Autumn is prime crafting season in our house. The leaves crunch, the scarves come out, and every time we go on a walk, the kids return home with bulging pockets full of nature’s treasures—twigs, pinecones, mysterious rocks, and of course, acorns.
There’s just something about acorns that makes them feel magical. Maybe it’s the tiny hat? Maybe it’s because they’re the perfect size for little hands? Either way, we’ve tested out quite a few acorn craft projects over the years—some with glitter explosions, some with quiet concentration—and these five are the ones we keep coming back to.
Whether you’re making them on a chilly weekend afternoon or setting up an activity for a rainy day indoors, these acorn crafts are simple, satisfying, and just the right amount of silly.
1. Painted Acorn Creatures
This one starts with a bowl of acorns and ends with a family of tiny painted weirdos. You don’t need much: a bit of acrylic paint, a paintbrush, and some googly eyes if you’ve got them.
Let the kids paint the acorns however they want—solid colours, polka dots, superhero outfits. When they dry, glue on some eyes and draw little mouths with a marker. Bonus points if you glue felt capes or paper wings on them.
We’ve had acorn fairies, acorn astronauts, even an acorn mermaid. These often end up in pockets again… or on windowsills, looking out like tiny guardians.
2. Acorn Cap Jewels
Don’t toss the caps! They make adorable pretend “jewels” or treasure pieces. This craft is super easy and satisfying. You just fill the inside of the acorn caps with glue, then add glitter, sequins, or even little bits of tissue paper.
Let them dry overnight and you’re left with a tray full of shiny forest gems. My kids love using these in pretend play—like magic stones, dragon treasure, or potion ingredients.
You can also hot glue them onto cardboard to make “magic wands,” or even string them together to make a nature necklace.
3. Acorn Spinners
This one surprised me—acorns actually make great little spinning tops! Just poke a toothpick or wooden skewer into the bottom (a grown-up job), and then let the kids decorate them with markers or paint.
Once dry, you spin them like a top and watch them wobble around. It’s not high-speed toy quality, but it’s enough to get a giggle.
It’s also a sneaky way to mix in some science chat about balance and weight. Who says crafts can’t be clever?
4. Acorn Animals
This is where it gets wild. Combine acorns with a few other natural materials—think twigs, leaves, or pinecone bits—and suddenly you’ve got squirrels, owls, hedgehogs, or even a tiny forest giraffe (don’t ask, it made sense at the time).
You can glue an acorn on top of a pinecone to make a little critter body, or stack acorns together to build a bug or snake. Stick-on eyes or drawn-on expressions make them come to life.
And honestly, they’re pretty cute lined up on a shelf or hiding among houseplants.
5. Tiny Acorn Tea Set
I blame my daughter for this one. One day, she declared the acorn caps were actually teacups for her dolls—and a whole miniature tea party followed.
We ended up gluing a few caps onto a small piece of bark as a “serving tray,” added a mini clay teapot, and made a whole tea set. She even made little “cookies” out of clay and acorn tops.
It’s fiddly, yes, but very sweet. This craft is less about doing it perfectly and more about imaginative play afterwards. I recommend some hot cocoa and cookies alongside—you’ll want to sit and join the tea party.
Final Thoughts
There’s something wholesome about crafting with things you picked up on a walk. Acorns are free, they’re everywhere in fall, and they don’t require fancy tools to turn into something magical.
These crafts aren’t about perfection—they’re about moments. Sticky fingers, proud grins, and a kitchen table covered in newspaper and natural bits. A little seasonal joy, one acorn at a time.
Next time you’re out for a walk, bring a bag. You might just be bringing home a world of tiny possibilities.