Sweet friend, there is something about the first crisp afternoon of fall that makes me want to clear the kitchen table and pull out the craft basket.
Apples are everywhere this time of year, and they make such a simple, cheerful thing for little hands to create. None of these need to be fancy, and most of them use what you already have tucked in a drawer.
Here are twenty easy apple crafts to make with your children on a slow afternoon. I kept each one simple on purpose, so you can glance through, pick a few that fit your day, and get right to it.
20 cute apple crafts to make with your kids
1. paper plate apple
Cut a paper plate into a round apple shape and let little ones paint it red, green, or yellow. Add a brown stem and a paper leaf at the top. It is about as simple as a craft gets, which makes it a lovely place to start. If your kids take to it, you will find plenty more ideas in this collection of easy paper plate crafts.
2. apple handprint craft
Press a painted hand onto paper and shape it into an apple, with the fingers becoming leaves or the round body of the fruit. These little keepsakes are sweet to date and tuck away. Even babies can join in with a bit of help.
3. apple stamping craft
Cut an apple in half, dip it in paint, and press it onto paper to make round prints. The little star of seeds hiding inside surprises kids every time. It is a gentle, hands-on project, much like these other sensory crafts for kids.
4. apple pie craft
Make a paper apple pie with a brown paper crust and red paper apple slices tucked inside. Weave a few paper strips across the top for a lattice look. It pairs nicely with a real pie baking in the oven, if you have one going.
5. apple tree craft
Draw or cut out a tree trunk and let kids add apples with paint, pom poms, or torn paper. It is a quiet way to talk about how fruit grows. You can make a new tree for each season as the year goes on.
6. apple name craft
Cut out small paper apples and write one letter of your child’s name on each. String them together or glue them onto a paper tree. It turns a simple craft into a little bit of letter practice.
7. “A is for apple” craft
A simple alphabet craft built around the letter A and a bright red apple. Little ones can decorate the letter and the fruit side by side. It is a natural fit for the start of a new school year, alongside a few back to school crafts.
8. 3D apple craft
Glue several folded paper apple shapes together along the center crease so the apple lifts off the page. The rounded look is one kids really enjoy. Plain paper or cardstock both work here.
9. apple basket craft
Make a paper basket and fill it with little apples the kids cut or tear. You can glue them in place or leave them loose to count and sort. It is craft and quiet play in one.
10. felt apple craft
Cut apple shapes from red or green felt and let older children stitch or glue them together. Add a felt leaf and a bit of stuffing for a soft, pretend-play apple. If your little ones like working with needle and thread, these simple sewing projects for kids are a gentle next step.
11. torn paper apple craft
Tear red paper into small pieces and glue them inside an apple outline. The tearing is good for little fingers, and there is no need for it to be tidy. It keeps small hands busy for a good while.
12. apple core craft with seeds
Make a paper apple core and glue on a few real dried apple seeds. It is a simple way to look closely at the inside of an apple. Talk about where seeds come from while you work.
13. candy apple craft
Craft a pretend candy apple using a red pom pom or paper circle on a craft stick. Add glue and a sprinkle of glitter or paper bits for the coating. All of the fun, none of the sticky fingers.
14. leaf apple craft
Collect a few leaves on a walk and use them as the leaves on a paper apple. It brings a little bit of outside into the project. Pressed leaves work especially well.
15. apple worm craft
Add a smiling paper worm peeking out of a paper apple. Kids love giving the worm a face and a name. It is a cheerful, silly one for the younger crowd.
16. coffee filter apple craft
Color a coffee filter with markers, then spray it lightly with water and watch the colors blend together. Once it dries, cut it into an apple shape. The color-mixing part feels a little like magic.
17. footprint apple craft
Press a painted foot onto paper to make a round apple shape, then add a stem and leaf at the top. Like handprints, these are sweet reminders of how small they are right now. A second person helps with wiggly toes.
18. apple tissue paper craft
Crumple small squares of red tissue paper and glue them onto an apple outline. The texture gives the apple a soft, full look. It is another good one for working on little fingers.
19. apple sun catcher craft
Glue tissue paper or torn cellophane inside an apple frame and hang it in a window. The light comes through in pretty reds and greens. It is a nice one to look at all season long.
20. apple accordion fold craft
Fold paper back and forth into an accordion to make an apple that springs out from the page. It adds a little movement and dimension. Older kids tend to enjoy the folding part most.
why apple crafts are a sweet fit for fall
Apples are one of the first signs of fall around here. They show up at the market, in the lunch bowl, and in just about every story we read this time of year. That makes them an easy and familiar thing for children to craft.
These projects also fit the slower pace the season seems to ask for. If you are gathering up cozy ideas for the months ahead, you might also enjoy these easy pumpkin crafts for the little ones and a few cozy fall crochet projects for the quiet evenings after they are in bed.
simple supplies to gather first
You do not need much for an apple craft day, and chances are most of it is already in your home. I like to set things out during nap time so we are ready to go when little hands wake up.
- Construction paper or cardstock in red, green, yellow, and brown
- Paint, a few brushes, and paper plates for mixing
- Child-safe scissors and a glue stick
- Tissue paper, pom poms, and a few craft sticks
- A real apple or two, for stamping and for snacking
a few gentle tips for crafting with little ones
Cover the table with an old towel or some newspaper before you begin, and let the mess be part of the fun. Keep the craft short and stop while they are still enjoying it, rather than waiting for the meltdown. A finished apple that is a little lopsided is still a treasure.
It also helps to have a couple of backup ideas ready in case one craft does not hold their interest. These Thanksgiving crafts for kids and these simple Halloween paper crafts carry the same easygoing spirit and use many of the same supplies.
set aside an afternoon for your apple craft day
You do not have to make all twenty of these. Pick one or two that feel doable, gather your supplies, and let the afternoon be simple. The point is not a perfect craft but a little time spent together at the kitchen table.
There is a quiet gift in these ordinary afternoons, the kind we tend to forget to notice while we are in them.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
If you make any of these apple crafts with your children, I would truly love to see them. You are welcome to send in your pictures or share your creations in the comment section below. I may feature a few of them here on the website, and there is something so encouraging about seeing what other families have made together. So glad you are here, friend.
Warmly,
Betty
FREE Fruit of the Spirit Playdough Tree and Card
If your kids learn best by doing, you’re going to love this simple activity. It turns the Fruit of the Spirit into something they can touch and create.
This free Fruit of the Spirit Playdough Tree and Card gives you two activities in one—a playdough mat (laminate once, use forever) plus 9 individual fruit cards.
Both feature all nine fruits from Galatians 5:22-23, helping kids learn about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control through hands-on fun.
frequently asked questions
what age are apple crafts good for?
Most of these work from toddlerhood on up. Handprint, footprint, and torn paper crafts suit the littlest ones, while cutting, stitching, and folding projects fit older children. A bit of help from you bridges the gap.
what supplies do i need for apple crafts?
Paper, paint, glue, and scissors will carry you through most of this list. Add tissue paper, pom poms, and a real apple or two, and you are well set for an afternoon.
are these crafts good for a classroom or co-op?
Yes, many of them work well in a group. Paper plate apples, stamping, and torn paper crafts are easy to set up for several children at once and do not call for much prep.
can i make apple crafts without paint?
You can. Torn paper, tissue paper, felt, and pom pom crafts skip the paint entirely. These are a good choice on the days you would rather keep the mess to a minimum.
what can we do with the finished apple crafts?
Hang sun catchers in a window, tape paper apples to the fridge, or tuck handprint keepsakes into a memory box. They also make sweet little gifts for grandparents.
