Fall Tree Collage with Leaves: Craft for Kids (or Adults)

Glue or stick autumn leaves onto a bare tree to make this fun and easy fall tree collage.

Here’s an easy fall tree craft and DIY decor idea for kids of all ages. Even adults will enjoy making a tree collage with leaves. Once finished, this simple fall craft looks lovely displayed on a bulletin board in the classroom or a frame in the home. Learn how to make a fall leaf art collage this autumn with the simple step-by-step tree craft tutorial below. You might also enjoy painting fall leaves with watercolors.

This easy fall craft doubles as a fine motor activity for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, young elementary-aged students, and older adults. Making a fall tree collage helps strengthen the hands and improve fine motor skills. Fine motor activities like making a tree collage with leaves can help prepare young children for writing and other detailed handwork projects. Art activities like this can also help keep hands strong and mobile as people age, making them equally beneficial for older adults and the elderly. For more fall craft ideas, look at this list of autumn nature crafts.

How to Make a Fall Tree Collage with Autumn Leaves:

Creating a fall leaf collage is a fun and easy fall craft for kids and adults. First, use our printable bare tree art template or invite artists of all ages to draw or paint a bare tree with bare branches to make this easy fall craft.

Next, encourage children from toddlers to teens (or adults) to create a beautiful autumn tree art collage with construction paper leaves, real leaves, or even fall leaf stickers. Alternatively, you can create a thankful tree with gratitude tree leaves to make a tree collage!

Scroll down for recommended craft supplies and step-by-step instructions to make this easy fall craft! First published August 20, 2018; this autumn craft tutorial is updated and republished to improve the content. You might also enjoy this list of fall art projects and painting ideas for kids.

Fall Tree Craft Supplies:

• Printable bare tree art and craft template or hand-drawn (or painted) tree without leaves:
  • If you prefer to create a bare tree, use watercolor paints, colored pencils, or markers to paint or draw a bare tree similar to the art template in the photos.
• Choose one of the following leaf collage craft supplies:
  • Construction paper in a variety of colors, and a small oak leaf punch (as shown in the photographs), a maple leaf punch, or a birch leaf paper punch.
  • Fall leaf stickers.
  • Real fall leaves (Use fresh or preserved autumn leaves).
• Glue stick, or a clear drying white glue such as Mod Podge.

Related: Fall Nature Crafts

Related: Winter Tree Art Project

Autumn Tree Fall Leaf Craft Step-by-Step Directions:

This fall leaf collage is a fun and easy fall tree art project for kids or adults that shares how to make a collage with leaves. First, invite children or adults to draw or paint a tree with bare branches, or use the fall tree art template shown in the photographs to make this easy fall tree craft.

Next, glue construction paper and a leaf paper punch, autumn leaf stickers, or preserved fall leaves onto the bare fall tree to make this easy fall art collage. Find the complete step-by-step tutorial for this fall art project and all the necessary craft supplies below!

Related: Apple Tree Button Craft

1. Print art template or create a tree without leaves:

• Print the bare tree craft template, or invite artists of all ages to draw or paint a bare tree.
• If you prefer to draw or paint the bare tree to make a tree collage with leaves, use watercolor paints, colored pencils, or markers to create a bare tree similar to the art template in the photos.

2. Gather the remaining Fall leaf collage materials:

• Collect real autumn leaves, or purchase fall leaf stickers, or a small leaf punch and construction paper in an assortment of fall colors.
• My daughter used this small oak leaf punch and red, orange, and yellow construction paper to make the fall leaf art collage shown in the photographs. However, small maple leaves or birch leaves would be just as lovely.
• Another idea is to use small cut or torn pieces of construction paper, or tissue paper in a variety of autumn leaf colors, to make a tree collage with leaves.

Related: Glowing Leaf Lanterns and Luminaries

3. Use a small leaf punch and construction paper to make leaves (optional):

• Skip this step if you are using fresh or preserved autumn leaves or fall leaf stickers to make this autumn tree art collage.
• Invite kids to use a small Mable, Birch, or Oak leaf paper punch to make leaves for this autumn tree art project, or prepare them in advance.
• Using a paper punch is a fun hand-eye coordination activity for kids and older adults, and can also help children increase grip strength.

Related: Fall Leaf Crowns for Kids

4. Invite crafters of all ages to glue or stick autumn leaves onto the fall tree craft:

• Use a glue stick or a clear drying white glue to attach real fall leaves or construction paper leaves to the autumn tree craft so that they appear to be connected to the branches.
  • To do so, either put glue on the back of the leaf and apply it to the tree collage sticky side down, or add it to the tree where you want the leaf to go and press the leaf into the glue.
  • Ensure the stem of the leaf is connected to a branch with the top of the leaf pointing away from it, as shown in the photos.
  • Add some leaves to the tree collage so that they appear to be falling to the ground. You can also glue leaves around the tree trunk to make it look like they are lying on the ground.
• Or peel and stick autumn-themed stickers with leaves, squirrels, acorns, pumpkins, and more.
• Making a fall tree collage is a great activity to help toddlers and preschoolers develop fine motor skills to prepare for writing.
• Add several leaves to the tree collage to make it look as full as desired. Feel free to cover the branches with leaves if you want the tree collage to be full of leaves.

Related: The Best Thankful Trees for Thanksgiving

Easy Tree Collage with Leaves for Kids and Adults of all ages:

Make a fall leaf collage the easy way! Use a small leaf punch, construction paper, and this bare tree printable art template to create this simple fall tree craft. Creating a tree collage with paper punched leaves, leaf stickers, or real leaves is a fun art activity that allows both children and adults to express their creativity.

Making this fall tree craft is also an excellent fine motor hand-strengthening activity for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and the elderly! Alternatively, you can create a gratitude tree with thankful leaves to make a tree collage with colorful leaves.

For more autumn art ideas, check out this amazing collection of fall art ideas for children. You might also enjoy our fall bucket list filled with fun fall activities for kids (and adults, too)!

Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author, photographer, and creator of this original fall craft HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!

If You Liked This Fall Tree Craft, You May Also Enjoy These Autumn Activities:

• Fall Books for Kids: Autumn Stories Children LOVE!
• Autumn Leaf Crown Craft
• The Best Nature Study Supplies for Kids
• Fall Leaf Counting Outdoor Nature Activity
• Four Season Handprint and Fingerprint Tree
• Fall Leaf Lacing Beginning Sewing Project
• Leaf Lantern Craft