Six low cost autumn crafts for children

 The autumn season has arrived! The temperature is cooling, the leaves are changing colour and Halloween is just around the corner. Whether you're decorating your spaces or making your own spooky costumes, arts and crafts are a large part of this festive celebration.

Inspired by the changes in nature and in the spirit of Halloween, we’ve got some low-cost autumn crafts you might like to try. The Crafts combine classroom and household items with organic and natural materials you can find outside. By encouraging children to forage for natural materials such as leaves and twigs, you can promote sustainability and give new life to materials that might otherwise go to waste. This approach not only supports eco-friendly practices but also makes crafting more accessible for those facing budget pressures. Involving children in selecting their natural materials helps them learn about the autumn season, build a deeper connection with their local environment, and understand the value of using what’s available. Using these readily sourced resources ensures that each activity remains affordable, creative, and inclusive, maximising both educational benefit and enjoyment for the children.  

1. Stick Frame  

 

 This craft allows you to express your artistic freedom by getting creative with the natural elements available to you. Not only is it an enjoyable way for children to collaborate and engage with nature, but it also supports learning about seasonal changes and the world around them. This activity helps develop fine motor skills as children arrange and secure different items to build their unique photo frame, and it offers a sustainable approach to resourcing classroom crafts. For educational leaders, this craft demonstrates a practical, cost-effective strategy to enhance creativity without placing additional strain on catering or school budgets.  

 

What you’ll need:

• Sticks
• Rubber bands (753688)
• Clear tape (736481)
• Assorted natural materials (leaves/ shrubs / flowers)

 

Steps:

1. Tie the ends of four sticks together with rubber bands to create the base of your frame.
2. Stick clear tape across the frame so that the whole frame is covered.
3. Stick leaves, shrubs, and flowers to the tape.
4. Attach another rubber band to the top of the frame to allow you to hang it up.

 

2. Bubble Pumpkins

 

Repurpose cardboard rolls with a few other simple commonly used items to create this simple and fun autumn craft. Using resources such as orange paint, washing up liquid, and leftover craft rolls not only helps keep costs down but also encourages sustainable practices within your classroom or home. Children will enjoy turning ordinary items into vibrant bubble pumpkins, which can be used to decorate autumn displays, classroom walls, or even taken home as keepsakes. This project also supports essential skill development, including hand-eye coordination and creative expression, while giving learners a hands-on understanding of recycling and reusing materials. 

 

What you’ll need:

• Orange paint (307391)
• Washing up liquid (427711)
• Craft rolls (427817)
• Black pen (306225)
• White card (137014)

 

Steps:

1. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of washing up liquid into the paint.
2. Squeeze the toilet roll tube into an oval shape and dip one end into the paint solution.
3. Stamp the roll onto the card, pop the bubble it creates and leave it to dry.
4. Once dry, draw on your pumpkin’s faces and its stem with a pen.

 

3. PVA Glue Sun Catchers

Create intricate suncatcher designs using tree leaves, but be sure to stay patient and let them dry! This activity invites children to explore the patterns and textures of different leaves while introducing a fun way to brighten classroom windows during the spookiest time of year. PVA glue is applied to a leaf, and after adding shapes with black card, the design needs time to set before peeling. Children not only develop fine motor skills but also grow their awareness of natural materials and how sunlight interacts with colour and texture. This craft is an easy, hands-on approach that fits well into curriculum planning while highlighting the benefits of sustainable, collaborative crafting.  

 

What you’ll need:

• PVA glue (749125)
• Black card (113328)
• Large leaf

  

Steps:

1. Apply a layer of glue to the front face of the leaf.
2. Cut out circular or oval-shaped bits of black card and apply on top of the glue to create faces.
3. Leave to dry.
4. Carefully peel off the dried glue from the leaf and stick it onto a window.

 

4. Autumn Pumpkin Craft

Whether you use colourful leaves, shrubs, berries or sticks, there’s endless possibilities to make this autumn pumpkin craft unique. Children can collect a selection of natural materials from the school grounds or their own gardens, so every pumpkin design will be different and reflect the local environment. This hands-on activity not only encourages creativity and storytelling, but also promotes teamwork if done in groups, making it a valuable experience for both classroom and home settings. By using what is already available outdoors, educational leaders and staff can implement this craft without stretching budgets—demonstrating a sustainable solution for seasonal displays and themed lessons. The process also highlights the value of nature in art, helping children to notice the shapes, colours and textures that autumn offers.  

 

What you’ll need:

• Orange card (137707)
• Black pen (306225)
• Double sided tape (736740)
• Scissors
• Assorted natural materials (leaves/ shrubs / flowers)

 

Steps:

1. Draw an outline of a pumpkin on a piece of orange card.
2. Cut out the pumpkin from the card.
3. Stick down strips of double sided onto on side of the pumpkin.
4. Stick flowers, shrubs or leaves onto the tape.

 

5. Salt Leaf Craft

Create a vibrant Salt Leaf masterpiece, full of colour using just a handful of items. This craft is not only simple to set up but also offers an engaging, tactile experience that supports sensory learning and creative exploration. Children can observe how salt and watercolours interact, sparking curiosity about basic science principles while exploring artistic skills. Using easy-to-source materials, the salt leaf craft provides an affordable way to introduce unique autumn-themed artwork to the classroom or home. As children experiment with mixing colours and designing leaf patterns, they develop fine motor skills and gain confidence in their creative abilities. The final result is a striking piece of art that not only celebrates the beauty of autumn but also highlights the potential of everyday items to inspire learning and fun.

 

 

What you’ll need:

• White card (137014)
• PVA glue (749125)
• Watercolours (735906)
• Paintbrush (740004)
• Salt

  

Steps:

1. Draw a leaf on the card using glue.
2. Cover the glue with a layer of salt and shake off excess.
3. With a paintbrush, dab your choice of watercolours onto your salt leaf.

 

6. Leaf Monsters

These leaf monsters are another simple but creative way to get into the spirit of the season. Children can explore a variety of shapes and colours by using leaves collected from their school grounds or local park, which helps deepen their connection with the natural environment. This activity invites students to experiment with different materials, such as colouring pens and paint, to customise each monster’s design while supporting individual expression. By working together, pupils can share ideas and techniques, building collaboration skills and ensuring that everyone feels included in the creative process. For teachers and school leaders, this craft provides an accessible, cost-effective strategy to introduce autumn themes and support problem-solving, all while using resources that are easy to procure and support wider sustainability goals. The end results make for engaging displays that celebrate seasonal changes and the diversity of every child’s work. 

 

What You’ll Need:

• Googly/ wiggle eyes (303941)
• Colouring pens (75126X)
• Black paint (713074)
• Large leaves

Steps:

1. Gather your leaves from outside.
2. Use colouring pens or black paint to colour the leaves with the design of your choosing.
3. Use googly eyes or colouring pens to create the facial features of the leaf monster.

 

These festive creations can be a great addition to your autumn term arts and crafts curriculum. Check out the Seasonal Crafts and Activities Resources to browse the items for these crafts among our other products.
 
We’d also love to see how you and your students put your own creative spin on them. You can share them with us by tagging us on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook with #YPOCreateandMake.

For even more seasonal content check out our Pinterest page!