15 Easy Pumpkin Crafts for Kids to Celebrate Halloween

Autumn has come, and you know what that means – it’s pumpkin time! Whether you are looking for a rainy-day activity or want to get the wee ones interested in autumn, then these easy pumpkin crafts for kids are perfect for little fingers and big imagination.

There’s something in here for every age and ability, from simple toddler activities to more sophisticated designs for bigger kids.

1. Sock Pumpkins

Pumpkin crafrs made with socks.

Materials:

  • Orange tube socks
  • Rice or beans
  • Rubber bands
  • Green ribbon or felt
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Fill sock with rice, leaving about 2 inches at the top
  2. Twist sock closed and secure with rubber band
  3. Tie green ribbon around the “stem” area
  4. Fluff and shape until it looks pumpkin-ish
  5. Make a whole pumpkin patch in minutes

This is honestly one of those easy fall crafts for kids that works better than it has any right to. Kids love the tactile element, and you end up with cute decorations that actually look intentional.

2. Paper Plate Pumpkins

A paper plate painted in orange and black to represent a pumpkin.

Materials:

  • Paper plates
  • Orange paint
  • Black construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Paintbrush
  • Green construction paper

Instructions:

  1. Paint paper plate orange and let dry completely
  2. Cut triangle eyes and nose from black paper
  3. Cut a zigzag mouth from black paper
  4. Glue facial features onto dried plate
  5. Cut and glue green paper stem at top
  6. Hang with string or display on easel

Easy pumpkin paper crafts like this are perfect when you need a quick project. Paper plate crafts also help kids develop their cutting skills while creating something they can be proud of.

3. Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkins

A pumpkin craft made with toilet paper roll and pipeliners.

Materials:

  • Toilet paper rolls
  • Orange paint
  • Green pipe cleaners
  • Black marker
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Paint toilet paper roll orange
  2. Let dry completely
  3. Draw jack-o’-lantern face with black marker
  4. Cut pipe cleaner into small pieces for vines
  5. Poke holes in top and insert pipe cleaner “stem”
  6. Twist pipe cleaners into curly vines

These pumpkin crafts for kids are great because they turn something you’d otherwise toss into sweet autumnal decor. And the addition of the pipe cleaner vines provides the perfect amount of whimsy. Toilet paper roll crafts are fun and budget-friendly activities for kids all year round.

4. Handprint Pumpkin Art

Handprinted crafts made by toddlers.

Materials:

  • White paper
  • Orange paint
  • Green paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Wet wipes
  • Black marker

Instructions:

  1. Paint child’s hand orange
  2. Press handprint onto paper multiple times in circle shape
  3. Clean hands with wet wipes
  4. Paint green stem and leaves at top
  5. Let dry completely
  6. Add face with black marker if desired

There’s something magical about handprint crafts – they capture a moment in time that you’ll treasure forever. This is one of those preschool pumpkin crafts that works beautifully as a keepsake.

5. Coffee Filter Pumpkins

A pumpkin crafted with coffee filter.

Materials:

  • Coffee filters
  • Orange food coloring
  • Water
  • Spray bottle
  • Green pipe cleaners
  • Clothespins

Instructions:

  1. Mix orange food coloring with water in spray bottle
  2. Spray coffee filters with orange mixture
  3. Let dry completely
  4. Scrunch filters together in pumpkin shape
  5. Secure with clothespin at top
  6. Twist green pipe cleaner around clothespin for stem

The color bleeding effect makes these pumpkin diy crafts absolutely gorgeous. Kids are fascinated watching the orange spread across the filters, and the final result looks surprisingly sophisticated.

6. Yarn Wrapped Pumpkins

A small foam pumpkin covered with orange yarn and decorated with leaves made with green felt.

Materials:

  • Small foam pumpkins
  • Orange yarn
  • Glue dots
  • Scissors
  • Green felt
  • Hot glue gun (adult use only)

Instructions:

  1. Start at bottom of pumpkin with glue dot
  2. Wrap yarn around pumpkin in sections
  3. Secure with glue dots as you go
  4. Continue until pumpkin is completely covered
  5. Cut green felt leaf shapes
  6. Adult glues leaves to stem area

This is one of those autumn pumpkin crafts that occupies little hands for hours. The repeated wrapping action is rather calming, and the textured finish is so autumnal and snuggly.

7. Pumpkin Seed Mosaics

A kids crafted mosaic made with pumpkin seeds.

Materials:

  • Pumpkin seeds (cleaned and dried)
  • Orange paint
  • Cardboard
  • Glue
  • Paintbrush
  • Pencil

Instructions:

  1. Paint pumpkin seeds orange and let dry
  2. Draw pumpkin outline on cardboard
  3. Apply glue to small sections of outline
  4. Press painted seeds onto glued areas
  5. Continue until entire pumpkin is covered
  6. Let dry completely before displaying

Making these pumpkin arts and crafts for kids using real pumpkin seeds adds an extra level of authenticity to them. It’s a great way to make use of those seeds after carving, and the resulting piece has lovely texture.

8. Cupcake Liner Pumpkins

A craft made with cupcake liners.

