This torn paper leaf craft is a lovely, simple fall activity for kids. With bright red, orange, and yellow paper, children can create their own little autumn leaf artwork while practicing cutting, arranging, and gluing, which are all great for building fine motor skills.
It is easy to set up and works well at home, in the classroom, or as part of a seasonal craft afternoon. Autumn is one of our favorite seasons, so you best believe as soon as the leaves start turning a little, we are jumping straight into the Fall crafts! And this one is perfect for all ages.
Materials You’ll Need for your Torn Paper Autumn Leaves
You only need a few simple supplies for this torn paper leaf craft: red, orange, yellow, and brown colored paper, plus white paper or cardstock for the background. Keep scissors, glue, and a pencil nearby, along with a brown or black marker or crayon if you would like to add leaf vein details.
Gather all of your colored paper, white background paper, scissors, and glue before you begin. You can use regular printer paper, but construction paper gives the finished craft a brighter, sturdier look.
How to Make a Torn Paper Leaf Craft
This colorful torn paper leaf craft is a simple way for kids to create their own fall artwork. It is easy to make with basic craft supplies, and each picture will turn out a little different depending on how the leaves and branches are arranged.
Autumn Leaf Torn Paper Craft
Make a bright and colorful fall leaf picture with paper, glue, and simple freehand shapes.
Materials
- Colored paper or construction paper in red, orange, yellow, and brown
- White paper or cardstock for the background
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pencil
- Black or brown marker or crayon, optional
Instructions
- Gather your colored papers, white background paper, scissors, and glue.
- Take pieces of the colored paper, roughly the size of each leaf and fold in half to make them symmetrical
- You can roughly draw leaf shapes as a guide, using pencil, or start tearing freehand to create your leafs.
- Make several leaves in different sizes.
- Make the Branches. First cut several thin strips from brown paper. Make the strips slightly uneven to look like natural tree branches.
- Glue these on top of your leaf shapes.
- Arrange the Leaves. Place the leaves and branches on the white paper before gluing, to make sure you're happy with the placements.
- Glue Everything in Place. Apply a small amount of glue to the back of each leaf. Glue the leaves onto the white paper.
- Add glue to the back of each branch section and add these on top. Press gently so everything sticks.
- Let It Dry. Leave the artwork flat for a few minutes until the glue is completely dry.
Once dry, your colorful leaf artwork is ready to display. It is a nice craft for talking about fall colors, the changing seasons, and the different shapes you might spot on a nature walk.
Watch the Craft in Action on TikTok
Watch our TikTok video to see this torn paper leaf craft come together. Follow us on TikTok for more easy kids’ crafts, seasonal activities, and creative ideas throughout the year.
@intheplayroom A simple fall craft with the prettiest autumn colors. This torn paper leaf craft is easy for kids to make and great for fine motor skills #FallCraftsForKids #LeafCraft #AutumnCrafts #KidsCraftIdeas #FineMotorSkills ♬ Little Things – Adrián Berenguer
Do You Need a Template?
Because this is a ripped paper craft, there is no template needed for this activity. Everything is made freehand, which makes it especially easy for children to get creative with their own leaf shapes, branch designs, and paper colors.
I’ve mentioned this to make it clear, in case you were wondering or thought perhaps a template is missing.
This is a lovely low-prep craft for a cozy fall afternoon, classroom activity, or seasonal art display. We have a whole set of these crafts coming up, so there will be plenty more simple and creative ideas to try.
More Autumn Leaf Crafts
If your kids enjoyed making these colorful paper leaves, take a look at our other autumn leaf crafts for more seasonal activities, art projects, and easy ideas to enjoy together.
- Upcycled Glitter Autumn Leaf Craft (Fall Decor)
- Mason Jar Autumn Leaf Lanterns
- Autumn Leaf Face Art With Free Printable Templates
- Build a Fall Leaf Person Printable Craft for Kids
- WAX RESIST FALL LEAF ART FOR KIDS
More Autumn Crafts for Kids
We have lots of different autumn craft ideas to explore, with plenty of fall themes beyond leaves. From apples and pumpkins to woodland animals, scarecrows, and harvest activities, there is something for every kind of fall craft day.
- Paper Cup Hopping Scarecrow Craft
- Paper Cup Hopping Fox Craft
- Crumpled Tissue Paper Hedgehog Craft for Kids
- Autumn Count and Build Printables
More Torn Paper Crafts
If you like this easy torn paper method, we have more torn paper crafts to enjoy all year round. It is such a simple technique for little hands, and it is a great way to add texture and color to all kinds of creative projects.
- Torn Paper Kite Craft With Free Printable Template
- Torn Paper Pencil Craft for Kids (Free Printable Template)
- Torn Paper Alma Thomas Inspired Art for Black History Month
If you enjoyed this torn paper leaf craft, please share this blog post with a friend, parent, or teacher who might like a simple fall activity for kids.