With the crisp fall weather approaching, there are guaranteed to be some days with less than ideal weather. If you find yourself at home with the kiddos on a cold, rainy fall day, there are plenty of fun fall craft ideas that are easy to make and perfect as decorations around the house!
Pumpkin Apple Stamps
Did you visit the apple orchard this year? You may find you have more apples than you know what to do with. If you find that after baking a few pies and having a couple apples for snacks there are still some left, don’t let them go to waste. Turn them into pumpkin stamps!
Supplies:
Orange paint
Green paint
Black paint
Small paintbrush or Q-tip
Paper plate
Napkins or paper towels
Paper
Apples
A knife (adult supervision required)
Steps:
Carefully cut an apple in half (adult supervision required) and absorb any excess juice with a napkin or paper towel
Squeeze some orange paint onto a paper plate
Coat the flat side of the halved apple in the orange paint and stamp it on the paper
Let dry
Make a stem and jack-o’-lantern face using the green and black paint and a paintbrush or Q-tip
Enjoy your new pumpkin patch!
Framed Leaves
Once the leaves start to fall, raking and bagging all that foliage can be exhausting. Take advantage of the beautiful colors raining on your yard and frame them for decoration!
Supplies:
Leaves
A variety of frames (check out a local craft store for inexpensive styles)
Paper
Glue
Steps:
Ask the kids to collect a few leaves of whatever size and shape they like
Glue leaves to paper backing and let glue dry
Place them in inexpensive frames
Hang them on the walls or place them on tables and shelves. Enjoy your homemade art!
Painted Acorns
Acorns are in no short supply during the autumn season. An easy way to clear your yard of some of the them is to turn them into a fun painting project. A few simple steps, and you’ll have a new, decorative fall centerpiece!
Supplies:
Acorns
Acrylic paint in a variety of colors
Paintbrushes
Steps:
Send your kids on a mission to find as many capped acorns as they can
Freeze or bake the acorns to be rid of any bugs
To bake, simply place in the oven on a cookie sheet at 150 degrees for about two hours (adult supervision required)
To freeze, simply place in a plastic bag and put in freezer overnight
Use any variety of acrylic paint and a paintbrush to decorate your pine cones
Let dry
Once they’re dry, you can place them in any decorative bowl, dish, or vase for a fun, colorful fall accessory to your home!
Pinecone Bird Feeders
The pinecone bird feeder is a classic craft for the fall season. When the temperature starts to drop, insects go dormant, and it can be harder for birds to find food. Creating a feeder in your back yard is not only a fun activity for the family but an opportunity to teach your children about wildlife!
Supplies:
Pinecones
Peanut butter
Birdseed
Plate or bowl
String
Scissors (adult supervision required)
Butter knife
Steps:
Grab the family and collect some pinecones from your yard (if you don’t have any, take the kids on a nature hike to find some)
Use a butter knife to spread peanut butter across the pinecone
Pour some birdseed onto a plate or into a bowl and roll the pinecone in the seed until it is completely covered
Cut some string with the scissors (adult supervision required) and hang the pinecone from a tree branch
As your kids begin to observe the birds that come to snack on their creation, take a few moments to teach them about the birds they’re seeing and encourage them to research the species they are identifying. This craft is a great chance for your kids to get their hands dirty and also learn something!
Hand & Footprint Turkeys
Make a whole flock of turkeys with hand and footprints from everyone in the family! This is the perfect craft idea to decorate for Thanksgiving or to create together when everyone is home for Turkey Day.
Supplies:
Construction paper (use whatever colors you like, but red, orange, yellow and brown are traditional choices)
Crayons/Markers
Scissors (adult supervision required)
Glue stick
Optional: googly eyes
Steps:
Trace your hands and feet (you may need someone to do your feet for you) onto a piece of construction paper
Carefully cut each foot and handprint out (adult supervision required)
Glue the hands together around the back of one of the footprints to look like feathers
Using a crayon or marker, draw a small triangle for a beak and eyes (or glue on googly eyes!)
Your flock is ready for display!
Fall crafts for kids are the perfect way to enjoy the season both indoors and out. Grab the whole family, pick your favorite craft, and have a ball!
For other fun activities to do this season with the whole family, check out our fall activities blog.