20 Super Simple Fall Crafts That Are Cheap, Easy, and Perfect for Christmas Gifts

Fall is one of my favourite times of year for crafting. The leaves are changing, the kids are excited about all the colours, and there are so many inexpensive materials you can find around the house or outside.

But there’s another reason I love fall crafts: they can help you get a head start on Christmas.

Instead of waiting until December and spending a fortune on gifts, why not let the kids make some thoughtful handmade presents now? Grandparents, teachers, daycare providers, neighbours, family members and friends often appreciate something made by little hands far more than another store-bought item.

And the best part? These don’t have to be complicated.

The two fall trees in the photo above are perfect examples. The kids used paint, their creativity and some fall decorations to create something completely their own. They don’t need to be perfect. In fact, I think the little fingerprints, messy brush strokes and crooked leaves are what make them special.

I also love crafts that use what we already have. My whole approach to crafting is very much the same as my approach to saving money: use what you have first and don’t make things more complicated than they need to be.

If you want more simple activities, check out my rainy-day umbrella craft for daycare kids⁠, which uses inexpensive supplies and lets every child create something completely different. 

So grab your construction paper, paint, glue and whatever else you have sitting in your craft cupboard, and let’s get crafting!

1. Fall Fingerprint Tree

This is one of my favourites and the inspiration behind the trees in the photo.

What you need:

• White paper or cardstock
• Brown construction paper
• Red, orange and yellow paint
• Glue
• Scissors
• Optional artificial leaves or fall stickers

How to make it:

Cut a large tree trunk and branches from brown construction paper and glue it onto your paper.

Then let the kids dip their fingertips into red, orange and yellow paint and create leaves all over the branches.

You can add a few paper or decorative leaves when the paint dries.

Gift idea: Write the child’s name and the year at the bottom. Grandma and Grandpa would absolutely love this.

2. Pinecone Owls

Collect pinecones during a fall walk and turn them into adorable little owls.

How to make them:

Glue googly eyes onto the pinecone, then add a small paper beak and wings.

You can use construction paper, felt or even scraps of cardboard for the wings.

These are cute little decorations that can be given as gifts or added to a Christmas tree.

3. Leaf Suncatchers

This is another great way to turn a simple craft into something that actually becomes part of someone’s home.

My apple suncatcher craft⁠ uses clear contact paper and simple supplies, and the same basic idea can easily be adapted for fall leaves. 

How to make it:

Cut a leaf shape from clear contact paper or use a paper leaf outline.

Let the kids fill it with colourful tissue paper.

Cover it with another piece of contact paper, trim the edges and add a ribbon.

Hang it in a sunny window and watch the colours shine.

4. Painted Rock Ladybugs

Who says ladybugs are only for spring?

Find smooth rocks and wash them.

Paint them red, let them dry, then add black spots and little faces.

Gift idea:

Put a few painted rocks into a small decorated box or basket and give them to grandparents as garden decorations.

5. Fall Mason Jar Lanterns

Save those empty jars instead of throwing them into the recycling bin.

How to make them:

Clean and dry a glass jar.

Add fall-coloured tissue paper leaves to the outside using diluted white glue or decoupage glue.

Once dry, place a battery-operated tea light inside.

Important: Use battery-operated lights rather than real candles, especially when children are making these.

6. Popsicle Stick Scarecrows

Popsicle sticks are one of the cheapest craft supplies you can keep around.

How to make them:

Glue several popsicle sticks together to create the scarecrow’s face.

Add:

• Googly eyes
• A paper hat
• Yarn hair
• A marker mouth
• Buttons or paper decorations

These make adorable fall decorations or little gifts.

7. Fall Leaf Bookmarks

This one is especially good for older kids.

How to make them:

Cut a long strip of cardstock.

Decorate it with pressed leaves, leaf stickers, drawings or paint.

Cover it with clear contact paper to make it more durable.

Punch a hole at the top and add some yarn or ribbon.

Christmas idea: Make a set of three or four bookmarks, tie them together with ribbon and give them as a handmade gift.

8. Painted Acorns

Gather acorns during a fall walk and give them a makeover.

How to make them:

Clean and completely dry the acorns.

Paint them in fall colours, polka dots, faces or little characters.

Once dry, add a little clear glue or sealer if desired.

You can put several into a small jar as a cute fall decoration.

9. Toilet Paper Roll Turkeys

Don’t throw those empty toilet paper rolls away!

How to make them:

Paint or cover the cardboard roll.

Cut feathers from colourful construction paper and glue them onto the back.

Add googly eyes, a beak and feet.

These are especially easy for toddlers and preschoolers.

10. A Fall Leaf Wreath

You don’t need an expensive wreath form.

How to make it:

Cut a large circle from cardboard and remove the centre.

Let the kids decorate it with:

• Paper leaves
• Real leaves
• Tissue paper
• Pom-poms
• Acorns
• Ribbon

Punch a hole at the top and add string for hanging.

Christmas-saving idea: Make a few now and give them as fall gifts, or use the same technique with winter colours later for Christmas decorations.

11. Handprint Pumpkins

Handprint crafts are always special because they capture how tiny those hands once were.

How to make it:

Paint the child’s hand orange.

Press it onto paper.

Once dry, add a brown stem and green leaves.

You can also write the child’s name and age underneath.

These make wonderful keepsakes for parents and grandparents.

12. Nature Fairy Wands

Go outside and collect sticks, leaves and little pieces of nature.

