Fall Handprint and Footprint Craft: Free Printable
Celebrate the season with a colorful fall handprint-and-footprint craft that turns little hands and feet into autumn keepsakes. The free six-page PDF includes two projects: a handprint tree filled with red, orange, yellow, and green leaves and a squirrel created from a brown footprint and printable pieces. Both crafts are simple enough for preschoolers with adult help and make sweet decorations or gifts for parents and grandparents.
Use the finished examples as guides, then let children choose their own fall colors and arrangement. Every finished project becomes a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
Check out our entire collection of Handprint and Footprint Crafts here.
What Is Included in the Printable?
The fall handprint and footprint craft PDF contains six portrait pages:
- A decorative cover page
- A completed fall handprint tree example
- A fall tree template with a printed trunk
- A completed squirrel footprint craft example
- A bordered background page for the squirrel footprint
- A page of cut-apart squirrel pieces with a small assembly guide
You do not need to print all six pages to make the crafts. Print the tree template on page three for the handprint tree. For the squirrel, print the background on page five and the pieces on page six. Keep pages two and four on the screen as references instead of printing them to save ink.
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Supplies Needed:
Gather these supplies before beginning:
- Printed fall craft pages
- White cardstock or heavyweight printer paper
- Washable, non-toxic tempera paint
- Paintbrush or foam brush
- Paper plate or washable paint tray
- Scissors
- Glue stick or school glue
- Baby wipes or a damp washcloth
- Protective table covering
- Child-sized paint smock or old shirt
- Black marker, optional
Cardstock is more durable than regular copy paper and is less likely to wrinkle when painted. A thin, even coat of paint will produce a clearer print and help the paper dry faster.
Before You Begin
Cover the work surface and keep cleaning supplies nearby. For the squirrel, remove shoes and socks and seat the child securely while an adult guides the foot.
Use washable, non-toxic children’s paint and check its safety information. Clean painted skin immediately, and never allow a child to walk with paint on their foot.
How to Make the Fall Handprint Tree
1. Print the tree template
Print page three on white cardstock. The page contains a brown tree trunk surrounded by a soft green border and autumn leaves.
2. Choose fall paint colors
Pour small amounts of red, orange, yellow, and green paint onto a palette. You can use all four colors or select two or three for a simpler tree.
3. Paint the child’s hand
Use a brush to apply a thin layer of paint across the palm and fingers. For a solid handprint, use one color at a time. For a variegated leaf effect, dab two nearby colors onto different areas without mixing them completely.
4. Add handprint leaves
Position the painted hand above the tree trunk with the fingers pointing outward. Press the entire hand firmly onto the paper without sliding it. Lift straight up, clean the hand, and repeat with additional colors until the branches have a full canopy.
Turn the paper or vary the angle of each print to make the tree look natural. Younger children may need an adult to guide the wrist and gently press each finger.
5. Let the artwork dry
Place the finished tree on a flat surface until the paint is completely dry. Add the child’s name, age, and date at the bottom to turn it into a seasonal keepsake.
How to Make the Squirrel Footprint Craft
1. Print the squirrel pages
Print pages five and six on white cardstock. Page five is the fall background for the footprint, while page six contains the squirrel’s tail, ears, face pieces, nose, and acorn.
2. Make a brown footprint
Have the child sit in a secure chair. Apply a thin, even layer of washable brown paint to the bottom of one foot. Carefully press the foot onto the center of the background page and lift it straight up.
The toes form the lower portion of the squirrel, while the heel extends toward its head. Use the completed example on page four to check the placement before making the print.
3. Clean the foot and dry the print
Wipe and wash the child’s foot immediately. Keep the child seated until all paint has been removed. Allow the footprint to dry completely before adding paper pieces so the glue and paint do not smear.
4. Cut out the squirrel pieces
Cut around the large tail, ears, face pieces, nose, and acorn on page six. Adults should cut the pieces for toddlers. Preschoolers who are ready for scissor practice can cut the larger shapes with supervision.
5. Assemble the squirrel
Use the finished example as a guide. Glue the large tail beside the footprint, place the ears and face pieces near the heel, and add the nose and acorn. Press every piece flat and allow the glue to dry.
Tips for Clear Handprints and Footprints
- Test the print on scrap paper before using the template.
- Brush on paint instead of dipping the entire hand or foot into it.
- Use enough paint to cover the skin without creating drips or puddles.
- Press downward gently without rocking or sliding.
- Lift the hand or foot straight away from the paper.
- If the first print smears, reprint the template and try again.
- Write the child’s name and date only after the paint has dried.
A slightly imperfect print is still part of the keepsake. Small gaps, uneven fingertips, and tiny smudges reflect the child’s age and do not need to be corrected.
Learning Through Handprint Art
Painting, pressing, cutting, and gluing build fine-motor coordination and body awareness. Choosing colors encourages decision-making, while naming the tree, leaves, squirrel, and acorn adds fall vocabulary.
Talk about why leaves change color and why squirrels collect food. Children can also count the handprints, identify the colors, or compare print sizes.
Ways to Use the Finished Crafts
- Display the projects on a fall classroom bulletin board.
- Add them to a preschool portfolio or memory book.
- Frame a finished page as seasonal decor.
- Give the artwork to a parent or grandparent.
- Compare new prints with projects saved from previous years.
- Pair the squirrel with a fall nature or woodland-animal lesson.
Display several children’s trees together to create a personalized fall forest.
More Fall and Handprint Crafts for Kids
Continue your autumn theme with a Handprint Scarecrow Craft or make a movable Hopping Squirrel Craft. You can also explore more ideas in the complete collection of Handprint Art and Craft Ideas.
For another seasonal keepsake, print one of these Thanksgiving Handprint Poem Templates. The Preschool Fall-Themed Math Worksheets can extend the theme through counting and early learning practice.
If you liked the Fall Handprint and Footprint Printable Craft, here are more sweet and creative handprint projects to make with your kids.
- Mother’s Day Handprint Garden Craft – A beautiful garden-themed craft that makes the perfect keepsake gift for Mom.
- The Grinch Handprint Craft – A fun Christmas craft featuring the Grinch, great for holiday art time.
- The Lorax Handprint Art – Inspired by Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, this craft teaches creativity and promotes environmental care.
- Thanksgiving Handprint Poem Printable – A heartfelt Thanksgiving craft that pairs a touching poem with your child’s handprint.
Fall Handprint and Footprint Printable Craft
Make a colorful autumn tree with painted handprints and a squirrel with a brown footprint, plus printable pieces. This free fall craft is a personalized keepsake for toddlers and preschoolers.
Materials
- Printed templates
- White cardstock
- Washable non-toxic tempera paint
- Paintbrush
- Paint tray
- Scissors
- Glue
Tools
- Cleaning cloths
- Table covering
- Smock
Instructions
- Print page three for the tree or pages five and six for the squirrel.
- Cover the work surface and prepare washable paint and cleaning supplies.
- For the tree, paint the child’s hand and press several prints above the trunk in fall colors.
- For the squirrel, paint one foot brown and press it onto the center of page five.
- Wash painted skin immediately and let the print dry completely.
- Cut out the squirrel pieces from page six and glue them around the footprint using the example as a guide.
- Add the child’s name and date after the project dries.
Notes
Safety note: Use washable, non-toxic children’s paint. Supervise the use of scissors and glue. Keep the child seated during the footprint activity, and clean the foot before allowing the child to stand or walk.
