The following post is by editor Kara Fleck.
In my quest to enjoy this Autumn, I’ve been gathering craft ideas for the kids and I to do together. This month I have been focusing on pumpkin inspired ideas and I found some projects to try that look really cute but still simple.
I thought I’d share four of my favorites with you, so that you and your kids can have some pumpkin fun, too!
1. A New Take on Jack-o-Lanterns
Vanessa, of I Never Grew Up, has a new take on jack-o-lantern decorating that uses craft paint, felt, and decorative paper that results in some really bright and happy pumpkins.
I think that perhaps a family of small pumpkins personalized to look like us would be a super-cute Halloween centerpiece for our table. What do you think?
2. Marble Painted Pumpkins
While we’ve got the craft paint out, I would love to try making these beautiful marble painted pumpkins from 1+1+1=1. Carissa has created a pumpkin printable that you can use to make these works of art.
With some supervision, this would be a neat project for kids of all ages and I love the suggestion to hang up a garland of marble painted pumpkins as a festive decoration, too.
3. Felt Pumpkins
My oldest daughter is very excited by crafting projects that involve hand sewing these days, so I think she will get a kick out of helping me create these felt pumpkins for our nature corner.
Maureen, of Twig and Toadstool, has provided a detailed and well photographed tutorial that I think will be easy to follow, even with my limited sewing skills.
4.Pumpkin Game
As long as we have the felt out, I would really like to make this felt pumpkin game from Pink and Green Mama, Mary Lea. I love that even not yet reading children can play with game and with the roll of a dice dictating your combination, I bet some really crazy pumpkin faces will result.
I truly think the fun of this game will be in the making AND the playing.
Will you be doing any pumpkin themed crafts with your kids this Autumn?
About Kara
Such fun projects, Kara! There is something about these round, bright vegetables that brings out the playful child in me.
Oh and I like your centerpiece idea!
Aimee @ Simple Bites´s latest post: Spotlight Ingredient- Brussels Sprouts
Thanks Aimee!
I’ll take some pictures this week and share how they turn out.
(PS – your pumpkin cheesecake is on the menu this week, too)
And after spotting this at Martha Shmartha, I may need to find some glow in the dark glitter
http://marthashmartha.blogspot.com/2010/09/glow-in-dark-boo.html
Kara @Simple Kids´s latest post: Holiday Grand Plan- Week Eight – the Kitchen
Love these simple ideas, Kara–I’m all about simple when it comes to crafts!!
Jamie~Simple Homeschool´s latest post: Mozart for Kids- Introducing Classical Music to Young Children
We just made two of the pumpkins from the Halloween issue of Family Fun magazine (the mummy and Frankenstein’s monster). I prepped the citrus rind ahead of time, and they went together fast and easy today. Now I’ve been told we need to make the witch!
http://familyfun.go.com/halloween/halloween-crafts/halloween-decorations/frank-n-friends-674614/
nopinkhere´s latest post: The Taste List
Oh, how fun! Good tip to pre-assemble little kits, too so that you can just get right to the decorating and making
Kara @Simple Kids´s latest post: Inspiring Finds- Four Fun and Simple Pumpkin Themed Crafts
Oh, my goodness! Have you guys seen these super fun chalkboard paint pumpkins? LOVE!
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-craft-chalkboard-pumpkins.html
Kara @Simple Kids´s latest post: Inspiring Finds- Four Fun and Simple Pumpkin Themed Crafts
…love the idea of felt pumpkins. we tend to focus on the harvest aspect of the holiday- I don’t like all the super-evil stuff
priest’s wife´s latest post: The Gift of Down Syndrome
We’ll be doing paper strip pumpkins again (link below). Thanks for this list, Kara!
http://roots-of-simplicity.blogspot.com/2009/10/craft-of-week-turning-paper-scraps-in.html
Julia´s latest post: Menu Plan for the Week of 10-18
Yes, we’ll be turning those little pumpkins into smiling faces that are holding marshmallow roasting sticks up to the big jack o lantern. ( :
Heather @ Creative Family Moments´s latest post: Perfume
Such cute crafts ! Love the little plush pumpkins.
Thanks these sound great and my daughter can’t get enough crafts!
Scarlet´s latest post: Dolce Dreams Handmade Personalized Baby Quilt Giveaway
Great tips and ideas, thanks for sharing.
Kara,
Thank you for these imaginative pumpkin crafts. I will definitely be doing these with my kids next Halloween and I hope more people get involved and do these types of things with their kids.
Great ideas,
Rihcard
Richard´s latest post: How To Carve A Pumpkin