Autumn is in the air, and you can hardly look to the left or right without seeing an abundance of creative inspiration in the form of pumpkins, scarecrows, sunflowers, and foliage. Whether you prefer Halloween or Thanksgiving, they both provide plenty of inspiration for your next art project. Jack-o’-lanterns, witches, spiders, candy corn, and turkeys are just some of our favorites. We have something for every age and in every medium in our list below. So grab your favorite art supplies and get to work on some of these awesome fall art projects!
1. Fall Tree Sticker Scene
We love this idea because it is no-mess and low-prep. Make a tree on some white paper, then let your students go to town decorating it with a bowl full of fun fall stickers!
Try it: Fall Tree Sticker Scene
2. Pumpkin Picture Frame
What’s cuter than a pumpkin made from Popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners? One with your student’s face on it!
Try it: Pumpkin Picture Frame
3. Fall Leaf Suncatchers
Download a free leaf template at the link below and then grab some autumn-colored tissue paper to make these pretty suncatchers.
Try it: Fall Leaf Suncatchers
4. Fall Leaf Chalk Art
We love this project since it teaches an art lesson on positive and negative spaces. Use painter’s tape to put a leaf template on some black card stock, then let your students smudge chalk pastel all around it. Finally, remove the tape and admire the finished project!
5. Pumpkin Zentangle
Older students will surely enjoy this pumpkin doodle project. Zentangles are not only fun, they offer stress-relieving qualities for busy high schoolers!
Try it: Zentangle Pumpkin Drawing
6. Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Puppet
Be sure to have some pretty scrapbooking paper on hand so students have options to personalize their scarecrows. Once they’re finished, they can put on a puppet show for you!
Try it: Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Puppets
7. Sunflower Collage
This sunflower collage can work for students as young as preschool or as old as high school since the size of your scraps and the detail included are up to the artist.
8. Fall Collage
As far as fall art projects go, this one can be done last-minute since all you need is some construction paper, a Sharpie, glue, and some scissors. Have students create as many unique trees as they want before gluing them in the layout of their choosing.
Try it: Fall Collage
9. Turkey Headband
This turkey headband is the perfect craft to do before Thanksgiving break in November. While relatively easy, you may want to have an extra set of hands around to measure little heads.
Try it: Turkey Paper Headbands
10. Scarecrow Puppet
Making a puppet from a paper bag is a rite of passage for any kid, so why not have your students try their hand at this adorable scarecrow? Sit back and watch the imaginative free play once their puppet friends are finished.
Try it: Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Craft
11. Watercolor Spiderweb
Is there anything more tempting than a fresh set of watercolor paints? Equally pretty and spooky, these spiderwebs are the perfect art project for Halloween.
12. Jack-o’-Lantern Collage
No list of fall art projects would be complete without some Halloween imagery. Rather than have your old magazines end up in a landfill, why not use them to create a fun jack-o’-lantern collage?
Try it: Jack-o’-Lantern Magazine Collage
13. Black Paper Cat
Surprisingly simple to create, we just love these spooky black cats. This project will work on young students’ dexterity since they will need to fold their paper accordion-style.
Try it: Black Cat Paper Craft
14. Puffy Paint Candy Apples
These apples look so tasty we just want to take a bite out of them! This is simultaneously an art lesson and a science experiment since students will be mixing their own puffy paint.
15. Cheerio Corn Craft
Preschoolers will love gluing Cheerios onto their corn cobs, but make sure you have extra cereal since they will probably sneak a few!
Try it: Cheerio Corn on the Cob Craft
16. Paper Cup Witch
While not exactly scary, these sweet witches will be sure to delight your students. Although they are cute on their own, the light-up tea-light noses really put them over the edge!
Try it: Paper Cup Witch Craft
17. Fall Gnome
So simple and yet so adorable, we can’t get enough of these fall gnomes. Cut out a hat from some fall-themed scrapbook paper, select a fake fall leaf for a beard, then staple a nose on to tie it all together.
Try it: 3-Step Leaf Gnome Craft
18. Leaf People
Bring your students outside for a fall hike, have them collect leaves of all sizes and shapes, then let them create their own unique leaf person. Have some googly eyes and markers on hand so your students can get really creative.
Try it: Fun and Easy Leaf People Craft
19. Paper Plate Candy Corn
These paper plate candy corns are the perfect art project to do during the month of October. Grab your scissors and orange and yellow paint and get to work!
Try it: Paper Plate Candy Corn Banner
20. Candy Corn Flowers
While you’ll need to check for allergies before proceeding with this craft, the end result is just too precious. Once their masterpiece is complete, let your students enjoy the extra candy.
