Easy Fall Leaf Craft for Kids

Aug 26

School has just started and it won’t be long before leaves start changing color. My picture book Little Seasons: Autumn Leaves in coming out in a few days, and I wanted to share this easy tutorial so your kids can make cute little leaf characters just like the ones in the book.

This craft is perfect for the fall, but can be done at any time of the year. It should take you about 10-20 minutes to do, depending how fast your kids can color and cut. The low-budget supply list is simple and you might have all the materials already lying around if you’re lucky. Are you convinced to try it yet? Let’s go:

Cute Leaf Character Craft

Supplies needed:

Cardstock
Scissors
Crayons/pencils/markers
2 pipe cleaners
2 eyes - could be googly eyes, or cut/punch 2 circles from cardstock.
Holepunch

Directions

Have kids color one side of the cardstock. I instructed fall leaf colors, but my kid wanted a rainbow leaf. They can get creative!
Turn paper around and ask kids to trace their hand on the paper with a pencil. Splay fingers open for a maple leaf, or keep fingers together for a more tear drop shaped leaf.
Cut the hand shaped leaf out.
If cutting eyes out, use something about an inch in diameter to trace two circles and cut them out. (I used a spool of thread. You can also use a hole punch if you have one that cuts large circles.)

5. Test eye placement

6. Color black dots to eyes if not using googly eyes. And glue in place.

7. Punch 4 holes to the bottom half of the leaf with a regular hole punch.

8. Thread the pipe cleaners through the holes in the leaf. Bend for arms and legs. You can cut the extra off the pipe cleaners, or bend them into little hands and feet.

9. Done! Enjoy your little leaf character.

We loved making this leaf craft and plan on making a bunch to hang as fall decorations. If you are looking for more fall activities, I have a whole bunch posted to go with my fall book launches. All activities are free on my website.