Easy Fall Pumpkin Craft Project For Kids

With fall just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about all of the fun fall crafts to make. Fall is such an inspiring season full of colorful leaves, apples, cider, and of course pumpkins! Pumpkins can be used for decoration, carving, and of course to make pumpkin pie (my hubby's favorite).

Fall just isn't fall without pumpkins - everyone loves pumpkins! 

Today's craft project uses pumpkins as the main attraction however you could use any shape or design you like too. This project uses everyday household items and is very budget-friendly. I guarantee kids of all ages will enjoy making their own aluminum foil pumpkin.

This project would also work well in a group setting like a co-op, youth group, Sunday school or school. Because it comes together so quickly and requires minimal supplies or pre-planning you can certainly have your kids make these with friends too. I recommend an adult or older child be in charge of the hot glue gun to prevent any injuries though.

Aluminum foil (a.k.a. tin foil) is the star medium for this project so go raid your pantry and grab that roll of foil. The shiny, smooth texture of tin foil and its ability to be easily bent makes it so much fun to use for craft projects. 

The project we will be making today is a colorful foil embossed pumpkin. Embossing is just a fancy term that means carving, molding, or stamping a design on a surface or object. Don't let this big word scare you away from this easy and fun project. 

Aluminum Foil Embossed Fall Pumpkin Craft

Supplies:

• (1) - 8"x11" piece of thick cardboard (go raid your recycling bin for an empty Amazon box!)
• hot glue gun & glue sticks
• pumpkin template* printed on 8" x 11.5" paper
• pencil
• Sharpie markers in a variety of colors (the thick kind not skinny)
• aluminum foil 

* feel free to use this free pumpkin printable template if you are not comfortable drawing a pumpkin freehand. Coloring book pages work well for this project too!

Download the free pumpkin template here.

 

Download free pumpkin template (without words) here

Instructions:

Because we are using permanent markers it would be a good idea to cover your work surface (a.k.a the kitchen table) with a placemat or plastic tablecloth before doing this craft project. 

1. Print off the free printable pumpkin template or draw your own on a piece of regular size printer paper making sure to include the vertical lines along the front of the pumpkin, stem, and any leaves. Tape the paper onto the piece of cardboard with the pumpkin picture right side up. 

2. Use your hot glue gun to trace the outline of the pumpkin along the lines from the template or from the pumpkin shape you drew making sure to cover all of the lines completely leaving the inside empty space of the pumpkin free from hot glue. Try to prevent any gaps or blobs of hot glue which will show up when we emboss the design onto the foil. 

3. Tear off a large sheet of aluminum foil taking care not to wrinkle it too much. Place the sheet of foil over the paper with the hot glue outline and smooth it down taping the edges to the back of the cardboard. With your fingers gently press the foil down around the glue molding the foil to the glue outline. Smooth out any wrinkles with your finger being careful not to tear the foil. 

4. Use the Sharpie markers to color in the smooth flat spaces inside the center of the embossed pumpkin shape to make your fall pumpkin. 

5. (Optional Step) Trace around the outside edges of the embossed lines with a black or other dark color Sharpie marker.

You are all done! Pop your finished fall foil art into a frame (minus the glass) and enjoy it all season long. 

My boys were so inspired by this pumpkin project that they ended up raiding our craft cupboard to find great pictures from their favorite coloring books to use next. My youngest found the coolest mini-spider man picture and my other son used a picture of a basketball to emboss in foil and color just like we did with the pumpkins. 

Once you get your kids started the sky is the limit on what they can make! Let their imagination go wild and see what they make.