Search Results for: blog fall craft projects fun with pumpkin seeds

Inexpensive Seasonal Embellishments

Whether you are getting ready to set your Thanksgiving table, or you are simply looking for ways to bring touches of fall into your living space, the following easy and affordable projects will help you accomplish your goal: Turkey Candle Holders Materials: Small glass containers (baby food jars or small jelly jars work well) Colored tissue paper Scissors Colored construction paper Glue Paint brush Pipe cleaners Sequins Glitter Directions: Cut the tissue paper into small squares. Cover the jar with a thin coat of glue, and then randomly place the tissue paper squares on top, overlapping them so none of … Continue reading →

Fun Stuff-ing

(My daughter and her stuffed pumpkin) Fall in the first grade was fun, but in second grade the season is stupendous. Thanks to a very crafty mom, my daughter’s entire class spent Halloween handcrafting these adorable stuffed pumpkins. The gourds are made of orange fabric and stuffed with Fiberfill. Before securing the top of the pumpkin with drawstring, each child was given a stick to place in the center of the fluff. Once the stick was upright, the drawstring was secured and fabric leaves were threaded on the wooden rod. Next, pieces of raffia were tied at the top of … Continue reading →

More Easy Thanksgiving Pumpkin Crafts

Pumpkins are traditionally used as Halloween decorations, but when placed strategically they can really liven up a Thanksgiving display as well. Fresh pumpkins can still be purchased at most grocery stores and some local farms, though they are not as readily accessible as they were in September and October. If you can get your hands on fresh pumpkins (for the right price), consider crafting the following Thanksgiving-themed decorations: PUMPKIN TURKEYS This project is kid-friendly and serves as a great craft to complete while your Thanksgiving turkey is cooking. Materials: Small Pumpkins Ice Pick Lollipops Colored Construction Paper Markers Directions: Poke … Continue reading →

Pumpkin Seeds 101

Have you carved your pumpkins yet? If you live in a warmer climate you might have held off until today to do so. When you get around to crafting your jack-o’-lanterns don’t forget to save the pumpkin seeds. Large pumpkins yield dozens of seeds that can be used in a variety of ways. GETTING THE SEEDS After you remove the top of your pumpkin carefully scoop out the pulp and seeds with a large serving spoon (or your hands) and place them in a bowl. You will need to separate the seeds from the pulp. I like to wash and … Continue reading →

More Fun Pumpkin Seed Projects for Kids

We bought our big pumpkins weeks ago, but have put off carving them until today because the weather has been so fickle (one day we’re in the 70s, the next day the 40s). We now have three incredibly cute (not spooky) jack-o’-lanterns on our stoop and more seeds than I care to deal with. I plan to roast a bunch for snacks and use the rest for craft projects. Our favorites include the pumpkin seed mosaic I shared in a previous blog and the other kid-friendly ones I have listed below. Note: If you have never used pumpkin seeds in … Continue reading →

Simple and Affordable Homemade Halloween Decorations

With the economy in crisis you may be reconsidering how much money you plan to spend this Halloween. One way to stay in the spirit without going broke is to make your own Halloween decorations. With a little time, patience and help from your children you can create a haunted house fitting for any little ghoul or goblin that comes knocking for treats. HAUNTED WREATH Materials: Store bought wreath form Fake Spider Webbing 1 bag plastic Halloween decorations (you can but this at the Dollar Store it contains various plastic spiders, skeletons, bugs, ghosts, etc.) Directions: Stretch fake cobwebs over … Continue reading →

Messy But Fun Fall Projects for Kids

I gave up on keeping messes to a minimum years ago. I am a mother of a young child who absolutely adores arts and crafts and there is no way I’m about to limit her creativity when her masterpieces bring her so much pleasure (and provide me with ample time to get the dishes, laundry and vacuuming done). Whether it’s paint, Play-Doh, markers, crayons or the dreaded Moon Sand I’m game as long as she is happy. (After all, when the cleaning process provides fodder for blogs how can I complain?) So the other day when my Martha Stewart clone … Continue reading →

A Week’s Worth of Halloween-themed Fun

Our local Target has already moved the Halloween items to the back corner of the store to make room for miles and miles of Christmas decorations. Yesterday I counted seven aisles that are dedicated to all things Christmas while the Halloween gear has been reduced to just three… and we’re not even a week into October yet! Despite Target’s push to get us thinking in terms of stockings, trees and ornaments, my family is still relishing the fall season and counting down to Halloween by participating in holiday-themed activities. If you are looking for a way to seize the season … Continue reading →

Fall Craft Projects: Fun with Pumpkin Seeds

Sure, you can salt, bake, and snack on pumpkin seeds from now until well after Halloween, but believe me there are much more constructive (and need I mention, FUN) things you can do with the pale flat seeds than pick them out of your teeth. Here are just a couple kid-friendly craft projects that come alive with help from the seasonal seeds: Pumpkin Seed Necklace Leave it to Martha Stewart to figure out a way to turn a seed into a piece of jewelry. Got pumpkin seeds? Then you have the foundation for a pretty necklace. Simply, scoop the seeds … Continue reading →