Autumn is the perfect time to try a few fun and creative fall paper bag crafts with your kids! Whether you choose to customize brown paper bags with autumn-themed designs or create a unique 3D project, paper bags offer endless possibilities.
We’re deep into fall now, and as our daylight hours fade, it’s always handy to have a store of simple indoor kids’ projects at the ready. Nothing beats the modest brown paper bag for throwing together a super quick crafting project with common household supplies!
Save those grocery bags, stash away a pile of brown paper lunch bags, and keep the good gift bags for yourself, because I have sixteen lovely autumn paper bag kids’ projects you’ll absolutely have to try.
From leafy lanterns to adorable acorns, these fall paper bag crafts are sure to be a hit with your little ones. With just a few simple supplies, you can have a fun afternoon of crafting with the kids…
Creative Fall Paper Bag Crafts for Kids
1. Fall Woodland Animal Paper Bag Puppets
Put a spin on the classic paper bag puppet with an adorable set of paper bag woodland animal puppets. Let your kiddos transform into creative puppeteers by crafting a cuddly cast of forest friends, from curious foxes to raucous raccoons, that’ll have them chattering and chirping through autumn afternoons.
2. Miniature Mushroom Fall Decor from Paper Bags
Create a cluster of paper bag mushrooms with this surprisingly simple project that combines paper bags and sticks for charming nature-inspired sculpting. This low-key fungi-tastic craft brings the great outdoors inside, letting your little ones dabble in the magical world of mushroom-making and adding a DIY toadstool touch to their autumn small-world wonderlands.
3. Paper Bag Acorns
Get nutty with these stuffed paper bag acorns (that can be filled with fall surprises for an EXTRA autumn bonus). Watch your kids morph into the craftiest critters as they assemble a stash of these adorable acorns, perfect for hiding away little treats or spicing up their room or a tabletop with a sprinkle of seasonal cheer.
4. Stuffed Paper Bag Leaf Craft for Kids
Cover a tabletop with a blanket of colorfully painted sewn brown bag leaves for an artful upcycled leaf pile you’ll want to keep all fall. Dive into a sea of vibrant hues and textures as you and your little ones stitch together a magnificent mosaic of faux foliage that doubles as a festive centerpiece or a playful craft addition to any autumnal playdate.
5. Paper Bag Harvest Wall Art
Talk about taking paper bags to frame-worthy new heights…how gorgeous are these harvest wall hangings? Transform plain ol’ paper bags into stunning masterpieces, featuring vibrant fall patterns and artfully imagined harvest landscapes. These eye-catching creations will have friends and family oohing and aahing as they admire your little artists’ autumnal flair.
6. Painted Paper Bag Starbursts
This artsy paper bag star is a colorful kids’ art project you can use for festive fall decor and leave up through the whole holiday season. Behold the twinkle of these enchanting paper bag stars, as your mini Picassos bedazzle them with a kaleidoscope of colors. Hang them up to add some extra sparkle to your home, and let the festive spirit shine all season long.
7. Wearable Paper Bag Butterfly Wings
A pair of kid-made, paper bag DIY butterfly wings is a creative fall dress-up DIY that can double as a bold and bright homemade Halloween costume. Let your kids’ imaginations take flight as they fashion their own dazzling paper bag butterfly wings. These fluttery creations are perfect for impromptu fall dress-up sessions or stealing the show at this year’s Halloween bash.
8. Paper Bag Butterfly Wings
Ok, so this pair of gorgeously painted upcycled owls is *actually* made with cardboard, but could absolutely be constructed out of paper bags instead. WHO-OOooo wouldn’t want to play with one of these beautiful birds in puppet form? Craft wise and whimsical paper bag owls with your little ones, and watch their creativity and repurposing skills soar. These feathered friends make captivating puppet pals and charming additions to any fall playroom activities.
9. Paper Bag Nature Luminaries
Bring a warm glow to these chilly early evenings with a paper bag nature luminary. Collect a few autumn nature treasures, then show them off with this lovely DIY. Ignite your little one’s enthusiasm with this cozy craft that’ll have your home aglow with the warmth of fall. Have them gather colorful leaves, twigs, and other seasonal trinkets to create a unique and enchanting display that lights up even the darkest autumn nights.
10. Paper Bag Scarecrows
Show the birds who’s boss with this fun (nearly life-sized!) kid-made paper bag scarecrow. Let your kiddos strut their stuff as they design their larger-than-life paper bag scarecrow. This fantastic fall project brings smiles and scares in equal measure and might just make those pesky birds think twice about swooping in for a snack.
11. Paper Bag Pumpkins
Make your own paper bag pumpkin decorations for a cool twist on the classic jack-o-lantern. Ditch the gooey pumpkin guts and try your hand at these spooktacular paper bag pumpkins! Let your kids’ creativity run wild as they design an array of expressive paper bag faces and festive patterns that’ll leave your home haunted with Halloween charm.
12. Fall Leaf Paintings on Paper Bags
Grab a grocery bag for this fun fall leaf painting activity for preschoolers. Who said grocery bags were just for groceries? Unleash your tiny artists’ potential with this vibrant leaf painting activity that’ll have them dabbing, stamping, and swirling their way to a fabulous fall masterpiece – all while upcycling those brown bags with style!
13. Paper Bag Frankenstein Treat Bags
Build your own DIY Frankenstein treat bags for a freakishly fun Halloween invitation to play with scrap paper faces. Unearth your kids’ inner mad scientist as they piece together their Frankenstein-inspired treat bags. These monstrously delightful creations will have trick-or-treaters shrieking with excitement, giving those leftover scrap paper faces a frightfully fantastic purpose.
14. Black Cat Paper Bag Luminaries
A Halloween lunch bag favorite around here, our black cat paper bag luminarias make the coolest trick-or-treat decor. Transform ordinary lunch bags into spellbinding black cat luminarias that’ll have your home purring with a mysterious allure. These bewitching felines are the cat’s meow when setting the mood for a spooktacular Halloween night.
15. Paper Bag Soft Sculpture Creatures
These weird and wondrous paper bag soft sculpture creatures are an imaginative art project, an exercise in creative repurposing, and an inventive storytelling prompt all in one. Let your kids’ minds run wild as they breathe life into a menagerie of quirky paper bag creatures. This whimsical craft not only flexes their artistic muscles but also sparks their storytelling prowess as they weave tall tales of their peculiar new pals.
16. Paper Bag Monster Puppets
What do you get when you mash up construction paper leftovers, a brown paper lunch bag, and a bit of Jim Henson-like puppet-making inspiration? A whole host of crazy creatures for your own monster paper bag puppet show! Let a world of zany characters and colorful chaos loose as your kids craft an entourage of wacky monster puppets. With a dash of Henson magic and a smidgen of their own imagination, they’ll create a wildly entertaining paper bag puppet show that’ll leave the whole family in stitches.
For more fall activities that celebrate the season, visit our full collection of kids harvest crafts, art projects, sensory play invitations, dramatic play centers, and more!
Shorter days mean more time for indoor play, so now is the time to stock up on ideas! For more of our fun art, craft, and play collections to keep your kids entertained inside, visit our top 100 ideas for recycled dollhouses and 40 functional art projects for kids.
