Make a fall tree without a toilet paper tube by shaping the trunk from twisted newspaper or cardboard, then adding a leaf canopy from reused paper, tissue, pine-cone paint marks, or bottle-bottom stamps. These four projects use different materials and produce either a flat picture or a more tactile, dimensional-looking canopy.
Choose a fall tree craft by material and finished look
Start with the recycled material you have on hand and the kind of surface you want to make. The newspaper collage is a paper-based option with a flexible canopy; pine cones and a reused bottle create repeated paint marks; the paper-plate project adds scrunched tissue paper.
| Craft | Main reused material | Finished form | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twisted newspaper collage | Newspapers, magazines, flyers, thin cardboard or brown paper | Flat, layered picture | A paper-focused project with a flexible number of branches and leaves |
| Pine-cone painting | Pine cones and brown-paper strips | Flat painted picture | Making repeated paint marks with a found natural object |
| Tissue-paper canopy | Cardboard and a paper plate | Canopy attached to a cardboard trunk | A tactile, scrunched-paper surface |
| Bottle-bottom stamping | Recycled soda bottle and paper | Flat stamped picture | Repeating blossom-like marks around a painted branch, adapted with fall colors |
The tutorials do not provide a controlled comparison of time, cost, mess, or age suitability, so choose based on the materials and steps that suit your project.
Make a twisted newspaper and flyer tree
This collage uses old printed paper for both the tree structure and its leaves. You will need scissors, glue, colored paper for the backing, newspapers, magazines or store pamphlets, and thin cardboard or brown paper. The method is described by Easy Peasy and Fun’s Fall Tree Newspaper Craft, updated September 8, 2023.
#1 Best Overall
- Fall Craft Kit: 40-Piece Bulk in one set. Includes 40 pre-cut leaf frames (9 charming designs), 1000 tissue paper squares (1.96*1.96inches, 10 vibrant colors), 9 transparent adhesive sheets, and 3 rolls of ribbon (red, orange, yellow, 16.4feet each), and instructions. Great for large groups, classrooms, or Thanksgiving events
- Stunning Stained Glass Effect: Create gorgeous suncatchers by layering colorful tissue paper on adhesive frames. When hung near windows, sunlight transforms them into vibrant autumn-themed "stained glass" art—ideal for home, school, or church decorations
- Mess-Free & Easy DIY - No Glue Needed: Peel-and-stick method makes crafting simple. Just remove the adhesive backing, apply tissue paper, and hang with included ribbons. No messy glue - great for quick Thanksgiving activities or fall festivals
- Meaningful Seasonal Activity: Spark creativity while teaching little ones about autumn, gratitude, or Thanksgiving traditions. Great for Sunday School, homeschool art, or family bonding—combines fun with seasonal learning
- Versatile Keepsakes & Gifts: Turn finished crafts into holiday ornaments, party favors, or classroom displays. Ideal for fall camps, church events, or rainy-day activities. A festive way to decorate for Thanksgiving
- Prepare the trunk. Wrinkle brown paper, or paint old newspaper brown and let it dry. Twist the paper into a trunk shape, trim it to length, and glue it near the bottom of the backing sheet.
- Add branches. Cut rectangles in varied sizes, twist them, and glue them to the trunk. Six branches are one example, not a required count.
- Cut the leaves. Cut leaf shapes from reused printed paper. Reds, yellows, oranges, and browns give the canopy an autumn palette; mixing shades can make it look layered.
- Build the canopy. Glue leaves along the branches. Add some directly to the background if you want a fuller canopy, and overlap a few along the bottom to suggest fallen leaves.
A basic pair of scissors suitable for the child and paper is enough for the listed cutting; the project does not call for a particular model or brand.
Roll pine cones through paint for leaf-like marks
For this flat painting, gather small pine cones, fall-colored paint, brown paper, white paper, scissors, glue, and a paper plate. The instructions come from Michelle McKinley’s Pine Cone Painted Fall Trees, dated August 10, 2021 and updated September 29, 2022.
Rank #2
- Thankful Flower Bouquet Set: Our Flower Bouquet Craft Kit includes everything needed to create 24 beautiful fall flower bouquets. The set contains 24 flower cardstock sheets, 24 brown kraft paper sheets, 12 glue point sheets, 1 instruction sheet, and 100 grass green plastic straws.
- Educational and Creative: This craft kit provides a fun and educational activity for kids. It encourages creativity and fine motor skills as children assemble and decorate their own flower bouquets, perfect for expressing gratitude during the fall and Thanksgiving season.
- High-Quality Materials: Each component of the kit is made from high-quality materials. The flower cardstock and brown kraft paper are sturdy and durable, while the glue point sheets and plastic straws ensure easy assembly and long-lasting bouquets.
- Versatile Use: Ideal for school projects, classroom activities, and home crafting, this kit is perfect for a variety of settings. It’s also great for group activities, making it a fantastic choice for teachers and parents looking for engaging and meaningful projects.
- Ideal for Gifting: The finished flower bouquets make wonderful DIY gifts for family and friends. Whether for Thanksgiving, autumn celebrations, or just to show appreciation, these handmade bouquets are a thoughtful and personal way to brighten someone’s day.
- Cut brown paper strips for a trunk and limbs, then glue them onto white paper.
