Hedgehogs are one of my favorite little woodland creatures. This cute little fall hedgehog craft is a super fun way to upcycled items, craft with kids, and just get super creative while creating. Whether you use the paper, straw, or pistachio shell method to make your hedgehog, this is a cute idea that kids will love helping you customize and create.

Fall Hedgehog Craft

This craft is one that is ideal for doing with your little ones. A bit of cutting and gluing, and bam, you have a cute little craft project. When my sons were little, they loved learning about different animals, and a friend of mine had a hedgehog as a pet. Fascinated with them from the start, they quickly became a favorite creature to draw, read about, or learn about.

This craft is a great addition to your fall crafting with the warm fall colors, simplicity, and ease of making indoors or outdoors. There are no special supplies needed. Just a few minute's time and your imagination.

How Can I Use This as Decor?

While you could prop this on a shelf or mantle, I really find it to just be a fun craft for making with the kids. Add it to the refrigerator with a magnet, or add a simple string to the top and hang it from the ceiling. This is one project that is less about decor and much more about creating and having fun with the little ones. Get creative and use however your kids want around the house.

How Can I Customize My Hedgehog?

Below I show you three different ways to add to an ordinary paper cutout hedgehog shape. Pistachio shells are great for texture and look most natural. The foam paper leaves are nice for adding color and are fun for helping little ones practice cutting skills. Of course, the black straws probably most resemble the natural "fur" on a hedgehog but are also inexpensive and easy to find.

If you want to make yours even more unique, you can always add things like hats, jewelry, glitter, beads, or a way to hang it from the ceiling. For especially big projects, you could create your hedgehog and then mount it onto a board and put inside a shadow box. Add a vinyl or paper cutout name above it and hang on a wall as part of your fall decor.

Supplies Needed

The supplies you need to make your hedgehog depend upon your decor choice. Below I have separated the supplies needed by the individual style I showcase, but your own unique style may change that. At the base of this project is a simple printable hedgehog template. You can draw your own, find a different one online, or print ours below.

For the Pistachio Shell Hedgehog

For the Black Straw Hedgehog

For the Fall Leaf Hedgehog

Printable Hedgehog

To use our hedgehog template, click below to print your own copies.

Printable Hedgehog Template

Note: This works best when printed on heavy paper or cardstock so it will be sturdy as you glue items onto the paper.

How to Make a Hedgehog from Pistachio Shells

Print out and then cut out the hedgehog using the template above.

Using hot glue or craft glue, start on the outside edge of the template and glue the pistachio shells with the pointed end facing outward and overlapping the edge of the paper.

Continue gluing pistachio shells onto the template going around the edge and then working inward until the paper is covered except for the area from the neck to nose. Leave this space open for the face.

Glue a small black pom pom onto the tip of the nose.

Add a googly eye toward the top of the face for the eye.

Using the black marker, draw a smile onto your hedgehog.

Display or hang as desired.

How to Make a Hedgehog from Straws

Print out and then cut out the hedgehog using the template above.

Cut 10 straws into three equal pieces.

Starting at the top of the hedgehog template just above the face, add glue then begin sticking the straws onto the paper pointing upwards.

As you continue adding straws, lean them slightly toward the back, but continue placing so they are facing upwards at an angle like individual spikes of hair or quills.

When you begin curving around the backside of the hedgehog, start placing the straws facing outward toward the back.

Fill in the middle following the same pattern of up and out with the straws until the entire body is covered leaving the face empty. The straws will overlap each other to build a thick "fur" layered along the middle.

Glue a black pom pom onto the nose.

Add a googly eye at the top of the face.

Draw on a smile with a black marker.

Display as desired.

How to Make a Hedgehog from Paper

Print out and then cut out the hedgehog using the template above.

Trace about 8-10 leaf shapes onto the back of the yellow foam paper.

Cut out the leaves using pinking shears to add a unique look.

Repeat this process with the orange foam paper, tan foam paper, brown glitter foam paper, and orange glitter foam paper until you have a stack of foam leaves.

Starting on the top of the hedgehog, peel the backing from the leaves and stick them onto the template.

Alternate the colors used to create a natural-looking pattern. These leaves will overlap each other and stick together but you want them to still be visible above each other.

Cover the template with leaves until all that is left is the face area.

Glue a black pom pom on the nose.

Add a googly eye at the top of the face.

Draw a small smile with black marker onto the face.

Display as desired.

More Fun Fall Craft Ideas

There is just something about that first hint of cool air in the fall that gets me excited about creating new items to decorate our home. Below is a list of great ideas that will help you turn your home into a stunning fall oasis of beauty. Whether it's just a craft project to make with the kids or a beautiful new wreath for your front porch, this list has a ton of unique ideas you'll love.

Crafting Tip

If you want to use the pistachio shell option but don't want the hassel of creating your own, you can buy pistachio shells in bulk on Etsy just for crafting purposes. While they are usually already cleaned, you can also run them through a sink of hot soapy water then lay out on a towel to dry before crafting if you prefer.

Yield: 3

Cute Fall Hedgehog Kids' Craft With 3 Styles

Follow this easy tutorial for how to make three unique fall hedgehog crafts including a free printable template!

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $2

Materials

For All Hedgehogs

For Pistachio Hedgehog

1 cup pistachio Shells

For Straw Hedgehog

10 black Straws

For Leaf Hedgehogs

Tools

Instructions

How to Make a Hedgehog from Pistachio Shells

Print out and then cut out the hedgehog using the template above;
Glue pistachio shells around the template leaving the face section without shells;
Once covered in pistachio shells, add a pom pom nose;
Glue on a single googly eye;
Draw a smile;
Display or frame as desired.

How to Make a Hedgehog from Straws

Print out and then cut out the hedgehog using the template above;
Cut 10 straws into three pieces so you have approximately 30 pieces, you may want more if you want a fuller look on your hedgehog;
Glue the straws over all of the hedgehog but the face portion of the template;
Add a pom pom to the tip of the nose;
Glue a googly eye in place;
Draw a smile in place;
Display or hang as desired.

How to Make a Hedgehog from Paper

Print out and then cut out the hedgehog using the template above;
Trace leaves on the back of the foam paper, you'll need 8-10 in each color;
Cut out the leaves with pinking shears;
Peel and stick or glue the leaves onto the hedgehog frame leaving the face empty;
Glue a pom pom in place on the nose;
Add a googly eye at the top of the face;
Draw on a smile;
Hang or display as desired.

Notes

Make one style or all three and customize with things like glitter, added hats, jewelry, or fun items to personalize your hedgehogs with a fun look.

Recommended Products

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Finished Project Gallery

These cute little hedgehogs can easily be hung from the ceiling for a woodland creature themed party.

They can be mounted on pieces of wood to stand up on a counter or shelf.

Perhaps, you could use them on the walls of a baby nursery as decor.

There are tons of ways to use this as a project to teach kids more about woodland creatures like hedgehogs.

Just add their name to the back and save as a craft they have made.

Cute Fall Hedgehog Kids' Craft With 3 Styles {Free Printable}

Fall Hedgehog Craft

How Can I Use This as Decor?

How Can I Customize My Hedgehog?