Leaf Spray Painting

Are you looking for a simple fall art project for kids? Leaf Spray Painting uses real leaves and washable spray paint to create colorful, nature-inspired designs. With just a few supplies, it’s an easy craft that combines time in nature, creative painting, and a beautiful end result you’ll love displaying at home.

If you’re planning a fall leaf unit, this art projects pairs perfectly with our Leaf Scribble Art.

Fall Leaf Spray Painting

Spray Bottle Painting (sometimes called squirt painting) has been one of my kids’ favorite activities for years. They love watching the colors mist across the paper and the designs take shape. In this fall version, the excitement comes from lifting a leaf taped to the paper to reveal the crisp white outline underneath.

Why You’ll Love This Art Project

This leaf spray paint art activity is simple to set up, fun for kids, and filled with creative possibilities:

• Beautiful keepsake – The finished piece is an art project you’ll truly love displaying at home or in the classroom.
• Quick and low-mess – A simple alternative to traditional painting with less cleanup, especially if you contain the project in a cardboard box or tray.
• Nature-inspired – Real leaves make every design unique.
• Great for learning – Perfect for a fall unit on leaves, changing seasons, or trees.
• Encourages creativity – Kids can experiment with colors, layers, and new painting ideas.

Craft Supplies Needed for Easy Leaf Spray Painting

Before you get started, make sure you have everything you need:

• Watercolor paper – I cut ours into 7 ½ by 10-inch sheets, which felt just right for this project.
• Washable paints
• Water
• Spray bottles
• Leaves
• Masking tape
• Double-sided tape
• Black cardstock

Directions for Simple Leaf Spray Painting

This leaf spray painting project comes together in just a few easy steps:

STEP 1: Collect leaves. Head outside with your child and gather a favorite leaf or two from your yard or garden. Place the leaf in the center of your paper and secure it with masking tape.

STEP 2: Mix the paint. Add a good squirt of washable paint to a small spray bottle, fill with water, and shake well to mix.

STEP 3: Spray the paper. Place your paper in a tray or box. Mist the paint over the paper, covering the space around the leaf with color. We used red, orange, and yellow.

STEP 4: Let it dry. Set the project aside to dry completely. I placed mine outside to speed up the process.

STEP 5: Reveal the design. Carefully lift the taped leaf to uncover a crisp white leaf art design.

STEP 6: Mount your artwork. Use double-sided tape to mount the finished spray painted leaf print on colored construction paper or a piece of black cardstock to make it stand out.

Take It Further

Once kids try the basic version, they’ll want to experiment with new twists. Here are some fun ways to extend the project:

• Go on a leaf color hunt – Before painting, head outside with your child to collect leaves in different shapes, sizes, and fall colors. Compare and sort them together.
• Layer the leaves – Overlap different shaped leaves before spraying to create unique patterns.
• Read a leaf-themed book – Pair this craft with stories like Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert or Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf to invite conversation and extend learning.
• Play with color – Use fall shades for a seasonal look or bright colors for a playful design.
• Make a leaf collection journal – Press favorite leaves into a notebook, write down where they were found, and use them as inspiration for more art projects.
• Turn it into something new – Cut the finished painting into cards, bookmarks, or decorations.
• Identify leaves – Pickup a book at your local library about leaf identification. I really like the Take Along Guides series!
• Explore science connections – Talk about why leaves change colors in the fall, or look closely at leaf veins with a magnifying glass.

More Fall Leaf Crafts for Kids

If your kids enjoyed this leaf spray painting project, here are a few more creative leaf art ideas to try:

• Melted Crayon Leaf Suncatchers – Shave crayons, melt them between wax paper, and cut into leaf shapes for colorful decorations that glow in the window.
• Stamped Leaf Shirts – Press real leaves into fabric paint and stamp them onto t-shirts to make wearable autumn art projects.
• Fall Leaf Hedgehog Craft – Attach paper leaves to a hedgehog outline for a fun, spiky fall craft that kids will love.
• Nature Art with Leaves – Use leaves to build patterns, pictures, or collages on paper, creating textured designs inspired by the season.

Save This Project

Save this art project on Pinterest using the image below!