If your table’s covered in glue sticks and scraps of orange paper, you’re in the right place. These fall paper crafts are simple, colorful, and full of autumn charm.
Whether your kids are into scarecrows, apples, or woodland animals, there’s something here to match every mood (and attention span).
Want even more seasonal fun? Take a peek at our fall crafts for even more cozy ideas to try this season with your kids.
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Fall Paper Crafts
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Paper Football
Kids can celebrate football season by creating their paper football friends. Using a simple template and basic supplies, they cut out and glued together pieces to create a cute football with a smiling face.It's a hands-on fall sports activity that lets little fans practice their scissors skills and artfully show off their team spirit.
Kids glue paper leaves onto a hedgehog shape to form its spiky back. A printable template provides the hedgehog's body, and then children add fall-colored paper leaves (or even real dried leaves) as the quills, plus a fuzzy pom-pom nose for extra cuteness.They'll love how an ordinary leaf pile turns into an adorable woodland friend, making this a perfect autumn art project.Related: Hedgehog Tracing Worksheets
Little ones can create a bright pumpkin by gluing bits of orange tissue paper onto a pumpkin template. They tear or crumple the tissue paper and stick it down, filling the whole pumpkin shape with a colorful, textured look.This super-simple art is excellent for fine motor practice, and the finished pumpkin makes a cheerful fall or Halloween decoration.Also try: Pumpkin Headband Craft
Kids can make a goofy jack-o'-lantern face that's more silly than spooky. Using a free pumpkin template and some cut-out facial features, they mix and match eyes, mouths, and noses to give their paper pumpkin a one-of-a-kind, funny expression.This easy fall project sparks giggles and creativity as children design their silly pumpkin personality.
Kids practice the classic over-under weaving technique by making a colorful paper apple. They cut a large apple shape from construction paper and weave strips of paper in contrasting colors through it (over, under, over, under) to create a plaid pattern.The result is a bright fall apple project that doubles as a lesson in color contrast and a fun fine motor activity.Related: Back To School Apple Craft
Kids make their mini scarecrow for this fun fall project using simple cut-out shapes and clothespins. They use a free template for the scarecrow's body and hat and attach painted clothespins as the scarecrow's arms and legs.Children will love decorating the scarecrow's face and outfit, and after making it, they can even use their finished scarecrow as a little puppet for pretend play.Also try: Scarecrow Photo Craft
Combining farmyard fun with fall vibes, this activity lets kids make a scarecrow that's a chicken in disguise. They'll cut and assemble a goofy paper chicken with a little scarecrow hat and outfit using an easy printable template.It's a playful twist on a scarecrow that gets kids giggling and encourages imaginative play as they create their silly barnyard character.
For the letter A, kids get to turn the letter itself into a bright red apple. They trace and cut out a big letter “A” (using foam or paper) and then add a brown stem, a green leaf, and even little black “seed” shapes to make it look just like an apple.It's a clever alphabet art that helps preschoolers recognize the letter A while having hands-on fun creating something familiar.Related: Apple Dot To Dots
Kids can turn into little hedgehogs with this adorable wearable art. They cut out and assemble a paper hedgehog hat with spiky paper quills fanning out around a headband using a printable template.It's a fun autumn dress-up activity that kids will proudly wear, perfect for pretend play as their favorite woodland creature.Also try: Hedgehog Paper Craft
Even the little ones can make this simple paper pumpkin to celebrate fall. Using a basic template, kids cut out a pumpkin shape from orange paper and glue on a green stem (and maybe a friendly jack-o'-lantern face, if they choose).It's an easy, no-fuss project perfect for preschoolers to practice using scissors and glue while entering the autumn spirit.
