Crisp, juicy, and bursting with flavor, apples are the quintessential fall fruit.
But did you know they also make for an incredibly fun kids craft? Get ready to transform this seasonal staple into a plethora of delightful creations with my roundup of 13 Surprisingly Simple Apple Crafts for KIDS.
From painted paper plates to yarn-wrapped beauties, these apple crafts for kids are a surefire way to tap into your little ones’ creativity while making cherished memories.
Whether you’re a DIY novice or a seasoned crafter, these budget-friendly projects are an absolute breeze to tackle.
So grab your supplies, gather your munchkins, and let’s dive into a world of apple-themed artistry that’s as easy as pie.
Painted Paper Plate Apples
This is a super simple and fun craft perfect for young children.
To create this easy apple craft, gather your supplies such as red paper plates, green construction paper, glue sticks, etc.
Once you have the above items handy, cut a small stem and leaf shape from the green construction paper followed by decorating the paper plate red (apples come in many colors, so feel free to explore).
Next, glue the stem and leaf to the top of the red paper plate. Draw small black seeds in the center of the apple for detail (optional).
Button Resist Apple Art
As seen in the image above, this apple craft is simple and straightforward.
You just need to arrange the buttons on a white piece of paper in the shape of an apple. You can use all one size or a variety of sizes for a more clustered look.
Then, gently brush red paint over the entire paper, covering the buttons and the blank space followed by carefully lifting the buttons off the wet painted paper.
The areas underneath the buttons will remain white, creating a resist pattern on the red painted background.
(Optional) Cut out a leaf shape from the green felt and glue it onto the top of the red painted apple to add detail.
Tissue Paper Apple Collage
This is again a simple apple craft idea that does not need any prep work.
All you need is a red and green tissue paper, white construction paper, brown construction paper, glue, and scissors (optional).
Once you have these items handy you just need to cut a stem and leaf shape from the brown construction paper.
And then, crumple small pieces of red tissue paper and glue them onto the white construction paper in the shape of an apple.
Next, crumple small pieces of green tissue paper for the leaf and glue it onto the stem.
The last step is to glue the brown stem and leaf assembly onto the completed apple.
Note: You can skip the scissors altogether and tear the tissue paper for a more rustic look.
Apple Stamping with Craft Foam
Just like the previous Apple craft idea this craft is also pretty much straightforward.
If you have a craft foam, paint (various fall colors recommended i.e. red, orange, yellow), white paper, and a shallow dish you should be able to get this done easily.
Just cut an apple and leaf shape out of separate pieces of craft foam followed by pouring a small amount of paint into the shallow dish.
Then, dip the apple-shaped craft foam into the paint, ensuring even coverage.
Next, gently press the painted apple stamp onto the white paper, creating an apple print (Repeat with different paint colors for leaves).
You can create a whole fall harvest scene by adding other stamped elements like pumpkins or acorns.
Yarn Wrapped Apple
I have to admit, I really like this yarn wrapped apple craft as it’s so simple that anyone can do it.
You just need red yarn, a red balloon (small size), pipe cleaner (brown), felt (green), scissors, and glue.
If you have these items handy, you can execute this easy craft idea by partially inflating the red balloon to your desired apple size.
And then, you would need to tie a knot at the end of the yarn and secure it to the base of the balloon.
Begin wrapping the yarn around the balloon, covering the entire surface in a criss-cross pattern (Leave a small opening at the top for tying off the yarn later).
Once completely wrapped, tie a knot at the end of the yarn to secure it.
Cut a pipe cleaner to the desired stem length and a small leaf shape from the green felt.
Glue the pipe cleaner stem and felt leaf to the top of the yarn-wrapped balloon apple.
Fingerprint Painted Apples
This is a fun and easy craft that’s perfect for toddlers and young children. It allows them to explore their sense of touch and create a unique apple design.
Materials required for finger painted apples:
- Red and green paint
- White paper
- Baby wipes or paper towels for clean-up.
Steps to make the finger painted apples:
- Pour a small amount of red paint onto a shallow dish or a tiny bowl (Make sure the inks/paints are safe).
- Help your child gently press their finger into the red paint, ensuring full coverage.
- Guide them to press their painted fingerprint onto the white paper, creating a red circle for the apple body (Repeat with red paint to create multiple “apple” circles).
- Change paint colors to green for creating a cluster of green fingerprints on top of the red circles to represent the apple leaf.
- Use baby wipes or paper towels to clean your child’s fingers in between colors.
Apple Lacing Craft
Before you put your hands on this craft, it’s important to note that adult supervision is required as it involves needlework for lacing.
To execute this Apple lacing craft follow the below steps:
- Gather your materials i.e. red felt, green felt, yarn (red recommended), embroidery needle (optional, blunt yarn needle recommended for younger children), scissors, hole punch, and marker (optional).
- Cut out two apple shapes from the red felt.
- Cut out a small leaf shape from the green felt (you can make multiple leaves if desired).
- Glue the green felt leaf (or leaves) onto one of the red felt apple pieces.
- If using a regular needle, thread the yarn carefully through the needle. If using a blunt yarn needle, thread the yarn through the large eye of the needle.
- (Optional) Use a marker to lightly mark evenly spaced dots around the perimeter of the red felt apple with the leaf glued on (these will be your lacing holes).
- Using the needle and yarn, carefully punch holes through the marked dots (or pre-punched holes) on the felt apple, lacing the yarn back and forth to create a laced pattern around the perimeter.
- Once finished lacing, tie the yarn ends together to secure or tuck them into the felt. You can add another red felt apple on top to create a stuffed apple or leave it as a single layer.
