Fall Into Crafting: 8 DIY Kids’ Crafts with Natural Autumn Materials
Autumn is a treasure trove for crafting. The leaves, pinecones, acorns, sticks, seed pods, and crisp air all beckon children to explore, collect, and create. Whether you’re at home, in the classroom, or on a nature walk, these projects can turn simple materials into keepsakes and decorations. Below are 8 fun, kid-friendly crafts using fall materials.
1. Leaf & Stick Collage Creatures
Turn your backyard treasures into a bug bonanza! This craft is all about using leaves, acorns, and twigs to build beetles, butterflies, and other crawling critters. Each creation is as unique as the materials your kids gather and no two bugs will ever be the same.
What you’ll need:
- Cardstock or thick paper
- Twigs and small sticks
- A variety of leaves (different shapes, sizes, and colors)
- Acorns or small seed pods (great for heads!)
- Glue
- Markers or crayons (optional for adding details)
How to make it:
- Start by gluing a few sticks to your paper to create the bug’s body or legs.
- Layer on leaves to form wings, shells, or other body parts.
- Add an acorn or seed pod for the head, and draw tiny eyes, stripes, or antennae with markers.
- Label each creation with your child’s name or the “species” they’ve invented because it’s fun to make up scientific-sounding names!
Why kids love it: This project turns a pile of fallen leaves into a full-on nature laboratory. It’s equal parts art, science, and imagination, and perfect for kids who love exploring outdoors.
2. Nature Magic Wands
Turn fallen leaves and tiny blossoms into something truly enchanting: a woodland magic wand! Kids will love collecting bits of nature to trap inside these sparkly wands that look like they’re straight out of a fairy tale.
What you’ll need:
- Cardboard or thick paper (for the star outline)
- Scissors or a craft knife
- Clear contact paper or laminating sheets
- A sturdy stick (for the wand handle)
- Small natural treasures: leaves, petals, seeds, dried flowers, glitter, or confetti
- Glue or tape
- Twine or ribbon for decoration
How to make it:
- Cut out two matching star shapes from cardboard, then cut a smaller star inside each one to create a frame.
- Stick one star frame onto a piece of clear contact paper, sticky side up.
- Let your child sprinkle in their collected treasures (leaves, flower petals, or sparkly bits) arranging them however they like.
- Seal it by pressing the second piece of contact paper on top, then trim around the edges.
- Glue or tape the star to the top of a stick and wrap twine or ribbon around the base for a magical finishing touch.
Why kids love it: It’s part art project, part pretend play. Once finished, these wands are perfect for fairy adventures, forest games, or casting kindness spells around the house!
3. Cardboard Flower Vases
Bring a little nature indoors with this clever twist on flower arranging! Kids can design their own vases on cardboard, then fill them with real flowers and leaves they collect from the yard or a walk. It’s the perfect mix of art, sensory play, and nature exploration.
What you’ll need:
- A piece of cardboard (recycled boxes work great)
- A black marker or crayon
- A pencil or pen for poking holes
- Freshly picked flowers, leaves, and stems
- Optional: paint or colored markers for decorating the vase
How to make it:
- Start by drawing the outline of a vase or pot on the front of your cardboard. Get creative, make them tall, round, or patterned!
- Use a pencil or pen to poke small holes across the top of the vase area.
- Go outside and gather flowers, grasses, and leaves.
- Carefully push the stems through the holes so it looks like a real bouquet growing from your drawn vase.
- Swap out the flowers as they wilt and refill your “vase” again and again!
Why kids love it: It’s hands-on, easy to personalize, and turns their flower-picking adventures into something they can proudly display at home.
4. Fall Leaf Wreath
Nothing says “autumn” like a wreath made from real fall leaves! This simple craft lets kids gather their own materials from outside, then create a beautiful piece of seasonal décor that’s totally unique.
What you’ll need:
- A piece of cardboard (cut into a large ring shape)
- Scissors
- Glue or a glue stick
- A collection of colorful fall leaves
- Optional: pinecones, ribbon, acorns, or other nature finds
How to make it:
- Cut out a large circle from cardboard, then cut out the center to make a ring.
- Spread glue all around the ring.
- Layer leaves on top, overlapping them to create a full, textured wreath.
- Add extra decorations like pinecones, acorns, or a bow made from ribbon.
- Let it dry completely, then hang it on your door or in a window to show off your fall creation!
Why kids love it: It’s big, colorful, and easy for all ages. Plus, they get to collect their own “craft supplies” from the yard making the whole process feel like a fall adventure from start to finish.
5. Nature Scavenger Hunt
This simple activity turns a walk outside into a colorful scavenger hunt! Kids will love searching for natural treasures that match every shade of the rainbow from bright yellow flowers to deep green leaves.