- Put paint on a paper plate and roll pine cones through it.
- Roll the painted cones across the page around the branches to make leaf-like marks. Roll them along the bottom too, if you want marks for fallen leaves.
- Let the picture dry before displaying it.
For a way to contain the rolling area, the tutorial suggests placing the paper in a cardboard box. That is a setup suggestion, not a guarantee that paint will stay contained.
Make a tissue-paper canopy on a paper plate
This option uses a paper plate as the canopy base and cardboard for a separate trunk. The City of Newton, Massachusetts, lists the activity in its Fall Crafts 2020 handout. Gather red, yellow, orange, and gold tissue paper, a paper plate, cardboard, brown paint, school glue, and a stapler.
Rank #3
- DIY Fall Scarecrow Craft: Our Fall Scarecrow Craft Kit includes 123 pieces, providing everything needed for a fun and engaging craft activity. The set contains 40 fall scarecrow cards in 8 different styles, 40 matching scarecrow stickers, 42 white ribbons, and an example of a finished product.
- Variety of Designs: With 8 unique scarecrow styles, this kit offers a variety of creative options for kids. Each style features charming autumn-themed designs, perfect for celebrating the fall season and Thanksgiving.
- Educational and Fun: This craft kit is ideal for kindergarten kids, combining fun with educational benefits. It helps develop fine motor skills, creativity, and hand-eye coordination while allowing children to create their own unique scarecrow decorations.
- High-Quality Materials: Made with durable materials, this kit ensures long-lasting use. The scarecrow cards and stickers are sturdy and vibrant, while the white ribbons add a decorative touch to the finished crafts.
- Perfect for Various Occasions: Ideal for home, classroom, or party activities, this scarecrow craft kit is great for autumn-themed events, Thanksgiving celebrations, and kindergarten art projects. It provides a fun and festive way to decorate and enjoy the season.
- Cut a tree trunk from cardboard. Keep a small cardboard scrap to stamp bark-like lines onto the trunk with brown paint. A brown marker is an alternative if you want to skip the paint texture.
- Cut the tissue paper into squares.
- Apply glue to sections on the back of the paper plate, scrunch the tissue squares, and attach them until the canopy is filled.
- Staple the cardboard trunk to the lower edge of the plate.
Stamp an autumn canopy with a recycled bottle bottom
A recycled soda bottle can make repeated marks around a painted tree branch. Scouts Malta’s Outdoor Challenge – Day in the Countryside, Part 1 handout describes painting a branch on blank paper, letting it dry, then dipping the bottle base in paint and stamping around the branch. Its five-point bottle-base pattern resembles blossom petals. To make the scene read as a fall tree, use autumn colors and treat the marks as leaves; that seasonal framing is an adaptation of the handout’s activity.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Package Includes: Fall scarecrow crafts for kids, including 32 scarecrow cardstock cutouts in 8 designs, 32 scarecrow sticker sheets, 20 ft of string and an instruction sheet
- Educational & Creative Fun: Fall scarecrow craft kit is a wonderful way to inspire creativity and a perfect project for the autumn and Thanksgiving season
- Size & Material: Each scarecrow measures 5” x 6.3”, perfect for little hands to handle with ease; made of thick cardstock; a ribbon attached to the top makes them ready to hang, creating charming fall decor, perfect for doors, trees, windows, refrigerators, or bulletin boards
- Fall Party Favors for Kids: DIY fall crafts are a great choice for classroom activities; family activities; classroom gift exchanges; fall craft projects; school rewards; gift wrapping; party favors; holiday gifts; fall party decorations
- Fun Fall Activities: Fall craft kit is perfect for goodie bag fillers; fall birthday gifts; fall themed party supplies; Thanksgiving party favors; Thanksgiving crafts and more
Rank #4
- Fall Trees Craft Kit: This fall tree paper ornament kit contains 30 tree cards, 30 tree stump cards (to form 30 complete 3D trees), 30 coordinating autumn-themed stickers and 100 glitter autumn leaves stickers. It's a generous quantity for your daily use, replacement, and sharing with friends.
- Autumn Themed Design: This DIY tree craft kit is fall theme and includes tree trunks, acorns, various leaves, animals, etc. The trunks are designed in two different brown colors, and the stickers are in autumn colors. Create a festive atmosphere and perfectly complement any autumn event, showcasing the beauty of the season.
- Fun to Assemble: Make your own craft with this DIY thankful trees craft kits, this kit not only provides fun interactive activities but also inspires gratitude and creativity; unleash your creativity and immerse yourself in this fun-filled DIY craft kit.
- Reliable Material: The fall tree craft kits are made of sturdy cardboard with clear printing and vibrant colors and printed on double side. The leaf stickers are made of high quality foam, lightweight and adhesive. They are reusable and resistant to fading and breakage, can be used for a long time.
- Wide Application: The tree of Thanksgiving craft kit is suitable for autumn holiday, Thanksgiving Day, family gathering, indoor and outdoor events, anniversaries, home and fall theme party, also can be used as a gift to leave a good memory of holiday party.
- Paint a branch on blank paper and allow it to dry.
- Dip the base of a recycled soda bottle into paint.
- Stamp repeated marks around the branch to make a canopy.
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