Family Matters: 12 Fun Fall Projects

Friday, November 04, 2011

Anisa Raoof, GoLocalProv Family Expert

fm fall projects

Gourds are great for colorful seasonal creations

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.

Gourd Birds (Maya Made)

Turn your gourds into 3-dimensional animal sculptures.

Nature Faces (Kidoinfo)

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.

fm fall leaf mobile

An easy afternoon project on any fall day: a fall leaf mobile

Fall Leaf Mobile (Small Wonders)

Easy to assemble mobile from sticks, leaves and string.

Twig Trivet (TLC)

Cut collected sticks into a uniform size and mount on board.

Leaf Suncatchers (the muddy princess)

Press found leaves between two pieces of clear sticky back contact paper.

Pressed Leaves (Martha Stewart)

Carry along your own leaf press on your walk made out cardboard and bungee cord.

Leaf Rubbings (Simple as That)

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!

Fall Leaf Pictures (Atelier Pour Enfants)

Arrange dry flat leaves into animal shapes. Mount on board or heavy art paper.

leaf crown

Princes and princesses of the season with these autumn leaf crowns

Autumn Maple Leaf Crowns (Twig and Toadstool)

Weave together leaves into a ring shape to make a crown or necklace.

Leaf Candle Centerpiece (Better Homes and Garden)

Decoupage leaves onto the side of pillar candles.

Leaf Prints (skip to my lou)

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.

Hammered Flower and Leaf Prints (build make craft bake)

Make botanical prints using the natural dyes in plants by gently hammering plants onto paper.