Fall Leaf Squirrel Craft for Kids
All art projects & crafts require adult supervision. This site runs ads and generates income from affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.
Turn a handful of colorful autumn leaves into the fluffiest squirrel tail with this Fall Leaf Squirrel Craft for Kids – Easy Autumn Nature Art Project! This fun fall activity combines a printable squirrel with real leaves collected outside, giving kids a creative way to bring a little bit of nature to the craft table. Color your squirrel, gather some beautiful fall leaves, and layer them together to create one big, bushy tail!
One of my favorite things about fall leaf crafts for kids is that the fun starts before you even pull out the glue. Head outside for a walk around the yard, neighborhood, park, or school playground and hunt for leaves in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Bright reds, golden yellows, oranges, browns, and leaves that are still partly green can all look beautiful. Kids can collect their favorites and decide which ones deserve a spot in their squirrel’s tail.
Before crafting, choose leaves that are still fairly flexible instead of ones that are completely dry and crunchy. Gently wipe away any dirt and flatten curled leaves so they’re easier to arrange and glue. You can use the leaves as they are, or preserve them first if you’d like your finished fall nature art project to stay colorful and beautiful for longer.
Once your leaves are ready, grab crayons, markers, or colored pencils and decorate the printable squirrel. Kids can stick with realistic browns, reds, and grays or dream up a squirrel in completely unexpected colors. Add rosy cheeks, patterns, colorful details, or anything else that gives your little woodland friend some personality. There’s no reason every squirrel has to look the same!
Then comes my favorite part—building that big fluffy leaf tail! Kids can experiment with overlapping and layering their leaves behind the squirrel until they find an arrangement they love. Try placing larger leaves toward the outside and smaller leaves near the body, mix several autumn colors together, or create the entire tail using one favorite shade. Since every leaf is different, every finished squirrel will be completely unique too.
This easy autumn craft for kids is a great choice for preschool, elementary classrooms, homeschool nature studies, fall parties, or a creative afternoon at home. Hunting for leaves encourages kids to get outside and notice the changing season, while coloring, cutting, arranging, and gluing help strengthen fine motor skills, scissor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creative thinking. It’s a simple activity with plenty of opportunities for kids to make their own artistic decisions.
Witch 
Turkey 
Lion 
Fairy 
Hedgehog 
Campfire
There are plenty of other fall crafts for kids to explore too. Make a Paper Plate Scarecrow, create Fall Leaf Fairies, fold an Easy Origami Pumpkin, make a colorful Coffee Filter Fall Tree, or try the Fall Agamograph, an optical illusion where changing your viewing angle makes it look like the leaves have fallen from the tree onto the ground. So grab a basket, head outside for a leaf hunt, and bring some of autumn’s beautiful colors back to the craft table. Your new little squirrel is waiting for its spectacular leafy tail!
Fall Leaf Squirrel Craft for Kids – Easy Autumn Nature Art Project
Before making your Fall Leaf Squirrel Craft, you may want to preserve the leaves so they stay colorful and beautiful for longer. Learn several easy ways to prepare and preserve fall leaves in our guide, How to Preserve Fall Leaves for Crafts, then use them to create your squirrel’s big, colorful autumn tail!
Step 1: Print the Fall Leaf Squirrel Template
Print the squirrel template on an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of white cardstock. Cardstock gives the squirrel a sturdy base and helps support the fall leaves you’ll add to create its large, colorful tail.
Step 2: Color the Squirrel
Before cutting, use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to color the squirrel. Try natural shades of brown, tan, gray, or reddish orange, or let kids choose their favorite colors for a completely unique squirrel. Add extra details, patterns, or shading to give it even more personality!
Step 3: Cut Out the Squirrel
Carefully cut out the squirrel’s body and paper tail along the outside lines. Encourage kids to use slow, small cuts and turn the paper as they work around the curves and smaller details. Younger children who are still learning to use scissors may need help from an adult.
Step 4: Glue on the Fall Leaves
Begin at the top of the squirrel’s paper tail and glue a fall leaf in place.
Continue working downward, adding more leaves and overlapping each one slightly with the leaf above it.
Once the entire tail is covered, glue the bottom of the finished tail to the back of the squirrel’s body. Set the craft aside until the glue is completely dry.
How Do I Download the Fall Leaf Squirrel Template?
Click the button below to sign up for a free Artsy Kids Zone membership. After creating your account and signing in, return to this page and click the same button again. You’ll be taken to the Fall Downloads page, where you can access the Fall Leaf Squirrel Template.
Download the black and white PDF, print it on white cardstock, and start crafting! Kids can color and cut out the squirrel before adding real fall leaves to create its large, colorful tail.
***These printables are intended for personal and school use exclusively. Unauthorized copying, uploading, republishing, distributing or alteration of these files in any manner is strictly prohibited. If you plan to showcase these printables, please ensure to include a link back to artsykidszone.com.
3D Fairy Paper Dolls 
Dino Finger Puppets 
Pirate Paper Mask 
Orange Scented Playdough
If you enjoyed making this Fall Leaf Squirrel Craft, you’ll definitely love exploring the other creative projects on Artsy Kids Zone! Step into a little magic with the 3D Paper Fairy Dolls, create prehistoric adventures with the Dinosaur Finger Puppets, or fill your playroom with a fresh citrus scent by making Orange Scented Playdough. With printable puppets, paper crafts, sensory activities, coloring projects, and so much more, there’s always something new for kids to create and enjoy!
Comments