One of "My Most Popular Posts" right now is "10 Fun Fall Crafts for Toddlers." That seems appropriate, yet all of images from that 2011 post have disappeared due to Pinterest's changes. Here's a 2013 update!
These activities are all FRUGAL, FUN, & KID-FRIENDLY. I hope you'll try a few out with your kiddos!
1. Fall Nature Canvas
We actually made this one in September, but we keep replenishing our leaves as the old ones shrivel up. You need a foam board, straight pins, a shirt or paint to cover your board, and leaves. The girls painted the board yellow (washable paint). Then, we went on a Nature Walk and gathered pretty leaves that they stuck on the board with pins.
This craft is super simple but really adds a touch of Fall to the house! Plus, we used it as a learning opportunity and looked up our leaves in the tree guide. Now the girls know what trees are around our house.
2. Easy Popcorn Balls
I can't remember what prompted us to make popcorn balls (a book??), but when I found this super EASY recipe, we had to do it. The girls enjoyed melting the butter and marshmallow, and they REALLY loved adding sprinkles at the end. Our Fall popcorn balls look more like Christmas ones since they used green and red sprinkles, but they were FUN and DELICIOUS.
3. Crunchy Fall Leaf Pictures
We haven't done this one since 2011 :) so I think we'll revisit it next week since the leaves here are getting pretty crunchy. These pictures also make lovely Fall decorations for your home. Plus, the girls love to see their handiwork on display. A word of advice: If you do this activity inside, put a baking sheet underneath the paper to catch all that leaf confetti. It makes a MESS! But the finished products are beautiful.
4. A Thankful Tree
We have made a Thankful Tree for the past two years. Unfortunately, I can't find my pictures to share ours with you, but both most closely resembled Emily Rose's (pictured above). We gathered sticks and tree limbs from the yard and fit them into a 1/2 gallon glass milk jug. Then, I cut out paper leaves {here's a template} which we placed beside the Thankful Tree.
During our morning devotionals, we would each share a blessing, and I would write it on a leaf {one per person} with the date and each girls' name on the back. The girls string the leaves with yarn, and I tie them to the tree. I keep the leaves so each year for beautiful memories. The girls look forward to adding leaves and it's a perfect opportunity to praise God for all His sweet gifts!
5. Finger-Painted Pumpkins
Our girls are still too young to cut out pumpkins, but I really want them to participate in the decorating. My mom blessed us with three pumpkins -- one for each girl -- so we're going to have a go at this idea {thanks, Pinterest!}.
Basically, you apply painter's tape to your pumpkin and use an X-acto knife to cut out the image you want. Then, your child finger paints to her hearts' content over the painter's tape (and anywhere else). Once the paint dries, you remove the tape to reveal your picture! I think the girls will love making their own pictures and getting to paint their pumpkins.
Those are just 5 simple Fall activities you can do with your little ones (and even your big kids). For more fun Fall ideas, check out my Fall Recipes, Fall Decor, & Fall Crafts for Kids boards on Pinterest.
Happy Fall, ya'll!
One of my goals for 2013 is to try a different Pinterest pin each month.
Last month I made these delicious Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins. While I was tempted to try another recipe, I dared myself to be bold and go crafty. These cute faux chalkboard herb pots were calling my name:
So, I gathered my supplies:
- 3 terra cotta pots ($1.99 each)
- DecoArt "Patio Paints" in Wrought Iron Black, Blue Jay Blue, Sweet Pea Green, & Petunia Purple ($1.99 each)
- A paintbrush for each color (you can buy a pack of 4 for $1 at Dollar Tree)
- Elmer's silver paint pen ($3.99)
And the girls painted their wooden birdhouses ($1 at JoAnns) while I painted my pots.
So I painted two coats on each pot. Then, after the paint dried, I added black paint for a faux chalkboard finish.
After the black paint dried, I wrote the names of herbs I use frequently in the kitchen: basil, cilantro, & chives.
I have seeds to plant in each pot, but until the weather warms a little, I'm using them as decorative pieces in the house thanks to my mom :)
I think they turned out pretty cute.
Do you have potted herbs in the house?
If so, which are your favorites?
If you aren't already, I hope you will follow me on Pinterest for these and other fun and delicious ideas!
For other Pinterest posts, check out:
January's Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins
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I am not a crafty person. But I love crafty things. My motto is: If it requires any sewing, Modge Podge, or a glue gun, forget it!
This craft project is so simple that even I can do it. Plus, it's the perfect centerpiece for your Halloween (or birthday) party. {I actually made our Halloween Photo Tree for our girls' birthday party a few weeks ago.}
The beauty of this photo tree is that:
(1) You can display some of those lovely pictures of your kiddos hidden away in the photo album;
(2) You can create a display of pictures for ANY holiday, birthday, or special event, not just Halloween; and
(3) It's very cheap, quick, and easy to do {Did I mention how un-crafty I am?}.
I used pictures from the past three years of trick-or-treating, pumpkin patches, and other fall activities.
And each year I can dig out more pictures to add to our Halloween Photo Tree.
I think it will be a fun way to reminisce, laugh about how much we've all grown up, and just smile at the memories.
So, how do you make your own Halloween Photo Tree?
What you'll need:
- Pictures
- Construction paper or card stock
- Laminator & laminating pouches {I like this laminator.}
- Glue or tape, hole punch, scissors, & yarn
- Sticks or branches
- Vase or container
Instructions
- Gather up your pictures. {Don't be like me and have 5 photos of one kid and only 2 of another.}
- Glue or tape your pictures to card stock or construction paper. For Halloween, I used orange and black paper. Use whatever fits your holiday or theme or what matches your home decor.
- Cut out around your pictures and insert them in the laminating pouches.
- Laminate.
- Cut out around your laminated pictures.
- Punch holes in top of pictures.
- Arrange branches into vase or container.
- Using yarn, raffia, or whatever you have {All I had was kitchen twine. Did I mention I'm not crafty?}, tie the pictures onto your branches, arranging the pictures so that each one is clearly visible.
- Display your photo tree for all to see!
I was really proud of my Halloween Photo Tree, and even weeks after making it, the girls still love to look at the pictures hanging on it and talk about them.
What kind of crafty things do you do to display your pictures?
Praying God's richest blessings on you,
Keri
Linking to The Better Mom, A Mama's Story, Growing Home, Raising Homemakers, Lessons from Ivy
