Fall is such a magical time of year—cozy weather, colorful leaves, warm drinks, and of course, endless opportunities for kid-friendly crafts. If you’re looking for an easy, hands-on project that works beautifully for toddlers, preschoolers, elementary-age kids, classrooms, and homeschool groups, this Paper Plate Pumpkins Craft is the perfect autumn activity. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and wonderfully tactile—kids love glue, tissue paper, and anything they can tear with their hands!

Whether you’re decorating a classroom door, creating a fall-themed centerpiece, or just looking for an engaging weekend project at home, these adorable tissue-covered pumpkins bring instant seasonal charm. With just a handful of basic supplies and about 20–30 minutes of hands-on time, your little ones can create bright, textured pumpkins that display beautifully on walls, refrigerators, and bulletin boards.

Below, you’ll find detailed instructions, helpful tips, and answers to commonly asked questions to make this craft as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Why Kids Love This Fall Craft

Before we jump into the steps, let’s talk about why this craft is such a hit with children.

It’s extremely tactile.

Kids get to tear tissue paper, squeeze glue, sponge the plate, wrap a pipe cleaner, and staple (with adult help)—all wonderful sensory and fine-motor experiences.

It sparks creativity.

No two pumpkins look the same! Kids can add as many tissue pieces as they like, creating pumpkins that are bold, textured, and full of personality.

It’s low-mess (as far as crafts go).

Tearing tissue paper is contained and simple. Glue is easy to control. And the final results look impressive even with very young creators.

It’s a great group craft.

Because the steps are easy to prep and simple to follow, this is ideal for:

Classrooms
Daycares
Homeschool lessons
Birthday parties
Library craft hours
Harvest festivals
Family activity nights

The supplies are inexpensive, and most can be bought in bulk, making it a budget-friendly project for groups of any size.

Supplies You’ll Need

To make one adorable paper plate pumpkin, gather the following materials:

Paper plates
Orange tissue paper
Green pipe cleaner/chenille stems
School glue
Brown construction paper
Scissors
Paint sponge
Pencil
Stapler

If you want to get extra creative, you can also add:

Googly eyes for a silly pumpkin face
Stickers
Glitter glue
Ribbon bows
Green construction paper leaves
Black construction paper jack-o’-lantern face

But the pumpkin looks perfect even with the classic tissue-paper method.

Step-By-Step Directions

Below is the full process, written in simple steps that both parents and educators can follow.

1. Tear the orange tissue paper into small pieces

This is one of the most fun steps, especially for younger kids!

Encourage children to tear the tissue paper into long strips and then into smaller squares or irregular shapes. There is no perfect size. Anything from 1–2 inches works well. You’ll need a good amount, so feel free to prepare a pile ahead of time—little hands can take a while to tear enough pieces, and for group settings, pre-torn pieces save a lot of time.

This step is fantastic for:

Strengthening fine motor skills
Practicing hand-eye coordination
Allowing sensory exploration

2. Turn the paper plate upside down

Lay the plate upside down on the workspace. The back of the plate has a nice curved shape, which makes it look more like a rounded pumpkin once it’s covered.

3. Apply glue to the paper plate

Drizzle a generous amount of school glue on the surface of the plate. You don’t need a perfect swirl or pattern—just enough glue to coat most of the plate.

Use a paint sponge or paintbrush to smooth the glue evenly over the entire surface. This helps the tissue paper stick better and prevents dry spots.

Tip:
School glue dries clear, so kids don’t have to worry about doing this perfectly.

4. Cover the plate with tissue paper pieces

Now the fun begins!

Start sticking the torn tissue paper pieces onto the glued plate. Kids can overlap them, layer them, or place them in patterns. The more pieces they add, the more textured and vibrant their pumpkin will look.

Encourage creativity:

Cover every surface
Leave no white paper plate showing
Add second and third layers for extra fullness

Once the surface is fully covered, set the plate aside to dry for about 5–10 minutes.

5. Cut out the pumpkin stem

Using brown construction paper, cut a small rectangle to use as the pumpkin stem. You can also make it more decorative by shaping the rectangle into:

A trapezoid
A curved stump
A long tall stem

But a simple rectangle works wonderfully for all age groups and is especially doable for beginners learning to cut with scissors.

If you’re crafting with toddlers or preschoolers, you can pre-cut the stems for them.

6. Create the pumpkin vine with a chenille stem

Take a green pipe cleaner and wrap it around a pencil several times to coil it. Slide it off the pencil gently by pulling it sideways, so the coils remain intact.

This creates a spiral vine—a fun, whimsical touch that kids love. After removing the pipe cleaner, stretch the coils lightly so the vine looks fuller.

7. Attach the vine to the pumpkin

Find the top center of the pumpkin. Place the coil so its middle point rests at the top of the plate. Use a stapler to secure the chenille stem to the pumpkin.

