Messy But Fun Fall Projects for Kids

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

06 Oct 2008 11:20 AM

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 friend asked if I was interested in taking home half a hay bale to make mini paper scarecrows I didn't flash her the look of death some other moms would have. Instead, I loaded the hay into my family's germ-mobile, took the directions for the scarecrows, and never gave it a second thought.

Looking back now, perhaps I should have. Five days post scarecrow making and I am still picking up stray pieces of straw from the carpet (despite the fact that we made the scarecrows in the kitchen using a drop cloth). Excess straw aside the scarecrows are cute and my preschooler had a ball. However, if you have an issue with random straw becoming embedded in your carpet you might want to complete this project outside on a deck or patio. The same goes for the second project. If the sight of your child covered in paint makes you wince then you might have to ease yourself into the Fall Tree craft project. Kids love it, but squeamish parents might have to dig deep to appreciate it in the same way.

MINI PAPER SCARECROWS

Materials:

Precut felt squares, circles, rectangles

Pieces of straw or hay

Glue

Large sized paper

Construction paper

Googly eyes and other embellishments such as old buttons, zippers, yarn and sequins

Wooden broomstick handle or ruler

Rubber bands

Directions:

Decorate the paper bags with the embellishments to create a unique looking scarecrow.

Once the embellishments are firmly attached to paper bag stuff it with hay, then insert ruler or broomstick handle. Secure bag with rubber band.

Cut out hands and feet from construction paper and glue on to scarecrow.

FALL TREE PAINTING PROJECT

Materials:

Paint in Fall Colors (red, yellow, orange, brown)

White Paper

Paint Brushes

Directions:

Paint your child's arm and hand from the elbow to the fingers, brown.

Place child's arm/hand on white paper and press down firmly but gently.

Next, use your fingers (or another child's fingers) to dip into the other paints and make fingerprints on the tree as leaves.

If you are doing this project with multiple children give each child a chance to have their arm used as the tree trunk while other kids use their fingers to make the leaves.

Related Articles:

Fall Craft Projects: Fun with Pumpkin Seeds

How To Remove Stickers and Play-Doh From Places They Don't Belong

P.S.--There Are Other Ways To Get Crayon Marks Off Your Walls

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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Kara (21345) 06 Oct 2008 11:45 AM

I love the tree idea...at her age I can't see Kate cooperating so we'd have to do her arm then quickly go wash it so she doesn't get brown everywhere on the paper!

Michele Cheplic (37349) 06 Oct 2008 02:09 PM

Kara, you're right it's more a 3 and up kind of project, but you could have her stamp her arm on a number of papers, wipe off the brown paint and then she could do the leaves herself with her own fingers. That's what my dd did when we did this project at home alone and she loved it. We made enough to send to the grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Kara (21345) 06 Oct 2008 02:27 PM

Her arms and hands are so little we might even get away with making big cards for Thanksgiving!!! That would be soooooooooo cute! I gotta go buy paint! Thanks!

Michele Cheplic (37349) 08 Oct 2008 03:57 AM

That's a great idea Kara! You could even do placecards for Thanksgiving if her arm/hand is small enough. Have fun!