity every fall.

That’s a Wrap

Fall art projects for kids are a fun way to enjoy the season while encouraging creativity and learning. Children can experiment with colors, shapes, and textures using leaves, pumpkins, pinecones, and other natural materials.

These activities help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving, all while giving kids a sense of accomplishment.

Displaying their finished work boosts confidence and creates lasting memories. Family members can join in, making craft time a shared experience.

Which fall art project will your child try first? Share your favorite ideas in the comments to inspire other families!