Autumn Fun Crafts For Kids

Autumn is an ideal time to incorporate nature into your crafting.

Take A Nature Walk
~ Nature walks are a perfect family activity. Make it a treasure hunting adventure and take advantage of the bounty mother nature has provided. Remember to take a tote bag to collect your pine cones, acorns, leaves, feathers and driftwood.

Start A Fall Journal
~Begin a fall journal together. Have everyone in the family contribute pages. Notice the changes all around with careful observation. Write a poem or story. Let nature inspire you, from hooting owls to prickly pine cones, there is a great deal to explore. Paint some word pictures. Priscilla's Playful Pumpkin Patch. Abe's Autumn Apples Are Available. This may become a family heirloom that you will treasure for years to come.

Gather Leaves
~ Collect fallen leaves, choosing a wide variety of colors and kinds. You can press your leaves between the pages of heavy old books, or use newspaper and tissue and set the books on top. Once your leaves are dry you can create a multitude of projects. Design whimsical posters on colored paper. Create book covers, place them on top of a painted wooden box, or prepare some festive Thanksgiving cards. You can create a leaf rainbow or imaginary flowers, birds or fish. Use the leaves as your petals, feathers and scales.

Design An Autumn Wreath
~Create an autumn wreath with your seasonal finds. Hot glue leaves, bittersweet, pine cones and small gourds to a grapevine wreath. Dried flowers work well and can be sprayed lightly with floral paint to enhance the colors. Tiny artificial birds add a quaint touch. Use decorative ribbon, buttons and baubles to embellish if desired.

Make A Woodland Basket
~Create a woodland basket to match your wreath. Using an inexpensive store bought basket as your base, glue your collected treasures on it and you will have a beautiful piece of art. A plain picture frame with smooth wide edges can be decorated with your finds as well. Place a special family photo inside.

Pumpkin Fun
~Visit a local pumpkin patch and get your pumpkins and gourds for decorating and seasonal recipes. You can carve your pumpkin, paint, lace or bead. Dress it up with colorful faces and use raffia for hair, add a hat and scarf. Voila... pumpkin people. Beaded pumpkins are funky and fun. Use white thumbtacks, white map pins, and colored quilting pins, with pony beads in orange, yellow, black and purple. Randomly add your beads and pins until you have created the desired look. For a lovely autumn centerpiece. Make a pumpkin vase. Cut off the top and scoop out the insides. Add a plastic liner and fill with your dried flowers, berries and sticks. For additional pizazz tie a ribbon around the center.

......~My Favorite Autumn Craft Kits~......

I encourage you to do crafts with your children. It is truly a bonding exprerience. Often one good idea is the stepping stone for another, and then another. Listen to your children's ideas and implement them as well. They may suprise and delight you with a fresh perspective. Crafting is a great way to learn new skills and quality family time can be spent together. Remember these are simple ideas to get you started on your crafting adventure.

May your imagination flourish.

Creating crafts together is a wonderful way to spend quality family time and create treasured memories. Celebrate the crisp days of autumn and explore mother nature's bounty for inspiration.