Glue & Chalk Pastel Fall Leaves (with Free Template!)


Published: August 12, 2022 · Updated: January 11, 2024 by Sacha

What better way to celebrate the change of seasons than with an easy fall leaf craft full of vibrant autumn colours? You’ll only need a few simple supplies to make this gorgeous fall-themed glue resist artwork with your kids, and it includes a free leaf template that you can use of all your fall crafts!

Glue & chalk pastel fall leaves on black background.

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Is anyone else excited about fall? The summer was nice, but I am SO ready for all the gorgeous colours that will be upon us in just a few weeks’ time.

If you’re like me and you’re already planning all your autumn-themed crafts, you probably know that using a black background is a fantastic way to make those fall colour pop.

And of course, there’s nothing better than pairing black construction paper with vibrant- coloured chalk pastels.

This glue resist fall leaf craft is perfect for both kids and adults, and it only requires a few simple supplies. I’ve also included a printable fall leaf template that you can download and print to speed things up. (You can use it for other crafts as well!)

So if you’ve been looking for fall leaf craft ideas to try, break out the chalk pastels and give this beautiful pastel leaf craft a try!

Required Materials

Here’s what you’ll need to make these colourful glue resist fall leaves for autumn:

Supplies to make glue & chalk pastel fall leaves.
  • Black cardstock or construction paper (you can also use regular white paper, but it won’t create as big of a contrast between the colours)
  • Optional – My free fall leaf template, which you can download using the form below (there’s another form at the bottom of the article if you’d rather keep reading)
  • Optional – Scissors
  • Liquid school glue with precision tip
  • Chalk pastels in a variety of complementary colours

Note: I chose to stick with fall tones like yellow, orange and red, but feel free to use whichever colours you like!


How to Make Glue & Chalk Pastel Fall Leaves (Step-by-Step)

1. Print Template (Optional)

If you’ve decided to use my template to make things easier, start by printing the template on black construction paper. 

Mockup of fall leaf template.

Because construction paper tends to be a bit larger than 8.5 x 11 inches (US Letter size), you will probably have to cut the paper down to size. I used a paper trimmer to cut it to the right format. I love how quick and easy it is, and how clean the cuts are.

If you do use a paper trimmer instead of regular scissors, make sure not to let your kids anywhere near it while you’re using it, and store it out of reach when not in use. The blade is really sharp and dangerous for children!

Note: If you’d rather draw your own fall leaves, simply skip this step and move on to the next one.

2. Trace Lines with Glue

Once you’ve printed the template, trace all the black lines with white school glue.

Fall leaves traced on black construction paper with liquid glue.

If you’re drawing your own fall leaves, you can either lightly trace them on the paper using a pencil and use that as a guide, or you can simply freehand your designs with the glue.

3. Let Dry

Wait a few hours for the glue to dry completely before you start the next step. You’ll know it’s dry once the lines have become transparent.

Fall leaves traced with glue after drying.

4. Add Colours

Once the glue is done drying, colour the inside of the patterns with chalk pastels. For best results, use two to three colours in each of the sections separated by the lines of glue.

Glue-traced leaves coloured in with chalk pastels.

Note: You will be blending these colours together during the next step, so make sure you choose complementary colours that will blend nicely.

5. Blend Colours

Once you have added all the shades you want, use your fingers to spread the pigment in between the lines of glue and blend the colours together inside those areas.

The glue will act as a sort of “wall” that keeps the different sections of the leaves separate, and the colours in each section will form a gradient.

Chalk pastel fall leaves with smudged chalk pastel colours.

Because you’ll be using your fingers to spread the pigment, this part can get a bit messy—but as far as I’m concerned, the end result is worth it. Isn’t the finished craft just gorgeous?

Related Autumn Crafts

Looking for more fun crafts to get your little ones excited about fall? Check out these articles:

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