Family Matters: 12 Fun Fall Projects
Friday, November 04, 2011
We like to celebrate fall by making crafts that remind us of the season’s color, shapes and textures or using natural materials found on outdoor hikes. Many of these projects are simple and need little advanced planning. Although you can click through to see images of each finished craft, these activities are as much or more about the process, the outdoor adventure and collecting the materials. Plan a walk and bring a bag to collect natural items along the way. Making art with kids can lead to unexpected discoveries and detours. If you want perfection, craft your own piece alongside or after the kids are asleep.
Note: one of the joys of sharing ideas in 2011 is the Internet. Each craft, below, comes with the credit to the original source in parentheses.
Turn your gourds into 3-dimensional animal sculptures.
A creative way to explore nature. Grab a bag and head outside with your children. Collect natural materials from your yard, a local park or while hiking. Almost anything can be used to create faces - sticks, leaves, pine cones, rocks, acorns, seeds, flowers, etc. Kids can sort or count the items before they begin. Arrange your found objects into faces. Optional: Use chalk to outline the face first. Make your nature family then take a picture to document it.
Easy to assemble mobile from sticks, leaves and string.
Cut collected sticks into a uniform size and mount on board.
Press found leaves between two pieces of clear sticky back contact paper.
Carry along your own leaf press on your walk made out cardboard and bungee cord.
After you flatten and dry your leaves, place leaf vein side up under a piece of paper. Place crayon on its side and rub gently back of over the leaf and watch the leaf appear like magic!
Arrange dry flat leaves into animal shapes. Mount on board or heavy art paper.
Weave together leaves into a ring shape to make a crown or necklace.
Decoupage leaves onto the side of pillar candles.
Paint the back of leaves, then press (using a brayer) paint side down onto paper to create leaf prints. Depending on the type of paint used, print on paper or fabric.
Make botanical prints using the natural dyes in plants by gently hammering plants onto paper.
Anisa Raoof is the publisher and founder of Kidoinfo, the parents' guide for Rhode Island and beyond.
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