Grab your paint, some googly eyes, and get ready for the messiest, happiest fall craft of the season! This Paint Splat Scarecrow is one of those projects where the “oops” part is the whole point. Kids get to squish yellow paint into wild, ribbed textures, then turn that gorgeous mess into a friendly scarecrow face. Add a floppy hat, a triangle nose, and a sweet little handprint collar, and you’ve got a keepsake worth hanging on the fridge all autumn long.
Best of all? We’re giving you a free printable template to make setup a breeze. Whether you’re a parent looking for a rainy-day activity, a teacher planning a fall art station, or a caregiver who loves a good craft, this one checks every box.
Craft Supplies:
Here’s your simple materials list. Most of these you probably already have in your craft drawer.
- Colored cardstock paper {for the scarecrow}
- White cardstock paper {for the hat printable}
- Tan cardstock paper {for his collar}
- Craft paint {we used yellow and gold}
- Two large googly eyes
- Crayons
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Our free printable – from box.com – password is GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS2026
Directions:
Step 1: Make the Paint Splat Face
Take your sheet of white cardstock and fold it in half. Open it back up, then squeeze a few dollops of yellow & gold acrylic paint onto one side of the paper. Fold it shut again and let your child press, smush, and swirl the paint all over the outside of the folded paper. When you peel it open, you’ll see those beautiful ribbed, marbled patterns inside!
Set the paper aside to dry completely. This is the perfect time for a snack break!
Step 2: Make the Hat
Print the hat template onto white paper and color it all over with a brown crayon for a cozy, straw-like texture. Go ahead and also color in the buckle design. Cut the hat out and glue it to the top of the “paint splat” head design.
Step 3: Add the Face
Glue two googly eyes to the center of the yellow face. Cut a small triangle from brown construction paper and glue it below and between the eyes for the nose. Simple, silly, and instantly full of personality.
Step 4: Make the Handprint Collar
Here’s the sweetest part. Trace your child’s hand twice onto brown construction paper and cut out both handprints. Overlap them at the wrists and glue them to the bottom of the scarecrow’s face so the fingers fan out to each side. These aren’t hands – they’re his cozy little collar peeking out from under his chin!
Now you can add any other embellishments you see fit and display it proudly for ALL to see!
RELATED —> Paper Plate Scarecrow Pumpkin Gnome
This Paint Splat Scarecrow is proof that the best fall crafts are the ones that let kids make a little mess and a lot of memories. From the squishy painted face to that adorable handprint collar, every step invites creativity and giggles.
We’d love to see your scarecrows! Snap a photo and tag us @GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS so we can cheer on your tiny artists. Happy crafting, my friends!