In this easy 3D project, kids can make paper apples that stand up by themselves. With just some colorful cardstock, glue, and scissors, they cut out several identical apple shapes and glued them back-to-back so the apple opens up into a three-dimensional shape.It's simple but impressive—a fun way to celebrate autumn with a handmade apple decoration they can hold or display.Related: Apple Tracing Worksheets
Here's a simple harvest activity where kids make a colorful ear of corn using just paper and beads. Children cut out a corn cob shape from paper and then glue on lots of brightly colored pony beads as the corn kernels, creating a cool bumpy texture.It's an easy fall project for preschoolers that combines fine motor fun (picking up and sticking the beads) with a festive autumn theme.Also try: Corn Handprint Craft
Kids can enjoy apple picking indoors with this adorable handprint art. They'll trace and cut out their handprint to be the arm reaching up, then attach it to a paper tree branch filled with bright red apples (using the provided template for the branch and apples).It's a sweet fall activity that uses each child's hand as part of the art, making the experience personal and engaging.
Instead of using scissors, kids tear up paper to make this lovely scarecrow collage. They rip colored construction paper into small pieces and then glue those bits onto a scarecrow outline, forming the hat, face, clothes, and straw hair with torn paper scraps.It's a fun, hands-on way for kids to get creative with textures, and all that tearing and sticking is excellent fine motor practice for little hands.Related: Scarecrow Name Craft
Kids can turn their handprint into a cute acorn keepsake with a laced top. They'll trace and cut out their hand on paper to make the acorn's “nut,” then add a cardboard acorn cap on top that's been hole-punched and laced with yarn.It's a fantastic fine motor activity – all that threading practice – and the finished acorn features their handprint as a special touch.Also try: Paper Plate Acorn Craft
Kids can make their own pretend candy apples with this cute paper art. Using a free template, they cut out a paper apple and a popsicle stick handle, then decorate the “apple” with candy-colored paper drips, sprinkles, or any fun toppings they imagine.It's a sweet fall project that lets little ones enjoy the idea of a candy apple while practicing cutting and gluing – all without the sticky mess.
Kids make the scarecrow's face by folding paper accordion-style into a pinwheel circle, giving it a fun 3D look. They then glue on the scarecrow's features – googly eyes, a hat, and some straw-like paper hair – to bring this fall character to life.The result is an adorable scarecrow decoration that's as enjoyable to create as it is to display, using a clever paper-folding twist to give it extra dimension.Related: Scarecrow Activity Sheets
Here's a fun way to learn the letter “a” while making an apple. Kids use a free printable template to cut out a lowercase “a” from red paper. Then, they add a little green leaf and brown stem to transform that letter into a cute apple.This hands-on activity reinforces alphabet recognition (A is for apple!) as children happily create apple-themed letter art for fall.Also try: Apple Tree Name Craft
Kids get to practice spelling their name with this personalized acorn project. Using a free template, they cut out several paper acorns and wrote one letter of their name on each. Then, they glue the acorns in order (perhaps on a paper tree or in a row) to display their name.It's a fun fall activity combining art with letter recognition, so little ones can work on their ABCs while creating a cute autumn decoration featuring their name.
Preschoolers practice their shapes while making a friendly scarecrow. In this activity, kids use basic cut-out shapes – a circle for the head, triangles for the hat, rectangles for the body and arms, and so on – to build their scarecrow on paper.As they glue each piece to form a cute scarecrow, they're creatively reinforcing their knowledge of shapes.Related: Pumpkin Scarecrow Craft
With a handy template for all the pieces, kids can cut and glue paper shapes to make a cute scarecrow. From the hat and round head to the shirt and straw hair, the pre-designed shapes are easy for kids to assemble.It's a simple fall project that helps little ones work on their scissor skills and leaves them with an adorable scarecrow to celebrate the autumn season.
Kids can celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day by making their own mini Johnny Appleseed character. Using a printable template, they cut out and assemble a paper figure complete with Johnny's signature cooking-pot hat on his head and an apple (or sack of seeds) in his hand.It's a fun way to bring a classic American folk tale to life and get kids excited about the legend behind apple planting in the fall.
