Silly Paper Bag Scarecrow Craft for Kids
Little Dreamers Club
Posted by Joni Jones on September 17, 2026Share
Fall is the perfect season for crafts that can become part of the play long after the glue has dried. This cheerful paper bag scarecrow is not only a cute autumn decoration—it can also become a puppet for fall storytelling or a friendly character in a farm-themed pretend-play adventure.
Children can give their scarecrow a silly face, colorful hat, straw-like paper hair, and a personality all its own. Once finished, they can create stories about life on the farm, put on a puppet show, or imagine their scarecrow protecting pumpkins, cornfields, and friendly farm animals.
With simple supplies and plenty of room for creativity, this easy fall craft encourages cutting, gluing, decorating, storytelling, and imaginative play—all in one project.
Supply list
- Brown paper lunch bag
- Yellow construction paper or card stock
- Colored paper for the hatband
- Washable paint
- Paintbrush
- Large googly eyes
- Black washable marker
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Optional buttons, yarn, ribbon, stickers, or craft gems
instructions
- Place the paper bag flat with the folded flap facing up. The flap will become the scarecrow’s hat.
- Cut a strip from the bottom of the bag and unfold it into one long piece. Fold or trim it so it extends slightly beyond both sides of the bag.
- Glue the strip along the lower edge of the flap to create the hat brim.
- Slide a piece of scrap paper beneath the flap and paint the hat. Let it dry.
- Glue large googly eyes onto the front of the bag.
- Draw a triangle-shaped nose and a stitched smile with a washable black marker.
- Cut several yellow paper strips for straw hair.
- Glue the hair beneath the sides of the hat.
- Cut a colorful paper strip for the hatband and glue it above the brim.
- Add patches, buttons, rosy cheeks, or other decorations to give the scarecrow its own personality.
Creative extensions
Turn it into a puppet
Glue a large craft stick to the back or place a hand inside the bag for a fall puppet show.
Give your scarecrow a name
Ask children:
- What is your scarecrow’s name?
- What does it protect?
- Does it live on a farm?
- Is it afraid of crows—or are they friends?
Make a scarecrow family
Each family member can create a different scarecrow and add details that reflect their personality.
Create a farm scene
Draw or build a paper background with:
- A barn
- Cornfields
- Pumpkins
- Hay bales
- Farm animals
- Autumn trees
Learning connections
This project supports:
- Cutting and gluing
- Fine motor development
- Shape recognition
- Facial-feature placement
- Creative decision-making
- Storytelling and vocabulary
- Imaginative play
- Emotional expression through character design
Keep the Play Going
Once the scarecrow is finished, invite your child to give it a name and imagine where it lives.
Does it watch over a pumpkin patch? Is it friends with the crows? Does it help care for the farm animals? Children can use their scarecrow as a puppet for fall storytelling, create a simple farm scene from paper or cardboard, or make additional characters for a full pretend-play adventure.
The craft may only take an afternoon to make, but the stories can continue long after the glue has dried.
Create. Play. Learn.
Simple crafts like this one give children the freedom to make choices, create characters, and turn ordinary materials into something full of personality.
At Little Dreamers Club, we believe the best projects do more than fill time. They encourage children to create, imagine, tell stories, and learn through play.
Project Inspiration
This paper bag scarecrow activity was inspired by the Paper Bag Scarecrow craft created by Julie at Kids Activity Zone. We added our own Little Dreamers Club storytelling ideas, pretend-play extensions, learning connections, and family-friendly adaptations.