Fall Handprint & Footprint Crafts for Babies and Toddlers

One of my favorite parts of fall is making keepsakes with my little one. Handprint and footprint crafts are such an easy (and messy—in the best way!) way to capture these fleeting seasons of childhood. Over the years, we’ve made everything from handprint leaves to footprint turkeys, and now I can look back at how tiny those prints once were.

These projects are perfect for babies and toddlers because they’re simple, fun, and don’t require fancy supplies. All you really need is some paint, paper, and a lot of baby wipes.

Here are some of our favorite fall-themed ideas:

🍂 Handprint Leaves

Paint little hands in fall colors (red, orange, yellow, brown) and press them down multiple times to make a “pile” of leaves. Once dry, grab a marker and add leaf vein details to make them pop.

🍁 Fall Footprint Leaves

We did all four seasons one year, and for fall, footprints became colorful leaves. Just paint their feet in autumn shades and stamp them on paper. Instant keepsake!

👻 Boo Handprint Ghosts

This one’s so cute for Halloween! Make upside-down white handprints, then once the paint dries, draw on little eyes and “Boo!” underneath.

🦃 Turkey with Footprints

A Thanksgiving classic. Paint multiple footprints in red, orange, yellow, and brown. Once dry, cut them out and fan them into a half circle. Place a brown footprint upside down in front for the turkey body and add a face.

🎃 Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet

Paint feet orange, stamp them down, and add a cheeky little caption. Perfect for Halloween memories.

🍂 Thanksgiving Leaf Handprint

Print out a leaf outline, then stamp an upside-down handprint inside it. A quick and simple craft that toddlers love.

Tips for Success

After trial and error (and plenty of paint on my clothes), here are a few tips to make these crafts easier:

1. Use a book or clipboard – Place the paper on a hard surface so you get a clean print.

2. Paint their hand or foot directly – Use a brush or sponge.

3. Expect messiness – You’ll probably end up with paint on yourself, so embrace it.

4. Baby wipes are your best friend – Keep a stack right next to you for quick clean-up.

5. Work quickly – The faster you press and release, the less smudging you’ll have.

6. Choose safe paint – Non-toxic, washable paint works best and comes right off with wipes.

Why We Love These Crafts

These projects are so much more than paper and paint—they’re little time capsules. Each print captures the size of your child’s hands and feet in that moment. As the years pass, you’ll look back and be amazed at how small they once were.

So grab the paint, roll up your sleeves, and get creative this fall. Your future self (and maybe even your child one day) will thank you for saving these sweet seasonal memories.