An adorable paper hedgehog that can wiggle its head and paws makes this project feel like a little toy. Kids assemble the baby hedgehog using a template and attach its head and arms with split-pin fasteners so the parts can move.They'll have a blast making the hedgehog nod and wave, adding an interactive twist to a fall art project and bringing their cute woodland critter to life.Also try: Hedgehog Worksheets
A simple 3D paper design allows kids to create a miniature fall tree that stands independently. They cut out a couple of identical tree shapes, slot or glue them together in the center, and then decorate the branches with red, orange, and yellow paper leaves.The result is a pop-up autumn tree that shows off the beautiful changing leaves—a fun way to celebrate fall while learning about the seasons.Related: Handprint Apple Tree Craft
Kids can create an adorable little fox using simple paper shapes. With the help of a free template, they cut out the fox's pointy ears, face, and bushy tail from orange and white paper, then glued everything together to make the fox come alive.This easy woodland animal art is perfect for a fall afternoon or a forest theme, and it lets preschoolers practice their cutting skills while creating a friendly fox friend.
With this ” A is for Autumn ” activity, little ones can work on their letters and fine motor skills simultaneously. Start with a large letter “A” cut-out, and have kids decorate it using small autumn items like stickers or paper leaves, which they place and glue along the letter's shape.As they carefully stick on each leaf or sticker, they practice hand coordination and reinforce the letter A while celebrating the fall season.
Turn a corn project into an alphabet learning activity! Kids make a paper corn on the cob and then add “kernels” that feature different letters – for example, gluing on letter stickers or paper dots with letters written on them.As they place each letter kernel onto the cob, they practice their ABCs in a playful fall-themed way, combining harvest fun with letter recognition.
Kids can create a beautiful fall tree by tracing their hands and arms to form the trunk and branches. They then glue on bits of red, orange, and yellow tissue paper as the leaves, giving the tree a colorful, seasonal look. This hands-on project also builds fine motor skills while encouraging creativity.It's easy autumn art with a personal touch, and kids love scrunching and sticking the tissue to create their fall foliage.
Even if you're short on time, this printable scarecrow activity makes it easy for kids to create an adorable fall friend. Print out the scarecrow template, have the kids color in and cut out the pieces (like the hat, overalls, and face), and then help them glue them together.It's a no-fuss autumn project that children can personalize and proudly display, bringing a little harvest-time to your fridge or classroom wall.Also try: Scarecrow Paper Cup Craft
Kids can create an adorable hedgehog on paper while learning about these spiky animals. Using a simple template, they cut out a hedgehog body and a bunch of paper “quills” to glue on its back, creating a cute critter that looks like it's peeking out from an autumn leaf pile.It's a fun fall project that lets kids practice their cutting and gluing and opens up a chance to talk about how hedgehogs live and what makes them unique.Related: Hedgehog Toilet Paper Roll Craft
Kids can imagine they're helping with the fall clean-up by making this cute rake and leaves art. Using a free template, they cut out a paper rake (complete with a handle and prongs) and then either cut out paper leaves or use real/plastic ones to create a pile of leaves at the base of the rake.It's a fun autumn project that lets little ones practice their scissor skills and celebrates the classic fall chore of raking leaves – minus the work!
With a few clever folds, kids can turn a sheet of paper into a cute fox finger puppet – no scissors or glue needed. This simple origami activity lets children fold an orange piece of paper into a bit of fox head that fits on their finger, complete with pointy ears and a drawn-on face.This hands-on project pairs perfectly with a favorite fox story, and once kids finish, they can play with their fox puppet and put on a mini puppet show.Also try: Fox Dot To Dots
Kids can dress up as cute little foxes by making this fun paper hat. Print out the free template and have them color it (if it's black-and-white). Then, cut out the fox face and ears and attach them to a band that fits around their head.They'll have an adorable fox headband to wear in no time— perfect for pretend play, costume parties, or a woodland animal theme day.Related: Fox Color By Numbers
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump, and more.