Craft Cozy DIY Bean Mosaic Art for Fall
Are you looking for a relaxing, screen-free art project for your kids this fall? You are going to love this one — dried beans, glue, and cardboard are all you need to create these colorful and fun fall mosaics! There is something so satisfying about turning a handful of dried beans into works of art.
The best part? 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 is surprisingly relaxing 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.
What You’ll Need
- A variety of dried beans and lentils
- Cardboard — I recommend a cereal box for easy cutting
- Scissors
- Glue
- Paint and brush (optional, for painting the cardboard or beans)
Step 1: Cut Out Fall Shapes
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 are much easier to cut than thick shipping boxes.
Step 2: Decorate with Beans
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 does not dry before the beans are added.
Step 3: Get Creative with 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 are finished to add even more details!
Step 4: Display Your Art
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 is an easy craft that turns a few ordinary pantry staples and pieces of scrap cardboard into something worth admiring all season!
Tips from My Kitchen Table
- Bean variety: 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!
- Budget trick: 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.
- Year-round fun: You definitely do not have to save this craft for autumn! Cut recycled cardboard into hearts for Valentine’s Day, eggs for Easter, or Christmas trees and ornaments for the holidays — just use craft paint to make the beans a more fitting color for each holiday.
