Paper Bag Scarecrow Craft for Kids

A paper bag scarecrow turns one brown lunch bag and two sheets of newspaper into a grinning fall friend. You stuff the bag, tie the neck with yarn, draw a face, and tuck in yarn hair. It takes about 20 minutes, works for ages 3 and up, and leaves almost no mess on the table.

What Do You Need for the Paper Bag Scarecrow?

Grab one brown paper lunch bag, two sheets of newspaper, a length of yarn or twine, washable markers, and a handful of raffia or yarn scraps for hair. A square of paper or a scrap of flannel becomes an optional hat. Washable markers matter here, because a scarecrow face migrates from bag to hands to sleeves within five minutes.

How Do You Make a Paper Bag Scarecrow?

1. Crumple two sheets of newspaper and push them loosely into the lunch bag. Stop while the bag still feels soft and springy, and leave the top third of the bag empty.
2. Gather the top of the bag to form a neck and tie it with yarn. Knot it snug and leave short tails for tucking in the hair.
3. Tuck raffia or yarn scraps under the yarn tie so the ends stick out like hair. A sparse clump looks more like a real scarecrow than a thick wig.
4. Draw the face with markers: eyes, a triangle nose, a stitched smile, and round cheeks. Let your child decide whether the scarecrow grins wide or looks sleepy.
5. Make a hat if you want one. Fold a paper square corner to corner and tape it on, or cut a wide brim from a paper plate and set it on the yarn tie.

What Can Go Wrong?

Overstuffing tears the bag. Push the newspaper in loosely and stop while the bag still has some give. If a tear starts anyway, a strip of tape on the inside holds the scarecrow together for the rest of the season.

Pair this with the coffee filter fall leaves for a full afternoon of fall crafting. If a younger sibling wants in, the fall sensory bin for toddlers keeps little hands busy at the same table.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this for?

Ages 3 and up. Children younger than 3 can draw the face while you hold the bag, but the yarn tie and loose hair pieces are a choking hazard, so keep those parts in adult hands for that age.

How messy is it?

Very low mess. Crumpled newspaper leaves a few paper bits on the table, and washable markers wipe off hands. Spread one sheet of newspaper under the work area and cleanup takes a minute.

How long does it take?

About 20 minutes from crumpling to finished scarecrow. The hair and the face take the most time, because your child will want to get them right.

Is it safe?

The materials are safe for ages 3 and up. Keep yarn pieces short, because long loops near small children are a snag risk. An adult should handle the tying.

Be safe and have fun!