There’s nothing better than getting outside at this magical time of year. A cool, crisp walk with a bucket for collecting is basically guaranteed entertainment –
a simple fall activity and where a good chunk of these fall nature crafts start.
Even the ones using craft-store leaves or a printable template are inspired by what’s outside right now — this is a delightful shortlist of nature-inspired fall crafts for kids.
There’s leaf art, acorn projects plus a few nature-themed turkeys for November.
If no mess fall crafts are more your speed some days, that post is worth a look too. But today we’re getting our hands (and the kitchen table) properly autumnal!
Fall Crafts Using Foraged Materials
Nothing beats using exactly what you find on a walk. This section is all real leaves, pinecones and acorns, foraged first and crafted after.
Leaf Crown
Collected leaves threaded onto string for a wearable crown — a delightful fall craft that will keep little ones busy for hours!
See the full tutorial at Red Ted Art
Leaf Printing
Real leaves, paint, and paper — this one’s explicitly messy, so save it for a day you’re ready for it! The results can be super gorgeous though.
Pop over to Family Focus Blog for more details
Pine Cone Painted Fall Tree Craft
Use some foraged pinecones to stamp leaves onto a construction paper trunk — a clever, fun twist on the fall tree craft.
Jump over to Kidz Activity Zone for more details
Birds Nest Scavenger Collage
A relaxed walk in the great outdoors that turns straight into a craft — collect twigs, leaves, dry petals and anything else that takes your fancy, arrange on paper and keep secure with a sheet of contact paper on top.
A simple and beautiful fall nature craft for kids big and small.
Leaf Monster Craft
One of our own — a foraged leaf becomes a monster body, seed pods become arms, and googly eyes and pompoms finish the look. A firm favourite for wobbly toddler hands.
Jump over to the full tutorial for more details
Acorn Painting Craft
Roll real acorns through paint in a shallow tub for a marble-painting-style technique — process art with genuinely foraged materials.
Head over to Nature Inspired Learning for more details
Reverse Fall Leaf Craft for Kids
Tape collected leaves onto canvas, paint around them, then peel them off once it’s dry to reveal crisp leaf silhouettes — a lovely, slightly more grown-up process art technique.
Head to This Mamas Life for more details
Fall Leaf Lanterns
Real pressed leaves and Mod Podge on a jar, lit safely with a battery light — a beautiful, genuinely nature-based craft for the table.
Find out more at Fox Farm Home
Fall Leaf Tree Craft
Real leaves and branches build a mini tree — simple art at it’s best! Glue to paper and you’re done.
Get the full details at Mommy Evolution
Leaf People Fall Craft
The gentler cousin of the leaf monster with acorns standing in for eyes for a charming look.
Visit Fantastic Fun and Learning for more details
Pinecone Turkey Leaf Craft
Pinecones and leaves come together to create delightful turkeys! A fun toddler craft for fall and Thanksgiving.
Jump over to A Little Pinch of Perfect for more details
Andy Goldsworthy Inspired Leaf Pattern
An outdoor nature-art project inspired by the artist’s land art. Arrange collected leaves into a pattern outside, building it up over several days of walks outside.
Get the full details at Red Ted Art
Fall Leaf Mask
A cardboard base covered in leaves with a popsicle stick handle — a simple fall craft for toddlers and instant dress-up prop!
Jump over to @naturskool for more details
Fall Leaves Bookmark Craft for Kids
Pressreal foraged leaves between cardstock and contact paper — a proper little keepsake and super cute nature craft for fall. This one has DIY gift written all over it!
Head to Mommy Evolution for more details
DIY Leaf Glitter
Dried, crumbled leaves become natural glitter — a clever, genuinely foraged alternative to the craft-store kind. Click the link for tips on a quick microwave-drying technique.
Pop over to Inspiring Savings for more details
Handprint & Fingerprint Crafts
Little hands make the best shapes for fall and autumn. These crafts turn simple handprints or fingerprints into a fun nature-themed craft for autumn.
Handprint Leaf Wreath
A multi-kid project that works beautifully for a classroom or playgroup — non-toxic paint, little handprints, plus a bit of scissor practice for toddlers and preschoolers who are ready.
Visit @creativeandbusysquirrels for more details
Acorn Lacing Craft
A handprint-based lacing craft using jute yarn — great fine motor practice. Tape the string ends first makes it much easier for smaller hands.
