Paper Towel Leaf Art for Kids

Transform simple paper towels into colorful fall leaves with this easy paper towel leaf art for kids project! It’s a fun and creative way to bring autumn indoors using supplies you already have on hand.

A vibrant scene of autumn crafting, featuring painted paper towels in warm colors, a pair of scissors, and a watercolor set on an orange background, surrounded by artificial leaves and small pumpkins.

What is paper towel leaf art?

Let’s talk about an autumn craft that’s as simple as it is stunning: paper towel leaf art for kids!

Preschoolers love watching the colors blend and spread on the paper towels—talk about some serious preschool art magic!

Plus, the finished leaves look so vibrant hanging in the window, catching the light just right.

Two sheets of paper towels painted in warm autumn colors, laid out flat on an orange background, with colorful artificial leaves and mini pumpkins around them, ready to be cut into leaf shapes.

Why try paper towel leaf art for kids?

This paper towel leaf art for kids is perfect for bringing a little autumn indoors without needing a ton of supplies.

Not only is this a fantastic preschool leaf craft, but it also sneaks in a bit of fine motor skill practice (we love a two for one).

And did I mention it’s a no-fail preschool fall activity? Every leaf turns out uniquely beautiful, just like the real thing!

We LOVE Fall preschool activities! Don’t miss these superstars:

Materials

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Paper towels
Watercolor paints or diluted paint
Paintbrushes
A cup of water
Pencil
Scissors
Plastic or newspaper – to protect your workspace

A series of three images showing the process of painting paper towels with watercolors. The first image shows a clean paper towel, the second shows it being painted with yellow and orange watercolors, and the third shows the finished vibrant colors.

How to make paper towel leaf art

Lay down some plastic or newspaper to protect your workspace as the paints will bleed through the paper towels.
Grab your paper towels and let your little ones go wild with the watercolor paints. The more color, the better!
Let the painted paper towels dry completely.
Once dry, use a pencil to sketch out leaf shapes on the paper towels.
Carefully cut out the leaf shapes.
Hang the finished leaves on the wall or in a window using string or clear tape for a stunning stained-glass effect.

Fun ways to display or use your paper towel leaves

Once your leaves are complete, there are so many fun ways to display and enjoy them.

Tape them onto windows to catch the sunlight.
Attach them to a wreath form for a colorful autumn door decoration.
Glue them onto a piece of construction paper to make a beautiful fall collage.
Scatter them on the Thanksgiving table for a festive touch.
Hang them from the ceiling with fishing line for a floating leaf effect.

A smiling woman holding up a brightly painted paper towel with autumn hues, showing off the colorful results of her craft project in a cozy kitchen setting.

After you make paper towel leaf art, try this fun scavenger hunt game

Instead of going on a normal leaf-collecting leaf hunt, switch things up by challenging kids to find the items below.

Find a leaf that’s bigger than your hand
Look for a leaf with more than three colors
Spot a leaf that’s shaped like a heart
Discover a leaf that’s still green
Collect a leaf that’s longer than your foot

Can you find all 5?

Four colorful, cut-out leaf shapes made from painted paper towels, arranged on an orange surface with artificial autumn leaves and mini pumpkins scattered around.

Preschool science: Why do leaves change colors?

Explore the science behind the changing colors of leaves with this simple explanation.

Chlorophyll gives leaves their green color by helping the plant absorb sunlight.
As days get shorter and cooler, chlorophyll breaks down, revealing other pigments.
The yellow and orange colors were in the leaves all along but were hidden by the green.
Red and purple colors are created from sugars trapped in the leaves.
Different trees have different pigments, which is why maple leaves turn red while oaks turn brown.

While you make your leaves, it’s the perfect time to learn some “unbe-leaf-able” leaf facts!

A close-up of a hand painting a paper towel with a mix of yellow, orange, and red watercolors, with artificial autumn leaves and a watercolor set in the background.

Leaf-Themed Storytime Ideas

Incorporate this craft into a storytime session by reading some leaf-themed books with your kids before or after crafting.

“Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert: Follow the Leaf Man on his journey as he flies wherever the wind takes him.
“We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt” by Steve Metzger: Join a group of kids on a leaf hunt through the woods and see what adventures they find.
“Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf” by Lois Ehlert: Learn about the life cycle of a tree, starting from the leaf’s perspective.
“Little Tree” by Loren Long: One of my most favorite books of all. Actually, after some thinking, it’s a top 10 of all-time. A sweet tree doesn’t want to let go of its leaves until it’s finally ready.\