19 Easy Pumpkin Crafts for Kids

Autumn is upon us, and with it comes the vibrant hues of falling leaves, the crispness in the air, and the delightful anticipation of the holiday season. One of the most iconic symbols of this time of year is the pumpkin. Whether you’re gearing up for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or simply celebrating the beauty of fall, pumpkins offer endless opportunities for creativity and fun. If you’re looking for ways to keep your little ones entertained while also nurturing their artistic skills, you’ve come to the right place.

In this post, I’m sharing 19 easy pumpkin crafts for kids. Each craft idea features a pumpkin, probably the most iconic Halloween item there is! If you’re looking for a more varied range of Halloween crafts for your kids, then take a look at this post with 20 Halloween craft ideas for kids. I also have some fantastic pumpkin craft ideas for adults too.

These pumpkin-themed activities are not only a fantastic way to spend quality time with your children but also a great way to decorate your home with festive flair. So gather your crafting supplies, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to dive into a world of pumpkin-inspired creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a beginner, these projects are designed to be both fun and accessible, ensuring that everyone can join in on the autumnal fun.

19 Easy Pumpkin Crafts for Kids

1. Paper Plate Pumpkin

This simple craft uses a paper plate to create a fun and festive pumpkin decoration.

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Orange paint
• Green construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paintbrush

Instructions:

1. Paint the entire front of the paper plate orange and let it dry.
2. Cut out a stem shape from the brown construction paper and leaves from the green construction paper.
3. Glue the stem to the top center of the plate.
4. Glue the leaves around the stem.
5. Add a face or other decorations using markers or additional construction paper.

2. Pumpkin Seed Mosaic

Use pumpkin seeds to create a textured and unique pumpkin mosaic.

Materials:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Orange paint
• Green paint
• White glue
• Black marker
• Paper or cardstock

Instructions:

1. Paint the pumpkin seeds orange and green. Let them dry.
2. Draw a pumpkin shape on a piece of paper or cardstock.
3. Apply glue within the pumpkin shape.
4. Place the orange seeds within the pumpkin shape and the green seeds at the top for the stem. I switched it up a little in mine and added some strips of green to the main part of the pumpkin.
5. Let the glue dry completely before displaying your mosaic.

3. Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkins

Recycle toilet paper rolls into cute little pumpkins.

Materials:

• Toilet paper rolls
• Orange paint
• Green pipe cleaners
• Green construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paintbrush

Instructions:

1. Paint the toilet paper roll orange and let it dry.
2. Cut out leaf shapes from the green construction paper.
3. Glue the leaves to the top of the toilet paper roll.
4. Twist a green pipe cleaner around a pencil to create a curly vine, then glue it next to the leaves.
5. Optionally, you can add a face or other decorations using markers or additional construction paper.

4. Yarn-Wrapped Pumpkins

Create adorable pumpkins by wrapping yarn around a simple frame.

Materials:

• Orange yarn
• Green pipe cleaners or a second color yarn
• Black felt for face
• Cardboard
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut a pumpkin shape out of cardboard.
2. Wrap orange yarn around the cardboard shape until it is fully covered.
3. Twist a green pipe cleaner or colored yarn around the top of the yarn-wrapped pumpkin to create a stem and vine.
4. Add facial detail using black felt
5. Secure the ends of the yarn and pipe cleaner by tucking them under other strands or using a small dab of glue.

5. Pumpkin Paper Bag Puppets

Transform a paper bag into a fun pumpkin puppet.

Materials:

• Paper lunch bag
• Orange paint or construction paper
• Green construction paper
• Black construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Paintbrush

Instructions:

1. Paint the paper bag orange or cover it with orange construction paper.
2. Cut out eyes, a nose, and a mouth from the black construction paper.
3. Glue the facial features onto the front of the paper bag.
4. Cut out a stem and leaves from the green construction paper and glue them to the top of the bag.
5. Let everything dry before using the puppet for play.

6. Sock Pumpkins

Turn old socks into cute and squishy pumpkins that are perfect for fall decorations.

