Kids will learn easy watercolor techniques and rich autumn colors to make this fall leaf painting! Edging the leaves in glitter glue helps to create a barrier between the leaves and the background, making it easier for kids to paint.
There are so many fun watercolor techniques for kids to try! Take a look at my collection of watercolor painting for kids for more fun and creative ideas.
For this project, I created a free printable template to make this art project even easier for you. This template is available to my email subscribers. Fill out the form below to get the free template.
After signing up you will receive a welcome email with your download link.
Take a look at my collection of painting ideas for kids for more fun and creative art projects to try! This beautiful autumn leaf painting uses the same leaf templates but is done with acrylic paint!
Make your own fall leaf painting
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Supplies
- Watercolor paper
- Watercolor paint
- Glitter glue or glitter paint in a tube
- Paintbrushes
- Paint palette and water container
- Painter’s tape
Instructions for your fall leaf painting
1. Tape down your watercolor paper and decide on your leaf drawing. You can use the templates provided or draw your own. If you use my templates, you want to cut them out and trace around the edges onto watercolor paper and then add in your own details.
Related: 5 Easy Watercolor Techniques for Kids with Amazing Results
When you are drawing your leaf, you want to draw it lightly in pencil if you are using gold glitter paint or if you are going to use green glitter glue you can use a light green pencil crayon so the drawing doesn’t show through.
2. Next outline your leaf drawing in glitter paint or glue. It can be hard for younger kids to squeeze the glue along the lines so they may need some help. My son tried on his own at first and then we squeezed the bottle together.
Let the glitter completely dry before moving on. Overnight is best.
Related: Easy Leaf Printing on Rocks Autumn Craft
3. Once your outline is dry, mix 3-4 colors of your watercolor paints. You want the paint to be fairly watery, I always like to test out the colors before on a scrap piece of paper just to make sure.
4. Paint inside your leaf with just water first. You want the paper to be wet but not soaking. Then start to paint with your watercolors.
When painting with watercolors on wet paper, you want to dab the paper and let the colors mix together on their own. This will help avoid the colors from getting too muddy. Let the inside of the leaf completely dry before moving on to the background.
Related: 25+ Fabulous Fall Art Projects for Kids
5. Mix up 1-3 colors for your background. We chose blue and pink, but you could use any colors you like. Again, paint the background of your picture with water first. Then start to paint with your watercolors.
Let the painting completely dry before taking off your tape to avoid the paper buckling.
This fall leaf painting is a fun and easy art project idea that kids of all ages will enjoy making!
Fill in the form below to get your free printable template!
After signing up you will receive a welcome email with your download link.
If you are looking for more fall art projects take a look at my collection of creative fall painting ideas for kids! There are ideas for kids of all ages that use different types of art materials and techniques.
More watercolor projects kids will love
Beautiful northern lights watercolor paintings.
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Pin this project for later
Debbie
How pretty! You could totally frame these, too. I want to make one myself!
ProjectswithKids
Thanks Debbie! I agree they would look great in a frame.
Kim
Very cute! I’m always looking for fun things to do with my grandkids – they would love this! Thanks!
ProjectswithKids
Thanks Kim! Watercolors are so fun for kids of all ages.
Corey | The Nostalgia Diaries
What a fun activity! My daughter would love to do this – she’s all about the glitter glue! 🙂
ProjectswithKids
Yes glitter glue is the hot craft item of the moment! This is a fun way to use it.
Jen | My Healthy Homemade Life
Another fabulous activity. I love the glitter and I know my daughter will too!
ProjectswithKids
Thanks Jen! Who doesn’t love glitter?! And bonus it’s the non messy kind of glitter!
Stephanie | Adventures in Aussieland
This looks like such an amazing craft! I always share your stuff with my sister in law. I cannot wait to see how these turn out when my nephew gives it a go!
ProjectswithKids
Thanks Stephanie that’s really so nice of you! I hope your sister in law and nephew have fun with this, watercolors are so fun for kids of all ages!
Shell
What a cute and fun fall craft!!
ProjectswithKids
Thanks Shell, it really was fun to do!
Shann Eva
These look amazing! I love how they turned out. What a fun project to do with kids!
ProjectswithKids
Thanks Shann! One of the reasons I love watercolors so much is that they always turn out amazing with kids of all ages! We really had fun with this project.
Alyssa from The Sparkly Life
wow! these look gorgeous! what a fun fall project. pinning this for later!
ProjectswithKids
Thanks Alyssa I appreciate the pin!
Yolanda
What a great fall project! I bet you had a lot of fun creating.
ProjectswithKids
Thanks Yolanda! We did have a lot of fun.
Elena
My nephew is 4 and he loves painting with water colors to. At first I was afraid that he will make a mess but actually he is really careful.
Dawn
They are so pretty! They’d look great cut out and used to decorate a window for the Fall.