Pumpkin season has a way of sparking creativity, especially when little hands and big imaginations are involved.
Whether you’re crafting on a crisp weekend morning or pulling together a last-minute Halloween activity, pumpkin-themed projects always hit the sweet spot: colorful, playful, and surprisingly calming (especially when glue sticks and googly eyes enter the picture).
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These 12 ideas strike that just-right balance between fun and doable—easy enough for preschoolers, but still satisfying for older kids who want to add their own pumpkin spin.
From paper to paint to a few clever twists, these pumpkin crafts for kids create the kind of autumn activity lineup that makes a chilly afternoon feel just right.
1. Beaded Pipe Cleaner Pumpkin
CREDIT: ONE LITTLE PROJECT
This tactile pumpkin craft is perfect for helping little hands strengthen their fine motor skills. Stringing beads onto orange pipe cleaners turns into a mini workout for coordination—and the finished product makes a charming Halloween decoration or party favor.
2. Pumpkin Handprint
CREDIT: THE BEST IDEAS FOR KIDS
Turn your child’s handprint into the sweetest little pumpkin character. This easy pumpkin craft is a favorite among preschool classrooms and makes for a heartwarming keepsake. All you need is orange paper, a few googly eyes, and some ribbon curls for vines.
3. Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkin Stamp
CREDIT: THE BEST IDEAS FOR KIDS
This easy pumpkin craft turns an ordinary toilet paper roll into a clever pumpkin stamp. Just bend it into a rounded shape, dip it in orange paint, and start stamping your own mini pumpkin patch onto paper. Add curly green vines with a marker for extra charm.
4. Easy DIY Pumpkin Wreath
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If you’re after a pumpkin activity with big visual impact, this fluffy wreath delivers. Made from chunky yarn and topped with a green bow, it’s a cozy twist on traditional Halloween crafts. Plus, looping the yarn is great practice for developing those tiny hand muscles.
RELATED: 12 Spooky-Cute Halloween Wreaths You Can Totally Make at Home
5. Pumpkin Painted Rocks
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Grab some stones, acrylic paint, and a little imagination. This simple painted rock activity is a great way for kids to explore pumpkin craft ideas while playing with color and shape.
6. Chalkboard Pumpkins
CREDIT: DELIA CREATES
This playful twist on pumpkin decorating uses chalkboard paint to create a smooth surface kids can draw on using sticks or fingernails. Once dry, little hands can scratch out their own spooky faces, patterns, or messages. It’s a mess-free, reusable way to mix creativity with sensory fun—perfect for toddlers and preschoolers alike.
7. Clay Pumpkin Pins
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These mini pumpkin pins are made from clay, painted orange, and finished with googly eyes. Kids will love wearing their own cute accessories or handing them out as Halloween treats. It’s a simple but memorable pumpkin craft.
8. Yarn Pumpkin Pompoms
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Bring out all the colors! This kids craft uses yarn, glue, and twigs to create colorful, textured pumpkins. It’s a fantastic way to let kids create their own pumpkin masterpiece.
RELATED: 8 Cute Pom Pom Craft Ideas To Make
9. Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkins
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Wrap a paper roll in orange construction paper, glue on a spooky face, and top it off with a paper stem and a pipe cleaner vine. These fun Halloween decorations double as silly characters or treat holders—and kids love making their own pumpkin personalities.
10. Yarn Pumpkin Necklace or Garland
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These squishy little yarn pumpkins are easy to make and super satisfying for little hands. Kids can wrap, tie, and string them together to create their own festive pumpkin garland. This is one of those crafts kids will want to repeat year after year.
11. Pumpkin Seed Party Diorama
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How fun is this? A hollow pumpkin gets transformed into a ghost party—complete with googly eyes, tiny hats, and even a disco ball. This Halloween craft is on the wacky side of the pumpkin craft ideas spectrum, and kids will absolutely love it.
12. Pumpkin Paper Plate Craft
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This clever paper plate pumpkin craft helps teach kids about the pumpkin growing process—complete with seeds, vines, and pulp. Add some paint, yarn, and free printables to guide the project. Educational crafts can still be super fun!
RELATED: 9 Easy Paper Plate Pumpkin Crafts That Kids Will Actually Love