Materials:

  • Orange cupcake liners
  • Construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors
  • Black marker
  • Green crayons

Instructions:

  1. Flatten cupcake liners
  2. Glue multiple liners overlapping on paper
  3. Cut green paper stem and leaves
  4. Glue stem pieces above pumpkin
  5. Draw face with black marker
  6. Color additional details with green crayons

These easy Halloween crafts kids are perfect for recycling leftover baking supplies. The layering of the cupcake liners creates such a wonderful dimensional design that looks so much more complicated than it is.

9. Pumpkin Slime

A pumpkin shape made with shaving cream and orange color.

Materials:

  • White glue
  • Orange food coloring
  • Shaving cream
  • Contact solution
  • Mixing bowl
  • Spoon

Instructions:

  1. Pour glue into mixing bowl
  2. Add orange food coloring and mix
  3. Add small amount of shaving cream
  4. Mix thoroughly
  5. Add contact solution one tablespoon at a time
  6. Stir until slime forms and sticks to the bowl

Kids are completely obsessed with slime, so these pumpkin crafts are guaranteed winners. The color is celebratory but still that wonderful satisfying stretchy texture they adore so intensely.

10. Pumpkin Suncatchers

Sun catcher made with orange tissue paper and contact paper.

Materials:

  • Orange tissue paper
  • Contact paper
  • Scissors
  • Black permanent marker
  • Hole punch
  • String

Instructions:

  1. Cut contact paper into pumpkin shapes
  2. Peel backing from one piece
  3. Let kids place orange tissue paper pieces on sticky side
  4. Cover with second piece of contact paper
  5. Draw face with black marker
  6. Punch hole and add string for hanging

When the afternoon sun hits these, they glow like real jack-o’-lanterns. It’s one of those kids crafts easy enough for tiny hands but impressive enough that adults stop and admire them too.

11. Pumpkin Stamps

Pumpkin stamps made by kids.

Materials:

  • Small pumpkins
  • Orange paint
  • Paper plates
  • White paper
  • Knife (adult use only)
  • Paper towels

Instructions:

  1. Adult cuts pumpkin in half
  2. Pat cut surface dry with paper towels
  3. Pour paint onto paper plate
  4. Press pumpkin into paint
  5. Stamp onto paper repeatedly
  6. Let kids create patterns and designs

Using real pumpkins as stamps makes these pumpkin kids crafts feel wonderfully authentic. The natural ridges create such beautiful prints, and kids love the satisfying squish of pressing them down.

12. Pumpkin Playdough

Pumpkin shapes made with dough and orange food color.

Materials:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1.5 cups boiling water
  • Orange food coloring

Instructions:

  1. Mix dry ingredients in bowl
  2. Add oil and food coloring
  3. Adult adds boiling water slowly
  4. Mix until dough forms
  5. Knead when cool enough to handle
  6. Store in airtight container

Homemade playdough always feels like magic to kids, and the orange color is perfect for fall pumpkin crafts. It will last weeks and provide endless creative possibilities.

13. Pumpkin Garland

A garland made of pumpkin shapes.

Materials:

  • Orange construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Hole punch
  • String or yarn
  • Black marker
  • Glue stick

Instructions:

  1. Cut pumpkin shapes from orange paper
  2. Draw faces on each pumpkin
  3. Punch holes at top of each pumpkin
  4. Thread string through holes
  5. Space pumpkins evenly along string
  6. Hang as festive decoration

This is one of those pumpkin preschool crafts that will totally change your entire room. Every child can personalize their pumpkin, and getting them on string together looks like they were professionally done.

14. Pumpkin Bookmarks

Bookmarks with the shape of pumpkins.

Materials:

  • Orange cardstock
  • Laminator and pouches
  • Scissors
  • Black marker
  • Ribbon
  • Hole punch

Instructions:

  1. Cut pumpkin shapes from cardstock
  2. Draw faces on pumpkins
  3. Laminate for durability
  4. Cut around laminated pumpkins
  5. Punch hole at top
  6. Thread ribbon through for bookmark

These pumpkin crafts are great for promoting reading in the fall season. The lamination keeps them usable, which children adore.

15. Pumpkin Masks

A pumpkin mask.

Materials:

  • Orange paper plates
  • Scissors
  • Black marker
  • Elastic string
  • Hole punch
  • Crayons

Instructions:

  1. Cut eye holes in paper plate
  2. Draw pumpkin face around eyes
  3. Color and decorate as desired
  4. Punch holes on sides
  5. Thread elastic through holes
  6. Tie to fit child’s head

There is no better feeling than seeing the grin on a child’s face as they wear their own handmade mask. These easy Halloween crafts for kids work perfectly in imaginative play and are also great costume accessories.

. . .. . .

The greatest thing about kids crafts is how they honor the imperfect loveliness of homemade creations. Some of the most precious ones are those which look beautifully homemade, constructed with sticky fingers and plenty of giggles.

Don’t forget to have everything prepared ahead of time with your materials, and don’t stress about allowing children to put their own personal touch on things. Happy crafting!

Up next: Thanksgiving! Click here for simple and fun Thanksgiving craft ideas your kids will love.

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