Materials:

• Old socks (preferably orange)
• Rice or stuffing material
• Rubber bands
• Green ribbon or felt
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun (optional)

Instructions:

1. Fill the sock with rice or stuffing material until it forms a round pumpkin shape.
2. Secure the open end of the sock with a rubber band.
3. Wrap a green ribbon or a strip of green felt around the rubber band to create the stem.
4. Optionally, use a hot glue gun to secure the ribbon or felt in place.
5. Decorate the pumpkin with additional felt shapes or markers if desired.

7. Pumpkin Sun Catchers

Create beautiful sun catchers using tissue paper and contact paper.

Materials:

• Orange and green tissue paper
• Clear contact paper
• Scissors
• Black construction paper
• Hole punch
• String or ribbon

Instructions:

1. Cut a pumpkin shape out of the clear contact paper.
2. Cut or tear the tissue paper into small pieces.
3. Peel the backing off the contact paper and place the tissue paper pieces onto the sticky side.
4. Cut out a stem shape from the black construction paper and place it at the top of the pumpkin.
5. Cover the tissue paper design with another piece of contact paper to seal it.
6. Punch a hole at the top and thread a piece of string or ribbon through to hang your sun catcher.

8. Pumpkin Rock Painting

Transform ordinary rocks into festive pumpkin decorations.

Materials:

• Smooth rocks
• Orange, green, and black acrylic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Sealer (optional)

Instructions:

1. Clean and dry the rocks thoroughly.
2. Paint the entire rock orange and let it dry.
3. Add a green stem at the top of the rock. You could also screw up some newspaper and stick that on as the stem too.
4. Use black paint to add facial features or other designs.
5. Once the paint is dry, optionally seal the rock with a clear sealer to protect the design.

9. Felt Pumpkin Faces

Create interchangeable pumpkin faces using felt pieces.

Materials:

• Orange felt
• Green felt
• Black felt
• Scissors
• Glue (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut a large pumpkin shape out of the orange felt.
2. Cut a stem shape from the green felt and attach it to the top of the pumpkin.
3. Cut various eyes, noses, and mouths from the black felt.
4. Let kids mix and match the facial features to create different pumpkin faces. You can use glue to make the faces permanent or leave them loose for repeated play.

10. Pumpkin Finger Puppets

Create tiny pumpkin finger puppets for imaginative play.

Materials:

• Orange and green felt
• Black marker or felt
• Googly eyes if you have them
• Scissors
• Glue
• Needle and thread (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut two identical pumpkin shapes from the orange felt.
2. Cut a small stem shape from the green felt and attach it to the top of one pumpkin shape.
3. Use a black marker or felt to add facial features to the same pumpkin shape. Stick on googly eyes or draw some if you don’t have any.
4. Place the two pumpkin shapes together and glue or sew around the edges, leaving the bottom open for a finger.
5. Let the glue dry completely before using the puppet.

11. Pumpkin Bead Bracelets

Make fun and festive bracelets using pumpkin-colored beads.

Materials:

• Orange, green, and brown beads
• Elastic string
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of elastic string to the desired bracelet length.
2. Thread orange beads onto the string to represent the pumpkin.
3. Add a few green and brown beads represent the stem and leaves.
4. Tie the ends of the elastic string together securely.
5. Trim any excess string and enjoy your new pumpkin bracelet.

12. Pumpkin Pom-Pom Garland

Create a festive garland using homemade or store-bought pom-poms.

Materials:

• Orange and green yarn
• Pom-pom maker or cardboard
• Scissors
• String or twine
• Needle (optional)

Instructions:

1. Use the pom-pom maker or cardboard to create several orange pom-poms.
2. Cut small pieces of green yarn to create stems for each pom-pom.
3. Tie the green yarn around the top of each orange pom-pom.
4. Thread a needle with string or twine and string the pom-poms together to create a garland.
5. Hang your garland as a festive decoration.

13. Pumpkin Sand Art

Use colored sand to create a beautiful pumpkin picture.

Materials:

• Orange and green colored sand
• White glue
• Cardstock or canvas
• Pencil

Instructions:

1. Draw a pumpkin shape on the cardstock or canvas.
2. Apply glue within the pumpkin shape.
3. Sprinkle orange sand onto the glued areas.
4. Apply glue to the stem area and sprinkle green sand.
5. Let the glue dry completely before shaking off any excess sand.