Pop over to @kidscraftroom for more details
Fall Fingerprint Tree Printable
Fingertip leaves dabbed onto a printed tree template — a great fine motor option for the littlest crafters and a gorgeous keepsake to mark the season.
Pop over to @bentocrush for more details
Handprint Fall Tree Craft
A painted or paper trunk topped with toddler handprints standing in for leaves — a keepsake-style craft all ages can enjoy.
Head over to @letstalkmomming for more details
Acorn and Pumpkin Handprint Art
The most involved handprint craft in this whole roundup — fingers get painted in different colours for a layered, detailed effect.
Check it out at Instagram
Acorn Handprint Garland
Handprints transformed into little acorns and strung into a garland. Another one that’s perfect for a group setting, this will make a lovely preschool craft to celebrate fall – it’ll be simply gorgeous hanging in the classroom.
Get the full details at @lindamydlak
Craft Store & Mixed Material Crafts
Bring the colors of the season inside with these beautiful nature-themed fall and autumn crafts made with faux leaves and other craft-store staples.
Autumn Tree Painting Craft With Sponges
For a nice sensory step up from a regular paintbrush, cut up old sponges into a variety of shapes. Use these and some paint in shades of red, orange and yellow to stamp leaves onto a sketched out tree.
Jump over to Cendu Param for more details
Fall Leaves Wreath Craft
A paper plate with the centre cut out, craft leaves, and a ribbon hanger — a super easy fall craft for 2 year olds and older that’ll brighten up the front door in an instant!
Check it out at Honey And Lime
Easy Fall Leaf Craft for Toddlers
Tape a square of contact paper to the window and hand over faux leaves to your toddler. Super simple, zero mess and a craft little ones can come and revisit time and time again! The possibilities are endless!
Head to Mom In The Six for more details
Bubble Wrap Fall Tree
Use bubble wrap to print a simple and effective round leaf pattern to a tree silouette. A fun and creative craft activity for little ones to try this autumn.
Visit Red Ted Art for more details
Coffee Filter Fall Leaves Craft
Coffee filter papers are super fun to use when crafting with little kids. They love watching drops of paint or dabs of sharpie spread and merge across the paper!
For this simple fall craft, drop red, yellow and orange paint to create beautiful fall or autumn leaves.
Click the link below for the free leaf template.
Head to Mom Brite for more details
Craft Leaf Puppets
Leaf puppets that stand the test of time? Yes please! Use faux leaves for plenty of pretend play opportunities – little ones will be entertained for hours!
Visit This Tiny Blue House for more details
Nature-Themed Fall Crafts With Free Printables
Sometimes you just want to print and create. These free printables and templates will take the prep work out of crafting with kids this fall.
Free Printable Turkey Leaf Craft
Faux or real leaf feathers on a turkey template — a printable that makes this simple fall craft easy to pull together.
Visit Simple Everyday Mom for more details
Tissue Paper Maple Leaf
Scrunched tissue paper filled onto a maple leaf template — a lovely fall activity that helps strengthen littler hands and develop coordination.
See the full tutorial at Two Pink Peonies
Autumn Leaf Printable Activity
A free printable you color, cut and then stick to make your own leafy collage.
Check it out at In the Playroom
FREE Printable Leaf Garland
A group or classroom-friendly project — cut out the leaves from the template, draw on the veins, thread, and string up a garland. Great for preschool or daycare settings.
Get the full details at Ottawa Mommy Club
Printable Autumn Leaf Wreath
Little ones can cut, colour and stick their way to a wreath that works just as well in a classroom display as it does on your own front door.
See the full tutorial at Artsy Fartsy Mama
Paper Bag Acorn Craft With Free Template
A simple paper bag acorn that doubles as a puppet once you’ve put it altogether — two activities for one bit of prep!
Visit In the Bag Kids Crafts for more details
Which Nature Craft Will You Try First This Autumn?
A foraging walk followed by leaf printing, a quick acorn craft while dinner’s in the oven, or a leaf lantern for a cosy evening. There’s a fall nature craft here for every kind of afternoon.
If you’re after easy autumn crafts for kids that lean a little less into foraged materials, our other fall roundups have plenty more to dig into.