How to make them:

Find a small stick and decorate it with:

• Ribbon
• Yarn
• Leaves
• Paper shapes
• Glitter
• Small pieces of fabric

Tie everything onto the top of the stick.

Kids can turn them into fairy wands, magic wands or even little fall adventure sticks.

13. Apple-Stamped Art

Cut an apple in half and use it as a stamp.

Dip the cut side into red, orange or yellow paint and press it onto paper.

Add a stem and leaf with markers or construction paper.

You can even turn the apple prints into pumpkins, apples or fall flowers.

My super cute apple suncatcher craft⁠ is another inexpensive apple-themed activity to try. 

14. Fall Leaf Garland

This one can be used as home décor or turned into a gift.

How to make it:

Cut leaves from red, orange, yellow and brown construction paper.

Let the kids decorate them with paint, crayons, markers or glitter.

Punch holes in them and thread them onto yarn or string.

Tie loops at each end for hanging.

15. Acorn Necklaces

These are inexpensive little gifts that older children can make with some help.

How to make them:

Paint or decorate acorns.

Once completely dry, attach them to string or ribbon.

You can make matching necklaces for siblings, friends or grandparents.

For younger children, keep small pieces away from them because acorns and other small craft pieces can be choking hazards.

16. Fall-Scented Playdough

Make homemade playdough and give it a fall twist with cinnamon, pumpkin spice or vanilla.

How to make it:

Prepare your favourite homemade playdough recipe and add a small amount of your chosen fall scent.

Let the kids make pumpkins, leaves, apples and other seasonal shapes.

Package it in a small sealed container with a homemade label.

Christmas idea: Make several little containers and save them for stocking stuffers.

17. Mini Fall Notebooks

You can turn ordinary paper into a cute handmade notebook.

How to make it:

Fold several sheets of paper in half.

Add a cardstock cover.

Staple the pages together or tie them with string.

Let the kids decorate the front with leaves, pumpkins, their names or fall drawings.

These make inexpensive gifts for teachers, grandparents or friends.

18. Painted Leaf Magnets

Turn colourful fall leaves into fridge decorations.

How to make them:

Use paper leaves or pressed real leaves.

Decorate them with paint, markers or glitter.

Once dry, attach a small magnet to the back.

Put several together in a little gift bag for a handmade Christmas present.

19. Fall Memory Jar

This is one of my favourite ideas because it’s not just a craft—it’s a memory.

How to make it:

Find a clean jar.

Have everyone write down favourite fall memories on little pieces of paper.

Add them to the jar along with colourful paper leaves.

Decorate the outside with ribbon or a handmade label.

You could even start one every year and read the memories together at Christmas.

20. DIY Fall Bath Bombs

Bath bombs can look expensive, but homemade versions can be surprisingly affordable.

How to make them:

Combine baking soda, citric acid and a small amount of oil.

Add a fall-inspired scent if desired, such as cinnamon or vanilla, and press the mixture into small moulds.

Let them dry completely before packaging them.

Wrap individual bath bombs in clear bags with ribbon and you’ve got an inexpensive handmade gift.

Make Fall Crafts Now and Save Money at Christmas

I think one of the biggest mistakes we make during the holidays is waiting until December to start thinking about gifts.

By then, we’re rushing around, buying things because we need them immediately and spending far more money than we intended.

Making handmade gifts throughout the fall gives you a completely different option.

You can make one or two things at a time.

Put them away in a Christmas gift box.

Then when December arrives, you’ll already have gifts ready to go.

And honestly, handmade doesn’t have to mean perfect.

The crooked fingerprints.

The extra glitter.

The leaves that aren’t quite where they were supposed to go.

The child’s name written in giant letters across the bottom.

Those are the things that make these gifts special.

That’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately as my own kids get older. Life moves ridiculously fast, and the simple things we do together can end up becoming the memories we remember most. I’ve written more about that in I Don’t Want a Perfect Family Life. I Want a Life We Actually Remember⁠. 

Don’t Buy More Craft Supplies Until You Check What You Already Have

Before you head to the craft store, check your house.

You might already have:

• Construction paper
• Cardboard
• Toilet paper rolls
• Mason jars
• Popsicle sticks
• Paint
• Glue
• Markers
• Yarn
• Ribbon
• Tissue paper
• Old magazines
• Buttons
• Paper bags
• Leaves
• Pinecones
• Acorns

That is exactly how I like to approach frugal living.

Use what you already have first.

I’ve shared more practical ideas for doing exactly that in my Zero-Waste on a Budget⁠ post. 

You can also check out my older collection of 7 Simple Fall Printable Crafts for Kids⁠ for even more inexpensive fall activity ideas. 

Handmade Gifts Can Be Better Than Expensive Gifts

I don’t think kids need to spend a fortune on Christmas gifts.

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that come with a story.

A grandparent receiving a handprint pumpkin years later will probably care far more about those tiny fingerprints than whether you spent $30 on something from a store.

A teacher might appreciate a handmade bookmark.

A neighbour might love a little fall decoration.

And your kids get the experience of making something for someone else, which is a pretty valuable lesson all on its own.

So this fall, put on some music, spread out some newspaper, pull out the paint and let the kids get messy.

Make the crafts.

Make the memories.

And put a few of those handmade treasures away for Christmas.

Because saving money doesn’t have to mean giving up the fun parts of the holidays. Sometimes it just means starting earlier, getting creative and using what you already have. ❤️