20+ Autumn Leaf Crafts for Kids That Make Fall Magical

Looking for fun and easy ways to keep your kids entertained this fall? These autumn leaf crafts for kids are simple, engaging, and perfect for toddlers to tweens.

With just a handful of materials (many of them free from your backyard!), your kids can create colorful keepsakes while building fine motor skills and creativity.

Whether you’re after educational crafts or just a cozy afternoon project, this list delivers.

These autumn leaf crafts for kids are designed to spark creativity while making use of nature’s most beautiful fall resource — leaves!

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Why Autumn Leaf Crafts Are Perfect for Kids

Short on time but want big creativity?
Autumn leaf crafts for kids are ideal because:

• 🍂 Leaves are free and easy to collect
• 🧠 Crafting boosts brain development and motor skills
• 🎨 You can sneak in lessons about nature, seasons, or color mixing
• 💛 They create sweet seasonal décor or keepsakes

Plus, no screens involved — just fresh air, glue, and giggles.

What You’ll Need for These Leaf Crafts

Most of these activities use simple supplies. Here are some staples to keep on hand:

• Fresh or dried leaves (collected on a walk!)
• Construction paper
• Glue sticks or Mod Podge
• Scissors (kid-safe)
• Googly eyes – Grab them on Amazon
• Paint pens or washable paint – Kid-safe paint options
• Pipe cleaners, glitter, and felt

Optional: use laminating sheets to preserve keepsake crafts!

🍁 20+ Autumn Leaf Crafts for Kids to Try This Fall

1. Leaf People

Let kids turn leaves into silly people with googly eyes, marker mouths, and yarn hair.

🛍️ Materials: Leaves, googly eyes, glue, markers
📌 Tip: Try laminating for a fun bookmark!

2. Autumn Leaf Suncatchers

Use wax paper and colorful leaves to make window décor that glows in the sunlight.

🛍️ Materials: Wax paper, leaves, iron (parent use), crayon shavings
🔗 Bonus: Learn about transparency and light!

3. Leaf Lion Craft

Turn a yellow or orange leaf into a lion’s mane on a paper plate face.

🛍️ Paper plates, leaves, glue, markers

4. Leaf Print Art

Paint one side of a leaf and press onto paper to reveal beautiful textures and vein patterns.

🎨 Great for learning about plant biology and symmetry.

5. Leaf Puppets

Stick leaves onto popsicle sticks and draw on faces. Let the puppet show begin!

🛍️ Craft sticks, leaves, glue, googly eyes

6. Tissue Paper Leaf Collage

Cut leaf shapes from paper and fill them with tissue paper for a stained-glass effect.

7. Leaf Crowns

Wrap your little one’s head in nature’s tiara with a leafy crown.

🛍️ Tape, glue, leaves, paper band for the base
👑 Perfect for fall-themed play!

8. Leaf Hedgehog Craft

Use a pinecone or brown paper for the body, and glue on leaves for spikes.

🦔 Adds a fun woodland animal twist!

9. Painted Leaf Rocks

Glue painted leaves to stones to create nature art you can keep on your porch.

10. Autumn Leaf Garland

This is one of the best autumn leaf crafts for kids to help decorate their room or your front entryway.

Glue leaves onto string or twine and hang across a mantel or window.

🍂 Great for holiday or Thanksgiving decorating.

If you’re looking for quiet-time ideas, autumn leaf crafts for kids are the perfect blend of calm and creativity.

11. Leaf Lanterns

Glue leaves onto mason jars, add a tealight, and let your lantern glow.

🛍️ Battery-powered tealights

12. Leaf Maze Craft

Use leaves to create a paper maze—kids can trace their finger through to escape!

13. Thankful Leaf Tree

Each day, write something you’re thankful for on a leaf and glue it to a paper tree.

🧠 Encourages gratitude and reflection.

14. Nature Faces

Use leaves, acorns, sticks, and pine needles to form silly faces on the sidewalk or paper.

15. Leaf Rubbing Art

Place leaves under paper and rub over with crayons to reveal outlines and veins.

🔍 Great for sensory learning and science tie-ins.

Teachers love using autumn leaf crafts for kids to introduce lessons on seasons, colors, and leaf anatomy.

16. Leaf Butterflies

Use two leaves for wings, a stick for the body, and decorate with glitter and markers.

🦋 Ideal for preschool and kindergarten crafts.

17. Leaf Mobile

Hang decorated leaves from sticks or embroidery hoops to make a hanging mobile.

🛍️ Embroidery hoop set

18. Pressed Leaf Bookmarks

Press leaves between heavy books for a week, then laminate and decorate.

📚 A wonderful homemade gift for grandparents!

19. Leaf Alphabet Matching

Write letters on leaves and let your child match them to printed letters on a board.

🔡 Great literacy practice for toddlers and preschoolers.

20. Leaf Wreaths

Cut out a paper plate center and glue leaves around the ring to make a fall wreath.

🛍️ Scissors, craft glue, leaves

21. Leaf Rainbow Sort

Gather leaves in a range of colors and arrange in rainbow order.
🌈 Teaches color recognition and categorization.

Whether you’re crafting at home or in a classroom, these autumn leaf crafts for kids will keep little hands busy and minds engaged.

📌 Fall Crafting Tips for Parents

• 🍁 Go on a leaf hunt together—it’s part of the fun!
• 🧽 Keep wipes handy for glue messes
• 🌬️ Don’t craft near a fan unless you want flying leaves!

🧡 Related Posts You’ll Love

• 18 Easy and Cute Fall Crafts for Kids
• 49 Fun and Educational Fall Activities for Toddlers
• 17 Adorable Christmas Crafty Activities for Kids
• Best Non-Toxic Crayons for Toddlers

🧠 FAQ: Autumn Leaf Crafts for Kids

Tried one of these autumn leaf crafts for kids? Share your child’s favorite in the comments!

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💬 Tried one of these crafts? Leave a comment and share your favorites!