DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Halloween Tree Paper Craft

I think this simple little cut and paste craft turned out very cute!  

There are a variety of versions to the craft to add complexity for older children.

The craft is simple enough for young kids to contribute but still fun for even mom to make.  I like doing the tissue paper version but it's tough for preschoolers to make -- the templates are more appropriate for them.
There are a number of variations on this craft depending on which templates you print:

1. Template Version (younger children):  print the trunk template and the leaves template and paste them together.
2. Tissue Paper Version (older children):  cut 1.5 inch squares of tissue paper, wrap around the eraser end of a pencil and glue to the trunk template.

Rather than using the Trunk template, you can decorate a "homemade" trunk (to make the trunk, trace your child's arm from the elbow up, including the fingers)

Materials:

• printer,
• paper,
• scissors,
• glue,
• something to colour with (for B&W version and to add ghosts, pumpkins, etc).
• Tissue Paper Version only - you will also need:
  • tissue paper in black and orange (about 1/2 a standard sheet of orange and 1/4 of black) -- although these are odd colors for tissue paper, they aren't tough to find near Halloween.
  • Standard pencil with an eraser.

Instructions - Template Version:

• Print out the craft template of choice.
• Colour pieces, as necessary.  (For a change of pace, try using different mediums than you typically do, such as paints or pastels).
• Cut out the bats and leaves.  This step may require adult assistance.
• We cut out our trunk and glued it to a piece of black construction paper -- you could just decorated the template page with the trunk on it instead.
• Glue the leaves onto the tree.  I like using a glue stick for the template pieces.
• Glue the bats onto the tree or the surrounding paper.  I like using a glue stick for the template pieces.
• Use crayons, paints or collage materials to further decorate the page (if you've used a black construction paper background, white pencil crayon ghosts look spooky!).

Instructions - Tissue Paper Version:      

• Print out the trunk or make one by tracing the child's hand (with finger's spread) and arm about half way up to the elbow.
• Colour the trunk if using the B&W version.  (For a change of pace, try using different mediums than you typically do, such as paints or pastels).
• Cut black and orange tissue paper into 1.5 inch squares.  We put all our squares in a margarine container so they wouldn't fly around and make a mess when someone walked by our work space.
• Squeeze glue on about 1/4 of the tree (liquid glue works much better than a glue stick for this project).
• Wrap a tissue paper square onto the eraser end of a pencil.
• Place the tissue paper onto the tree by pushing the eraser end of the pencil (wrapped in tissue paper) onto a spot with glue.
• Continue placing squares of tissue paper, mixing the colors, until the tree is nice and full.
• Use crayons, paints or collage materials to further decorate the page.

Craft Templates:

• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP in most browsers).

Tree Trunk Template            (color)   or   (B&W)

Leaves and Bats Template  (color)   or   (B&W)

Printable version of these instructions

Easy owl themed activities for young kids this Halloween

Tissue Paper Flower Vase - fun craft kids can make to decorate the house