14. Pumpkin Paper Lanterns

Create charming paper lanterns that resemble pumpkins.

Materials:

• Orange and green construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue or tape
• Stapler (optional)
• Battery-operated tea light (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of orange construction paper in half lengthwise.
2. Fold one piece in half widthwise.
3. Cut slits along the folded edge, stopping about an inch from the opposite edge.
4. Unfold the paper and glue or tape the short edges together to form a cylinder.
5. Cut a strip of green construction paper for the handle and attach it to the top of the lantern.
6. Optionally, place a battery-operated tea light inside the lantern for a glowing effect.

15. Pumpkin Clay Magnets

Make small pumpkin magnets using air-dry clay.

Materials:

• Air-dry clay
• Orange, black and green paint
• Paintbrushes
• Small magnets
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Shape the air-dry clay into small pumpkins, make sure you make the stem and the face too. aLet them dry according to the package instructions.
2. Paint the dried clay pumpkins orange and add green stems. Paint the facial features black.
3. Once the paint is dry, glue a small magnet to the back of each pumpkin.
4. Let the glue dry completely before using the magnets.

16. Pumpkin Leaf Craft

Use real or artificial leaves to create a textured pumpkin collage.

Materials:

• Real or artificial leaves
• Cardstock or canvas
• White glue
• Scissors
• Orange and green paint (optional)

Instructions:

1. Draw a pumpkin shape on the cardstock or canvas.
2. Apply glue within the pumpkin shape.
3. Arrange the leaves within the glued area to create a textured pumpkin.
4. Optionally, paint the leaves orange and green before gluing them down.
5. Let the glue dry completely before displaying your leaf pumpkin.

17. Pumpkin Glitter Jars

Create sparkling pumpkin jars that can be used as decorations or nightlights.

Materials:

• Small glass jars
• Orange and green glitter
• White glue
• Water
• Paintbrush
• Battery-operated tea light (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix white glue with a little water to create a glue wash.
2. Paint the inside of the jar with the glue wash.
3. Pour orange glitter into the jar and shake it around to coat the inside.
4. Let the jar dry completely.
5. Paint the rim of the jar with the glue wash and sprinkle green glitter on top.
6. Optionally, place a battery-operated tea light inside the jar for a glowing effect.

18. Pumpkin Pasta Necklace

Use dyed pasta to create a fun and colorful pumpkin necklace.

Materials:

• Uncooked pasta (like penne or macaroni)
• Orange and green food coloring
• Ziplock bags
• String or yarn
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Dye the pasta by placing it in ziplock bags with a few drops of orange and green food coloring. Shake until evenly coated.
2. Lay the pasta out to dry on wax paper.
3. Once dry, thread the pasta onto a piece of string or yarn to create a necklace.
4. Tie the ends of the string together securely.

19. Pumpkin Handprint Art

Create a keepsake using your child’s handprints to form a pumpkin.

Materials:

• Orange and green paint
• White cardstock or canvas
• Paintbrushes
• Black marker

Instructions:

1. Paint your child’s hand with orange paint and press it onto the cardstock or canvas to create the pumpkin body.
2. Use green paint to add a stem and leaves at the top of the handprint.
3. Let the paint dry completely.
4. Use a black marker to add any additional details, such as a face or vines.
5. Frame or display the handprint art as a keepsake.

I hope you’ve found plenty of inspiration to keep your little ones busy and creative this fall season. Crafting is not only a wonderful way to celebrate the festive spirit of autumn but also an excellent opportunity for children to develop fine motor skills, express their creativity, and create lasting memories. Each project is designed to be simple yet engaging, ensuring that kids of all ages can participate and enjoy the process.

If you’re looking for some Halloween crafts for adults, then I have you covered with 25 Halloween crafts specifically designed for adults.

Remember, the best part of crafting is the joy and pride that comes from creating something with your own hands. So, don’t worry about perfection; instead, focus on the fun and the bonding time these activities provide. Display your children’s masterpieces around your home to bring a touch of autumnal charm to your décor and to celebrate their hard work. We’d love to hear about your crafting adventures and see the wonderful creations your kids come up with. Happy crafting, and may your fall season be filled with creativity, laughter, and lots of pumpkin fun!