2023 Fall Crafts

Who doesn’t enjoy popcorn? And at Halloween time it is even a bigger pleasure when we have a sweeter version…popcorn balls! As moms, we are used to preparing treats for the classroom, giveaways at holiday parties, etc.

Put a smile on everyone’s face with these fun Popcorn Balls. Easy, quick and fun!

Supplies Needed Cellophane Bags Popcorn balls or popcorn Black Marker Ribbon

Instructions
Use a cellophane bag. You can pick up the bags at any craft store.
Place the popcorn ball (I purchased mine) or loose popcorn in the bag and close with one of the ties supplied with the bags.
Use a black marker and draw on two eyes, a nose and mouth.
Take your favorite ribbon and place around the tie. You can place a business card around the string if it fits your needs. And Voila! A Halloween Pumpkin Ball.
Your favorite ghosts and goblin’s will applaud!

These are super cute and super easy! Ingredients: .  Pretzel bags .  Black permanent marker .  Bag of mini marshmallows (one bag made approx. 10 ghosts) .  Some cute holiday ribbons

This craft is great to do with your toddlers! Little ones as young as two can help paint the apples and make their own designs. Supply List: • Apples • Paint in various colors/paint brushes • Paper • Markers

Instructions:
Step 1: Cut apple in half.
Step 2: Either ‘paint’ the inside/cut side of the apple with colors of your choice, or simply pour out the paint on a paper plate and place the cut side of the apple directly in the paint. Make sure the paint is covering the whole side of the apple so that you can make a nice clear butterfly ‘stamp’.
Step 3: Stamp your apple directly onto your paper.
Step 4: Use the marker to add antennas to make your apple butterfly take flight!
Shared by Melinda Willis

These spiders are easy to make and are a good way to recycle empty egg cartons. We made a bunch of these and decorated the house for Halloween. Supply List: • Cardboard egg carton • Scissors • Black paint • Paintbrush • Black (or silver) chenille sticks • Googly eyes (and glue if these are not already adhesive) • Black string (optional) • Awl or something to poke holes with • Small piece of red felt or foam (and glue if not already adhesive) Instructions: Step 1: Cut out the cups from a cardboard egg carton. Step 2: With the cup upside down, poke a hole at the top; this will later be used to thread the string through for hanging.

Take your family on a leaf hunt this fall. It can be in your own backyard or a local park. Spend an afternoon collecting leaves with shapes and colors that you love and then use them to create a candle jar that is the perfect centerpiece for your table. Supply List: • Clean Mason Jar (You can also use a clean spaghetti sauce jar.) • Mod Podge (Make your own with 2 parts white school glue to 1 part water.) • Paint Brush • Leaves Instructions: Step 1: Prepare your leaves. This step takes some planning and patience. Gently place the leaves you have chosen for your jar between two heavy books and allow them to sit for a few hours, ideally overnight. Step 2: Once the leaves are pressed flat, coat your jar with a layer of Mod Podge. This will help your leaves stick to the jar Step 3: Arrange the leaves onto the jar in any manner you choose. You can even overlap the leaves. Step 4: Paint the Mod Podge in a thick layer over the leaves and allow to dry. (Remember, the Mod Podge will dry clear.) Now set the table for a fun and festive celebration! Step 5: Once dry, place a small votive candle or tea light inside and light! Shared by Christel Hoydic

Bring the smells of fall to your next play date or classroom party with an easy-to-make batch of pumpkin scented play dough! Supply List: • 2 cups all purpose flour • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1/2 cup salt • 2 tablespoons cream of tartar • Pumpkin pie spice (or a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger) • Up to 2 cups boiling water • Food coloring - yellow and red to make orange Instructions: Step 1: Mix the flour, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl. Step 2: Add the boiling water a little at a time to reach the right consistency (add more flour if it's too sticky). Step 3: Add yellow and red food coloring to get the "pumpkin orange" color you desire. Shared by Aimee Falso

Owls are certainly trendy – from fashion to home decor to crafting, we're seeing these wise birds pop up everywhere! Here's an easy way to create your own parliament of owls with readily accessible supplies. Supply List: • Empty toilet paper rolls • Paint and paintbrushes • Scrapbook or construction paper scraps (including yellow or orange for beaks) • Googly eyes (or black and white paper to create owl eyes) Instructions: Step 1: Remove all of the excess toilet paper from the rolls. Step 2: Prepare to paint! Cover the table and put on your painting smocks or old t-shirts. Step 3: Choose your method and paint your toilet paper roll. The brush approach: Pour your paint colors into old egg cartons, or a similar container. The egg cartons are easy because they separate small amounts of different colors for each child, but don’t require any clean up after the project is done. The roll approach: Fill a shallow container with the paint and roll the toilet paper rolls in it. This was much more effective in spreading the paint over the entire toilet paper roll quickly! You can always touch up the paint with a paint brush after rolling it. Step 4: Create your embellishments. While the toilet paper rolls are drying have kids pick out the paper they want to use for the wings and beaks. Left over scrapbooking paper or construction paper works great! Cut out leaf-like shapes out for the owl's wings. Cut out yellow or orange, triangles for the beaks. Pick a pair of googly eyes or cut white and black circles for the eyes. Step 5: Assemble your owl. When the toilet paper rolls are dry, fold down the top of the toilet paper roll, then fold the other side on top so that it creates horn-like feather like on a Great Horned Owl. Use a little glue to keep it down, if needed. Then glue on the eyes, beak and wings. Step 6: Find a perch for your new feathered friend! Shared by Kristen Pietro