Fall Craft Projects: Fun with Pumpkin Seeds

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

01 Oct 2008 03:08 PM

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 out of a pumpkin and place them in a bowl of water. Once immersed the seeds will separate from the fibers and float to the top. Remove the seeds from the bowl and rinse them, then place them in a single layer on a paper towel or cookie sheet. Allow the seeds to dry at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours. (Do not let seeds dry too long before stringing them, as they will become brittle and hard to work with.) Thread a sewing needle with silk beading cord, and pierce seeds, stringing them in a pattern that has them separated by knots (e.g. three seeds, knot, four seeds, knot or five seeds, knot). Knot cord when you are done and wear with your favorite Halloween outfit.

Pumpkin Seed Mosaic

Materials:

Pumpkin Seeds, rinsed and dried

Tempera paint, preferably dark colors

Paint brush

Plastic Ziploc bag

Paper towels

Thick paper or poster board

Glue

Pencils

Wax paper

Newspaper

Directions:

Place the seeds into the Ziploc bag, then squirt some paint on the seeds. Close the bag and massage it until all the seeds are covered in paint. Do this for as many colors as you desire.

Spread the seeds out on wax paper and let dry.

While you are waiting for the seeds to dry, have your child draw a picture on the poster paper. The picture can be abstract or something as simple as a fish, dog or the sun. The trick is to keep it simple because you will be using the seeds to fill in the spaces.

When the seeds are dry arrange and glue them onto the poster paper in the appropriate areas.

Related Articles:

Autumn Crafts for Kids: Fun with Leaves

Halloween and Young Children: Trick or Treat?

Fall Crafts: Making Paper Bag Pumpkins

Go Batty this Halloween

Simple Halloween Crafts: Fun with Paper Plates

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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