Make an adorable acorn with your kids using a coffee filter and a paper plate. This easy fall craft uses simple supplies you likely already have at home, and it comes together in under 30 minutes.
Autumn is the perfect time to slow down and get crafty. Acorns are everywhere this season, which makes them a fun theme for little hands. This brown acorn project keeps toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary kids busy while sneaking in some talk about seeds, trees, and how things grow.
Craft Supplies:
Gather these before you start so the fun flows without pauses:
- Brown coffee filters (1 per acorn)
- White paper plates (1 per acorn)
- Grey cardstock (for the base)
- Brown paint or a brown paint dauber
- Elmer’s school glue
- Scissors
Directions:
- Cut a paper plate in half so you have a half-circle. This becomes the acorn cap.
- Paint the half-circle with streaky, horizontal strokes of brown paint. Leave the strokes rough and textured to mimic a real acorn cap.
- Open a coffee filter and press it flat. This round shape becomes the acorn’s body, so no painting needed here.
- Glue the flattened coffee filter onto the center of the grey cardstock.
- Glue the painted half-circle over the top half of the coffee filter so they overlap slightly.
- Paint a small brown stem at the top center of the cap, extending up onto the grey cardstock. Let everything dry.
RELATED —> Handprint Acorn Poem Keepsake
Cut and paint the plate for the cap, flatten a coffee filter for the body, then glue both onto grey cardstock and add a stem. Simple, cheap, and packed with fall charm. Not to mention – perfect for story time too!
Which step do you think your kids will love most? Save this tutorial for your next crafty afternoon, and share a photo of your finished acorns with us on Facebook and Instagram. We can’t wait to hear from you! Happy crafting, my friends!
Paper Plate & Coffee Filter Acorn Craft Idea
Here’s your checklist of supplies to bring this craft to life:
- School Glue
Prepare your creative haven by laying down a protective cover before the crafting magic begins!
Directions:
- Cut a paper plate in half so you have a half-circle. This becomes the acorn cap.
- Paint the half-circle with streaky, horizontal strokes of brown paint. Leave the strokes rough and textured to mimic a real acorn cap.
- Open a coffee filter and press it flat. This round shape becomes the acorn's body, so no painting needed here.
- Glue the flattened coffee filter onto the center of the grey cardstock.
- Glue the painted half-circle over the top half of the coffee filter so they overlap slightly.
- Paint a small brown stem at the top center of the cap, extending up onto the grey cardstock. Let everything dry.

Grab our favorite books via our Amazon affiliate link! In our Amazon storefront you will find books, toys and craft supplies we absolutely love using for our Glued To My Crafts tutorials!