What you’ll need:
- An empty egg carton
- Paint or markers in a variety of colors
- A paintbrush
- Optional: magnifying glass or small basket for collecting extras
How to make it:
- Paint the inside of each egg cup a different color:][” red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and any others you’d like to include.
- Once dry, head outside and challenge your kids to find something from nature that matches each color. Think flowers, leaves, berries, bark, pinecones, or even rocks!
- Place each item in its matching colored cup.
- Once you’ve filled the carton, talk about the textures, shapes, and smells of your discoveries.
Why kids love it: It’s part treasure hunt, part art project! This simple game helps kids notice small details in nature and sparks curiosity, plus, it’s easy to reset and play again on your next adventure.
6. Flower Bracelets
Let kids wear their nature finds proudly with these sweet, simple nature bracelets! Made with tape and a few outdoor treasures, they’re the perfect on-the-go craft for a walk, picnic, or backyard adventure.
What you’ll need:
- Masking tape or painter’s tape
- Scissors
- Small leaves, petals, flowers, or tiny twigs (whatever you can find outside!)
How to make it:
- Cut a strip of masking tape long enough to wrap loosely around your child’s wrist.
- Wrap it sticky-side out so the adhesive is facing outward.
- Go exploring! As you walk, pick small bits of nature like petals, leaves, or even grass, and stick them directly onto the tape.
- Once the bracelet is full, trim or fold any edges and press lightly so everything stays in place.
Why kids love it: It’s like turning a nature walk into wearable art! Kids can make a new one every time they explore, and no two bracelets will ever look the same.
7. Nature Crowns
Every little explorer deserves a crown! These cardboard-and-flower creations are perfect for celebrating a day outdoors. Kids can design their own and fill them with fresh finds from the garden or park.
What you’ll need:
- Cardboard (cut into a long strip wide enough for a crown)
- Scissors
- Hole punch or a pencil to make holes
- Yarn, twine, or colorful string
- Fresh flowers, leaves, or herbs
- Tape or stapler
How to make it:
- Cut a long strip of cardboard and shape the top into points or waves like a crown.
- Use a hole punch to make small holes all along the strip.
- Thread yarn or string through the holes in any pattern you like: zigzags, loops, or crisscrosses.
- Slide flowers, leaves, or greenery through the holes or tuck them behind the yarn.
- Fit the crown to your child’s head and secure it with tape or staples at the ends.
Why kids love it: They get to be kings, queens, and woodland fairies all while using their imagination and creativity. Plus, each crown changes with the season depending on what nature provides!
8. Forest Critter Masks
Transform into a forest creature with this imaginative nature mask craft! Kids can create their own disguises using fallen leaves, seed pods, and other treasures from the ground. Perfect for pretend play or a cozy fall afternoon project.
What you’ll need:
- Cardboard or thick paper (for the mask base)
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- String or elastic
- Glue
- A collection of leaves, twigs, seeds, or petals
How to make it:
- Cut a mask shape from cardboard, an oval or “bean” shape works great! Cut out two eye holes.
- Punch a hole on each side and attach string or elastic to tie around your head.
- Arrange leaves around the mask, layering them for texture and color. Use glue to attach them securely.
- Add other natural details like twigs for eyebrows, acorn caps for decoration, or flower petals for flair.
- Let it dry, then put it on and become a woodland creature, fall fairy, or forest superhero!
Why kids love it: It combines art, dress-up, and imagination all using natural materials they collect themselves. Each mask is completely unique, just like the child who makes it.
Tips for a Successful Kids’ Craft Session
- Go on a nature walk first. Let each child collect a little basket of leaves, twigs, acorns, etc. The gathering is part of the excitement.
- Press leaves early. If you want to preserve some leaves flat for suncatchers or locked-in collages, press them between wax paper or in heavy books a day or two beforehand.
- Have extras. Always collect more than you think you’ll need some break, get lost, or don’t suit the design.
- Glue wisely. White school glue works for most; for heavier or 3D builds, tacky glue or a glue gun (adult-assisted) helps.
- Protect your surfaces. Use newspapers, craft mats, or washable tablecloths.
- Encourage open-ended play. Let kids invent their own critters, patterns, or stories.
- Document. Especially with mandalas, ephemeral art, or nature sculptures — take photos of the finished pieces.
There’s something magical about crafting with materials found right outside your door. Whether your kids are making bug collages, fairy wands, or leafy crowns, these projects invite them to slow down, look closely, and see the beauty in nature’s tiny details.
Each leaf, twig, and petal tells the story of the season, and when kids use them to create, they’re not just making art, they’re building memories. So grab a basket, head outdoors, and let your little ones gather their own supplies. The best part? There’s no wrong way to do it.
When the day’s done, you’ll have gluey fingers, happy hearts, and a home filled with autumn treasures that remind you just how creative kids can be when nature leads the way.
Looking for something else? You can find more recommendations on the Recess events page!
