Stuck inside? Try these fun fall crafts for kids of all ages.

Don’t “leaf” them to their own devices

• Suncatchers – Don’t fret about overcast fall days. These leafy suncatchers can add some color. Cut leaf patterns out of coffee filters and dye them before affixing them to your windows or help the kiddos press their favorite leaves between contact paper for a stained-glass effect.
  
  
• Pressed-leaf bookmark – Start this one early in the fall by collecting leaves or small flowers. Press them in a large book, then use stock paper and contact paper to make personalized autumn bookmarks.
  
  
• Leaf rubbings – No special equipment needed here. Grab some paper, crayons and interesting leaves and make a rubbing. You might also do a leaf print with paint. For an extra educational component, research the leaf and the tree it came from with your child.
  
  
• Leaf people – These are some of the cutest (and easiest) leaf projects around. Have your kiddo paste them to sheets of paper and draw a funny face for a leaf creature they’ll love. It’s a great fall craft for preschoolers.
  
  
• Q-tip tree – Bring fall foliage inside by helping your little one paint a tree. Simply grab some paint – reds, oranges, yellows and browns, of course – and dab on the “leaves” with the end of the Q-tip.

Get to the (apple) core of the fun

• Apple banners – It’s time to break out the paint again. Cut an apple in half for your youngster, then let them use the cut side as a stamp. This tutorial uses pieces of burlap for the banner, but you could easily use cardstock or other paper. Don’t forget to cut up another apple for a healthy fall snack.
  
  
• Pumpkin-shaped stamps – Follow the same steps above, but opt for orange paint instead. Add a face, perhaps with googly eyes, and a green stem for the cutest little apple/pumpkins ever.
  
  
• Felt pencil topper – Part fall fun, part back-to-school. Try these DIY pencil toppers with your child. Who knows? It might be the perfect pick-me-up if school days have them down or you’re struggling with e-learning.
  
  
• Lacing craft – Let your little one test their hand at weaving with a paper plate lacing craft. Red yarn gives you the apple look, but feel free to branch out to other fall favorites like pumpkins.

Carve out some family time with your little pumpkins

• Melted crayon pumpkins – Skip the carving and painting and try this colorful pumpkin hack instead. Use up the last of the crayon stubs by melting them on top of the pumpkin and letting the colors drip down the sides. We especially like this on a white pumpkin so the colors really stand out.
  
  
• Seed art – Save the seeds when you carve pumpkins. After they dry out, paint the seeds and use them to create all kinds of art. Your kiddos can glue them to paper in various designs, as the leaves for a tree or kernels for a colorful corn cob, or in letters to practice the alphabet.
  
  
• Geoboard – We bet your kids won’t even know they’re learning with this DIY pumpkin geoboard. The exact supplies depend on their age, but in the end, you’re looking for a pumpkin stuck full of push pins, golf tees or other pegs. When they connect the pegs with rubber bands and string, they’ll be learning motor skills, geometric shapes and generally flexing their creative muscle.
  
  
• Paint chip pumpkins – Snag some orange paint sample cards at the hardware store and a marker and you’re all set for an easy DIY pumpkin or jack-o-lantern. Choose other colors – red for apples, green or purple for monsters – and make whatever creatures and fall-themed paper crafts your kid desires.
  
  
• Dog treats – Have a furry “kid,” too? They probably won’t be able to help you bake these dog-friendly pumpkin treats, but they’ll certainly appreciate your effort.

Plant a seed for creativity

• Pinecone wreath – Collect pinecones and affix them to a store-bought wreath form. Hot glue works best, so either provide plenty of supervision or save this project for older crafters. Add some color by mixing in leaves and other fall plants and ribbon.
  
  
• Forest friends – There’s seemingly no end to the number of critters your child can create using a pinecone as the base. Try rabbits and hedgehogs, owls and turkeys. Extra credit if they make a whole forest scene like the autumnal version of a nativity.
  
  
• Birdfeeder – We at Schlage remember this classic from our own childhood. Slather a pinecone – big ones work best – with peanut butter and roll it in bird seed. Hang it from a tree and get ready to play eye-spy with the neighborhood’s feathered friends … and probably a few squirrels.
  
  
• Painted pinecones – Just because pinecones are most plentiful during the fall doesn’t mean you have to paint them fall colors. If your tiny tike is more into pink or loves a brilliant green, we say let them go for it. Metallic paint, and glitter if you’re brave, gives the pinecones extra pizzazz.

Scare up some monster crafts for fall

• Paper bag puppets – Keep your kids busy this fall with these paper bag monster puppets. Not only will they be occupied painting and pasting the bags in the first place, but you could get some extra entertainment by having them plan and perform a puppet show at the end.
  
  
• Cheesecloth ghosts – Here’s another classic. Help your kids make their own Casper using cheesecloth, fabric stiffener and glue. They can stand on their own as a centerpiece or hang them under the porch for some front door Halloween décor.
  
  
• Cardboard box spider – Still have some Amazon boxes laying around? This DIY project for kids uses the all-stars of crafting – paint, pipe cleaners, craft paper and glue, and googly eyes – for some adorable arachnids.
  
  
• Tell monster stories – Encourage your kids to spin an autumnal yarn by having them write or tell stories. Monster and ghost tales are great for fall. You can also prompt them with something less spooky and have them tell you about the adventures of some woodland creatures. See if they’d like to draw pictures to illustrate the stories they tell.
  
  
• Monster slime – Help your little one practice their numbers with a craft that combines counting with the ooey-gooey. Monster slime + number cards = fun for all.

Keeping everyone in the family busy and learning can be challenging but extremely rewarding. Visit the Schlage blog for ways to help your kids build home improvement skills, garden ideas to help them grow and DIY projects to teach them about garden bugs and birds.