Try it: Candy Corn Flowers
21. Q-tip-Painted Pumpkins
Painting pumpkins should be included in any list of fall art projects. Q-tips make for the perfect paintbrushes for small pumpkins since you can make small, precise designs. Be sure to use non-washable paints if you want to display them outside.
22. Beaded Corn
This project is perfect for working on motor skills since students will need to string the beads on their pipe cleaners and twist them into shape. An added bonus is they make for the cutest table decor during Thanksgiving dinner.
Try it: Beaded Pipe Cleaner Indian Corn
23. Fall Doodle Art
This is the perfect art project to break out when you need a time filler since it can be worked on and then put away for later. The finished product will be oh-so satisfying to look at!
Try it: Autumn Doodle Art
24. Handprint Apple Tree
Finger painting is as synonymous with preschool as apple trees are with fall. This handprint/fingerprint tree will surely end up on refrigerators everywhere.
Try it: Handprint Apple Tree
25. Coffee Filter Trees
Who says coffee filters are just for coffee and window washing? Use a stencil to create a spooky tree silhouette, paint a coffee filter, then put it all together for the perfect window decoration.
Try it: Coffee Filter Trees
26. Toilet Paper Spider Stamps
We love this spider project since it is really two crafts in one. Have your students start collecting empty toilet paper rolls in the weeks before you plan to do this art project.
27. Pom-Pom Spiders
Another super-fun spider project that will make for the cutest desk pets during October.
Try it: Halloween Spider Kids Craft
28. Fall Wind Sock
You can use toilet paper and paper towel rolls for the base of these wind socks, or you can choose colored card stock folded into shape. You’ll also need some fall stickers and autumn-colored crepe paper to complete this pretty decoration.
Try it: Fall Windsock Craft for Kids
29. Acorn People
Simple and yet oh-so sweet, these little acorn people will bring a smile to anyone’s face. Use a premade template or create your own.
Try it: Cute Acorn Craft for Kids
30. Apple Stamp Pumpkin
Need another use for all those apples you picked on your annual trip to the orchard? Slice them and use them as stamps to create these fun pumpkins!
Try it: Apple Stamping Pumpkin Craft
31. Pumpkin Paint Mixing
This sensory activity also teaches kids about color mixing. The best part is the mess is contained within the bag.
Try it: Pumpkin Color-Mixing Activity
32. Balloon Turkey
Get your hands on some gold balloons, blow them up, and then supply your students with feathers, googly eyes, etc., to transform them into turkeys.
Try it: Thanksgiving Turkey Balloons
33. Pumpkin Stress Balls
Kids can use a funnel to fill orange balloons with rice. We especially love that it helps kids develop their gross motor skills. Finally, supply kids with Sharpies and let them decorate their pumpkin’s face.
Try it: Pumpkin Stress Balls
34. Washi Tape Pumpkins
Washi tape can be a little pricey, so stock up when it’s on sale. Have kids cut pumpkin shapes out of orange construction paper, and then let them decorate their pumpkins with orange and yellow washi tape. Finally, add a stem and some leaves.
Try it: Washi Tape Patterned Pumpkins
35. Puzzle Piece Wreath
We love a good recycling project that also doubles as a cute craft. Have your students scavenge at home for puzzles that are missing pieces. Then, gather all the puzzle pieces, paint them in fall colors, and let them dry. Finally, assemble them into a wreath and add a cute fall-themed bow.
36. Painted Acorn People
These acorn people are just too cute! We recommend using some acrylic paint markers so the details are easier to draw.
Try it: Painted Acorn People Decorations
37. Candy Wreath
As far as fall art projects go, this is one of the tastiest we’ve ever seen. Gather all different types of candy and a cardboard wreath base. Then, get gluing all your candy down before topping it off with a bow!
Try it: Halloween Candy Wreath
38. Mixed-Media Pumpkin
Some fall art projects, like this one, are best suited for older kids and teens since they are a bit more involved. Repurpose some old books by painting the pages and creating this high-end-looking pumpkin art!
39. Picasso Frankenstein
Teach your students about Picasso and his portraits, but make it Halloween-themed with this fun Frankenstein portrait.
Try it: Picasso Meets Frankenstein
40. Pasta Tree
Who doesn’t love a good macaroni art project? Have your students paint macaroni in fall colors. Then, while waiting for them to dry, have them create the base for their tree. Finally, glue those wonderfully fall-themed macaroni leaves on your tree or on the ground.
Try it: Fun Fall Art Projects for Kids