Adults must handle the stapling step for safety.

8. Attach the stem

Now place the brown construction paper stem over the stapled area. Staple it in place, hiding the pipe cleaner’s attachment point.

If you want a cleaner look, you can glue a small piece of orange tissue paper over the staple so it blends in with the pumpkin.

9. Let the pumpkin fully dry

Set the finished project aside for about an hour so all the glue and staples settle. Once it’s dry, it’s ready to display, gift, or use as décor.

Ways to Display Your Paper Plate Pumpkins

Once your pumpkin masterpiece is complete, you can display it in tons of fun and seasonal ways:

Refrigerator Art

Add a magnet to the back and turn it into the cutest fall fridge display.

Bulletin Boards

Perfect for:

Classrooms
Homeschool spaces
Hallways

Write children’s names on the stems for extra personalization.

Fall Centerpiece

Stand a few pumpkins upright on the table for an instant festive centerpiece.

Wall Décor

Use painter’s tape to create a fun fall-themed gallery wall.

Party Decorations

Paper plate pumpkins make adorable decor for:

Fall festivals
Halloween parties
Pumpkin-patch themed birthdays
Halloween-themed baby shower

Educational Benefits of This Craft

This activity is more than just a cute fall project. Kids build several developmental and educational skills:

Fine Motor Skills

Tearing tissue paper, cutting the stem, wrapping pipe cleaners, and gluing all help strengthen hand muscles.

Sensory Experience

Tissue paper textures, sticky glue, and soft chenille stems make this a rich sensory craft.

Color Recognition

Kids practice recognizing and working with colors, especially orange and green.

Following Directions

Teachers and parents can guide children step-by-step, helping them practice listening and sequencing.

Creativity and Confidence

Kids feel proud of their finished pumpkins, and the open-ended design lets them express their own style.

Tips for Crafting With a Group

If you’re doing this project with a classroom, group of kids, daycare class, or craft party, preparation is key! Here are helpful tips to ensure everything runs smoothly:

Pre-tear the tissue paper

Tear or cut orange tissue paper into small pieces beforehand and place them in bowls or trays in the center of each table.

Pre-cut the stems

Cut out brown rectangle stems ahead of time to save time and avoid handling scissors in crowded settings.

Set up a glue station

Place glue, sponges, and plates at each seat so kids don’t have to share one small bottle.

Adult-managed stapling

Wait until all pumpkins are tissue-covered and begin calling kids up one at a time for the stapling step.

Cover tables

Use butcher paper or disposable tablecloths to catch glue drips.

Use drying racks

If you’re working in a classroom, use trays or a rack to keep the drying pumpkins organized.

FAQ: Paper Plate Pumpkin Craft

What can I use instead of orange tissue paper?

If you don’t have orange tissue paper on hand, you can use:

Orange party streamers
Orange construction paper torn into small pieces
Scrapbook paper
Painted newspaper

Any lightweight orange material works.

What age group is this craft best for?

This craft works well for children ages 2–8.

Ages 2–4:
They’ll need help with cutting, stapling, and glue management, but they love tearing tissue paper and sticking pieces on!
Ages 5–6:
They can complete most of the steps independently with a little guidance.
Ages 7–8:
They often add creative extra touches like faces or glitter.

Always supervise young children when using scissors, glue, and staplers.

How long does this craft take?

Hands-on crafting time is around 20–25 minutes, plus an additional hour of drying time.

How can I prepare ahead of time for a group?

For group crafting, consider prepping the following:

Tissue paper torn into pieces
Pre-cut stems
Pencils set out for pipe-cleaner wrapping
Paper plates ready at each seat
Glue and sponges available
A station for adult stapling assistance

This reduces downtime and keeps kids engaged from start to finish.

Can we decorate the pumpkin further?

Absolutely! Kids can add:

Stickers
Glitter
Construction paper leaves
Marker-drawn faces
Googly eyes
Ribbon or twine bows

Let them personalize their pumpkins however they like.

Final Thoughts: A Perfect Fall Activity for Kids

The Paper Plate Pumpkins Craft is the kind of easy, joyful activity that becomes a fall favorite year after year. It’s budget-friendly, classroom-friendly, toddler-approved, and wonderfully hands-on. Kids absolutely love tearing the tissue paper, gluing each piece onto the plate, and watching their pumpkin come to life with color and texture.

Whether you’re crafting at home with your own children or guiding a classroom full of excited students, this project offers the perfect blend of creativity, learning, and seasonal fun. Display them proudly, gift them to grandparents, or use them as simple fall decorations—you’ll treasure these little pumpkins long after autumn fades.

If you try this craft, don’t forget to take photos and capture your child’s smile as they show off their beautiful creation. These are the small seasonal moments that make childhood so magical.