Enjoy the sights of autumn using just scissors! A collection of easy paper-cutting ideas
Papercutting to enjoy as autumn deepens.
Many people may be surprised, thinking, “Can you really make such lovely pieces with just scissors?” In fact, classic autumn plants—like cosmos, red spider lilies, and maple leaves—can be turned into elegant papercuts with nothing more than a single pair of scissors.
Here, we’ll share an easy method, from folding tips to cutting pointers.
Display them in your room to bring in the season, or give them as gifts to someone special.
Savor a calming, handmade moment!
Enjoy autumn traditions with just scissors! A collection of easy-to-make papercutting ideas (1–10)
chrysanthemum
It’s wonderful that you can create a lovely chrysanthemum papercut using just scissors.
It sounds like a calming time where you can feel the spirit of autumn.
As you cut out the chrysanthemum shape drawn on construction paper, you’ll surely appreciate the beauty of the petals.
A tip for adding a three-dimensional effect is to crease the petals.
Once finished, you can display the piece in your room to enjoy an autumn atmosphere, or give it as a gift to someone special—sure to be appreciated.
An autumn of art enjoyed with a single pair of scissors.
Everyone, please give it a try!
red spider lily
What a lovely idea that you can make a beautiful paper cutout of a red spider lily using only scissors.
The key is that you can enjoy creating these autumn-themed flowers together with older adults.
As you cut out the petals and stems with scissors, the conversation will naturally start to flow.
Displaying the finished pieces will instantly bring an autumn feel to the room.
Although it looks difficult, it’s actually easy to make.
It’s also safe, making it a perfect craft for enjoying a moment in the fall.
Please give it a try.
fragrant olive
As autumn deepens, the distinctive fragrance of sweet osmanthus begins to waft through the air, doesn’t it? Let’s try making a paper-cutting of sweet osmanthus, one of the flowers that represents the season.
The key is how to create clusters of the small blossoms—characteristic of sweet osmanthus—using a single sheet of paper.
Fold an origami sheet into a narrow triangle, cut small flower shapes along the folds, and then unfold it to reveal the blossoms.
Because all the flowers are connected, you can enjoy the dense, unified look that captures the essence of sweet osmanthus.
acorn
When autumn approaches, one of the things you’ll find scattered all over roads and parks is acorns.
Many of you probably picked them up often as children.
Let’s try making a paper-cut art of an acorn.
All you need is one sheet of brown origami paper, scissors, and a pen for sketching—perfect.
Fold the origami once, sketch the outline, and then just cut with the scissors.
With so few steps, it should be easy for kids to try.
If the sketching is tricky, an adult can lend a hand.
grapes
Here’s a paper-cut grape craft idea you can make using only scissors.
First, prepare some purple origami paper.
Cut out many small circles for the grape berries.
Next, use green origami paper to make the leaves.
For the stem, cut a strip of brown origami paper lengthwise.
Once you glue everything onto drawing paper, your grapes are complete! It’s simple, yet creates a lovely sense of dimension.
It’s perfect for wall decorations and is a great autumn craft that everyone—from children to older adults—can enjoy making together.
cosmos
Here’s a simple paper-cutting idea for making cosmos flowers using only scissors.
Fold the origami paper into a square twice, then fold it into a triangle once.
Lift half of the stacked paper and fold it to align with the bottom edge and the side.
Do the same on the other side.
That’s the end of the folding steps.
Draw a petal pattern and cut along the lines with scissors.
If you stick a yellow round sticker in the center, it will look even more like a cosmos.
Display the finished pieces by the window or on the wall to give your room an autumn vibe.
Working together with everyone will make it a fun and enjoyable activity.
Apple
It’s an idea for making apples with paper cutouts.
Prepare red and yellow origami paper and cut it into circles.
For the stem, cut a strip of brown origami paper and glue it on.
If you make the leaf with green origami paper, it will look even more realistic.
It’s easy to make using just scissors, so everyone from children to older adults can enjoy it.
It would look lovely as a wall decoration, and you could also hang them like a mobile.
If everyone works together, it’s sure to be a fun time.
Why not fill your room with a seasonal atmosphere by decorating with handmade apples that capture the feeling of autumn?
ginkgo
Here’s a papercut craft of ginkgo leaves, which you can see scattered all over roads in autumn.
Get plenty of yellow origami paper and give it a try.
You only fold the paper four times and make a few cuts with scissors, so it should be relatively easy to do.
Have both adults and kids help out and make lots of ginkgo leaves together.
If you scatter the finished papercuts on the floor, you’ll feel like you’re walking down a path lined with ginkgo trees.
Try making enough ginkgo leaves to cover the entire floor!
Chinese bellflower
Let’s make a paper-cut of the balloon flower (kikyo), which has long been cherished as one of the seven flowers of autumn.
It’s a dignified and beautiful plant that blooms with star-shaped flowers in a bluish-purple hue.
The steps that involve folding while marking with a pencil may be a bit complex, but if an adult helps, it’s not too difficult to make.
Be sure to try using origami paper in blue, purple, or wisteria tones.
There are also white and pink varieties, so you could finish with a colorful kikyo as well.
maple leaves
The maple leaf kirigami looks fun.
Prepare yellow, red, and orange origami paper, and make the creases following the steps.
Draw the outline with a pencil, cut it with scissors, then slowly unfold it.
The creases will look like veins, and you’ll have a three-dimensional maple leaf.
It can be used as a wall decoration, and if you glue two together, it could make a hanging ornament as well.
It’s an easy craft you can make using just scissors, so please use it for your autumn projects.
How about everyone enjoying making it together?