There’s something so fun and satisfying about turning a handful of dried beans into colorful works of art! These easy fall bean mosaics are made with just a few recycled and cheap materials, making them a simple and inexpensive craft for kids of all ages. Even adults can get in on the fun. It’s a surprisingly relaxing craft once you start filling in all those little spaces!
Dried beans are especially perfect for fall crafts because they naturally come in so many warm, earthy colors. Use different varieties to create colorful fall leaves, pumpkins, acorns, apples, flowers, pears, sunflowers, and more. Kids can sort the beans by color and size, arrange their own patterns, or simply start gluing and see where their creativity takes them.
Supplies Needed
- a variety of dried beans & lentils
- cardboard (I recommend a cereal box for easy cutting)
- scissors
- glue
- paint & brush (optional for painting the cardboard or beans)
Cut Out Fall Shapes with Cardboard
To get started, simply draw and cut out leaves, pumpkins, acorns, apples, flowers, or any other fun shapes from recycled cardboard. Cereal boxes and other food packaging work especially well because they’re much easier to cut than thick shipping boxes. For an easy starting point, you can also print and trace this Free Leaf Template!
Time To Decorate!
Leave the cardboard natural, or paint it to match your beans for a cleaner look. Next, simply glue the dried beans onto the cardboard in any design you like. Kids can scatter them randomly or use different colors and shapes to create fun patterns and designs. Try working in small sections so that the glue doesn’t dry before the beans are added.
Get Creative With Fun Patterns
Fill each section with a different bean, create stripes or swirls, outline the shape with larger beans, or make veins and stems with contrasting colors. You could also paint the beans once you’re finished to add even more details!
Once dry, display the mosaics on a shelf, hang them with ribbon, make a fall garland, or use them as part of a Thanksgiving holiday centerpiece. It’s an easy, screen-free art project that turns a few ordinary pantry staples and pieces of scrap cardboard into something worth admiring all season!
And you definitely don’t have to save this craft for autumn! Cut recycled cardboard into hearts for Valentine’s Day, eggs for Easter, Christmas trees and ornaments for the holidays, or just about any shape you can imagine. You can use craft paint to make the beans a more fitting color for each holiday.
Helpful Tips
- Use a variety of dried beans and lentils. Kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, split peas, chickpeas, and red or yellow lentils give you lots of natural fall colors, shapes, and textures. You could also try popcorn kernels, seeds, cereal, or dried pasta!
- A bag of mixed dried beans or 15-bean soup mix is an inexpensive way to get lots of different colors and varieties without buying several separate bags.
If you like this easy fall craft, you’re going to love these DIY Colorful Fall Leaf Suncatchers