Apple Puppets
This apple puppet craft is a great way to encourage storytelling and imaginative play.
To get started simply gather some basic materials like red and green construction paper, brown paper bags (optional), scissors, glue, markers, pipe cleaners (red and green), and popsicle sticks (optional).
Once you’ve gathered the above materials simply follow the below steps:
- Cut out two large apple shapes from the red construction paper.
- Cut out a stem and leaf shape from the opposite colored pipe cleaner for each apple (red stem and leaf for green apple, green stem and leaf for red apple).
- Glue the pipe cleaner stem and leaf assembly onto the top of each paper apple.
- (Optional) If using paper bags, cut out armholes on the sides of the paper bag and decorate it as desired. Slide the construction paper apple puppet over the opening of the paper bag to create a hand puppet.
- (Optional) Glue a popsicle stick to the back of the construction paper apple for a popsicle puppet.
- Use markers to add details to the apple faces, like eyes, a nose, and a smile.
Salt Dough Apple Ornaments
I really like the idea of salt dough apple ornament, especially because it’s simple and easy to make without needing any special material.
In order to make this apple craft mix equal parts flour and salt in a bowl.
Then, slowly add water and knead until a dough forms that is similar to playdough in consistency.
The next step is to roll out the dough on a flat surface to a desired thickness followed by using apple-shaped cookie cutters (or freehand cut apple shapes) to cut out shapes from the dough.
(Optional) Use a straw to poke a small hole at the top of each apple cutout for threading the string later.
Place the apple cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at low heat (around 250°F) until hardened. Let the dough apple ornaments cool completely, post which paint the cooled salt dough apples red.
(Optional step) Cut out small leaf shapes from green felt and glue them onto the top of the painted apple ornaments.
Thread string through the premade holes and tie knots to create hanging loops for your apple ornaments.
Apple Pinch Pots
This craft is a great introduction to working with clay and allows for creative freedom in shaping the apples.
To make these apple pinch pots take a small ball of red air-dry clay and roll it out on a smooth surface (wax paper or parchment paper) to an even thickness (around ¼ inch).
You can skip the rolling pin and simply shape the clay with your hands if preferred.
Then, gently pinch the clay upwards and inwards around the edges, forming a rounded apple shape with a small opening at the top.
The next step is to cut a small piece of green pipe cleaner and insert one end into the small opening at the top of the apple pinch pot to create a stem followed by bending the remaining pipe cleaner upwards to resemble an apple stem.
Finally, smooth out any imperfections on your apple pinch pot with your fingers dipped in water and allow the apple pinch pots to air dry completely for about 24 hours, depending on the size.
Tip: You can add details like leaves by cutting small leaf shapes from green felt and gluing them onto the dried apple pinch pots.
Also Read: Make Handmade Clay The Easy Way
Apple Stamp Playdough Mats
First, cut out an apple shape from red construction paper. Next, glue this cutout to the center of a cardboard square or rectangle.
For added durability, you can choose to laminate the cardboard (this step is optional).
Playtime:
- Spread out green playdough on the apple stamp mat.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten the playdough on the mat.
- Gently press the playdough onto the apple cutout to create a stamped apple impression.
- Kids can use their fingers, cookie cutters, or other playdough tools to create additional designs on the playdough mat.
Tip: Create multiple stamp playdough mats with different colored construction paper for variety (e.g., orange for peaches, yellow for lemons).
Apple Popsicle Stick Puzzles
I am sure if you look at the image above it does not need any explanation as it’s super simple and easy mainly because it only requires popsicle sticks and color.
Start by painting the popsicle sticks red (enough for the apple body) and green (enough for the stem and leaf) and let the painted popsicle sticks dry completely.
Then, arrange the red popsicle sticks side-by-side in the shape of an apple.
You can glue them together as you arrange them, or lay them all out first and then glue them together.
The next step is to cut a small stem and leaf shape from a green popsicle stick (or use two separate sticks for stem and leaf).
Finally, glue the green stem and leaf assembly onto the top of the red popsicle stick apple base.
Tip: You can create puzzles with varying difficulty levels by using more or fewer popsicle sticks.
Apple Yarn Mobiles
Cut several strands of red yarn, each about 12-15 inches long.
Wrap each strand around a cardboard circle multiple times until you have a thick red yarn circle.
Secure the end of the yarn with a knot and tuck it under the other wraps, adding a dab of glue for extra hold if needed.
Optionally, use a marker to draw small black seeds in the center of your red yarn circle.
Next, cut a short piece of green yarn and loop it around the top of the red yarn circle. Tie a knot to secure this loop, creating a hanging point for your apple.
For the mobile strings, cut several longer strands of green yarn, each slightly exceeding your desired hanging length.
Attach your red yarn apples to these strands at equal intervals by tying them through the green loops.
Optionally, create a simple leaf by twisting a pipe cleaner and attaching it to the top of a wooden dowel.
Then, tie the green yarn strings with the apples attached to the dowel, spacing them evenly.
Finally, hang your completed apple mobile from a hook or the ceiling to add a charming touch of fall to your decor.
Final Thoughts
These apple crafts are not only fun and engaging for kids, but also incredibly versatile and easy to execute with minimal materials.
My top picks would be the fingerprint painted apples for young children to explore their creativity, and the apple yarn mobiles for an enchanting fall decor piece.
For older kids, I’d recommend the apple pinch pots as an introduction to working with clay.
Overall, these crafts provide wonderful opportunities for quality family time, motor skill development, and nurturing imagination in children.
I highly encourage parents and educators to try out a few of these budget-friendly, simple apple crafts to spark joy and learning through hands-on creativity.
