A 3D Pumpkin Snail Craft for Kids, Fall & Halloween Activity with Template

Welcome, crafty friends! Fall season is approaching, so I wanted to share a project that is charming, simple, and brings you into the fall and Halloween spirit. Meet the Pumpkin Snail craft, a sweet snail with a pop-up pumpkin shell that’s perfect for fall art, October crafts, homeschool activities, or classroom decor.

If you’d rather skip the prep and focus on the fun, check out my Pumpkin Snail printable package: two silly snails, both in colored + coloring-page versions. You can find this fall printable in my printable Etsy shop or Teachers Pay Teachers store. Otherwise, here’s how to make it completely from scratch!

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Supplies Needed for Pumpkin Snail Craft

• Cardstock or construction paper (for the snail and pumpkin)
• Scissors & glue stick
• Markers, crayons, colored pencils or paint are optional
• Optional extras: googly eyes, green pipe cleaner for a swirl, twigs or popsicle sticks & string to hang, corrugated paper for textured bodies

• Fall snail printable package, you can buy it here if you want an easy start

Classroom tip: Pre-cut and pre-fold pumpkin shapes to save time with groups.

Step-by-Step Fall Craft Instructions

Step 1: Draw & Cut the Snail Body for Your Fall Craft

On white cardstock, sketch a snail-ish shape, like a comma with a tail, and two eye stalks. Keep it plump so your pumpkin shell has a nice home. You can use colored cardstock or use white cardstock and let kids color it. We used watercolors but any coloring tool will work. Maybe add spots, freckles, or even vampire teeth for some Halloween flair! Cut out your snail.

Step 2: Add the Face

Glue on googly eyes or cut paper circles. Draw a happy smile and playful eyebrows. Want spooky? Add fangs or sleepy eyelids. Let the personality of your snail shine!

Step 3: Create the Pumpkin Ovals

Fold orange paper in half and trace an oval for the pumpkin shell. It’s important that all pumpkins have the same size and are mirrored so we can make the perfect 3D pumpkin. If you color the pumpkins, advise the children to use different shades of orange, yellow, brown and red to give a playful texture.

Quick classroom idea: Make a sample on hard cardstock for the kids to use as a tracing guide for consistent shapes.

Step 4: Build the 3D Pumpkin

Fold each oval perfectly in half with the colored side out. Stack them by gluing half-to-half, right half of one oval to the left half of the next, until you’ve built a “pumpkin book.” The more pumpkin shapes, the fuller your pumpkin will be.

Tip: 4 pieces = simple puff, 6 pieces = nice roundness, 8 pieces = ultra-3D wow factor.

Step 5: Add the Stem & Vine

Glue the pumpkin on top of the snail and give it a stem and vine. Cut a tiny rectangle of brown paper and roll or fold it into a stem, and glue it atop your pumpkin. For that curly vine, twist a green strip around a pencil, or use a flexible green pipe cleaner. You can also take some markers and add the finishing touch.

Step 6: Display Your Pumpkin Snail Craft

• Hanging art: Attach to two popsicle sticks or twigs (top & bottom). Tie on twine or string.
• Card masterpiece: Mount on cardboard to create a seasonal greeting card or bulletin board piece.
• Classroom display: Arrange multiple snails under a fun and playful title.

Why This Pumpkin Snail Craft Works in the Classroom

This project:
• Is high-appeal: cute, seasonal, and easy to love
• Builds fine motor skills: folding, stacking, gluing
• Teaches symmetry and shape through folding and oval shapes
• Supports creative literacy: talk about snails, pumpkins, fall, and Halloween
• Pairs well with themes like pumpkin patch, garden animals, or October activities

Pumpkin Snail Craft Variations & Extra Touches

• Watercolor-style snail bodies with colored pencil detail
• Cardboard or corrugated paper snail for texture
• Sparkle it up with metallic gel pens or glitter accents
• Halloween twist: paint a jack-o’-lantern face on the pumpkin, or color snails in spooky hues like purple or lime green

Ready-to-Go Pumpkin Snail Printable

Want to get crafting in under 5 minutes? Grab the Pumpkin Snail Printable, it includes two silly snails (a happy snail and a Halloween snail), in color and coloring page. Ideal for busy mornings, centers, or sub plans. Available in my printable Etsy store and Teachers Pay Teachers shops.

FAQ: Pumpkin Snail Craft for Teachers & Parents

Recommended ages? Great for Pre-K through grade 2 (with support); grades 3+ can do it solo.
How many oval pieces? 4 is fine, 6 looks rounder, 8 gives the fluffed-up look.
Best paper? Sturdy 65–80 lb cardstock for the body, regular construction paper for the pumpkin.

Final Thoughts on This Fall Pumpkin Craft

Whether you go DIY or tap the printable, this Pumpkin Snail craft is a delightful and stress-free fall project that brings smiles and seasonal decor. If you make one, I’d love to see! Share your creations and tag @OceanChildCrafts, I always get excited to see your versions.

Happy fall crafting!

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