Stuffed Apples!

Last week, we read a book about apples and made some of our own apples to go along with it! To make your own stuffed apple, you will need to make two large identical apples. I used grocery bags, but you could use whatever paper you have. Then you staple the apples together all around the edges, leaving a hole in the top for the "stuffing." You'll also want to cut out a stem and set it aside. Next, your child can use a glue stick to glue tissue paper squares all over both sides of the apple. Finally, your child can help you stuff the apple with paper scraps. We just ripped up the rest of the paper bags and crumpled up the pieces. When you staple the top shut, you can attach the stem. We punched holes in our stems and used red yarn to hang them up. The apples look so cute, and they were very easy. My two year old friend really enjoyed this craft!

A late fall craft

I know it's a little late.......Thanksgiving's over, and it's time for Christmas crafts! But, if I don't post the pictures now, they'll be stuffed away on a disk somewhere by next fall. So, this is frame we made with pumpkin cutouts. I cut a bunch of pumpkins out of scrapbook paper and had my three year old help me attach them to pictures of her and her brothers. They came out pretty cute, and were a good opportunity for her to practice her gluing. A little goes a long way!

Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkin

I think this pumpkin is cute and was really easy to make out of a toilet paper roll and construction paper. First I covered the toilet paper roll in orange paper and cut five paper strips. Then I had my three year old friend help me tape the strips to both ends of the toilet paper roll. We rolled up a piece of brown paper for a stem and finally taped on a leaf.

Handy Candy

Today we made handy candy. The candy corns were on a sheet of scrapbook paper I had. I just cut them out and glued them around the hand prints. I think these are really cute.

Another pumpkin?

"What" you say, "another paper plate pumpkin?" The kids wanted to paint and I wasn't feeling very creative. Yeah, it happens. Even the craftiest crafters, can't be crafty all the time.

Pumpkin Time

This is an easy little pumpkin that was made from construction paper and a paper plate. I cut out a bunch of orange squares and had the little bambino glue them all over the plate. Then I cut out a curly q for a leaf and a brown rectangle for the stem and had him glue those on too.

Printable Fall Wreath

Here is an easy craft from DLTK. As you can see, I'm out of yellow construction paper, and the paper rings could have been placed closer together, but it turned out really cute anyway!

Another fall leaf craft!

This is a great craft for fall and is suitable for all ages. (I did this with a 1 1/2 year old. ) You will need to fold two pieces of paper in half and cut out half of a leaf shape. Be sure to fold and cut both pieces of paper together. the leaves need to line up exactly. I used a pencil to lightly draw my leaf shape before cutting. When you unfold your papers you should have nice leaves cut out of the middles.

Next you will need two pieces of contact paper a little bit larger than your leaf shape. You can set one piece on the table, sticky side up, and tape down the corners. Then have the kids rip up little pieces of tissue paper and stick them to the contact paper. I only had red and yellow tissue paper, so that's what we used. It actually worked out well, since when they were done and hung in the window, the kids could see how the yellow and red papers made orange.

Once they have stuck down their tissue paper, you will need to carefully stick the other piece of contact paper on top, laminating the tissue paper.

Now you can take your laminated tissue paper and glue or tape it in between the two leaf cutout papers. Hang it in the window and it looks beautiful when the sun shines through!

I steal from pre-school

Yesterday we made autumn trees....even though it's still summer. Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but to me when school starts, summer is over. I don't care what the calendar says. Anyway The tree trunk was cut out of brown scrapbook paper and glued to a pretty piece of scrapbook paper. (can you tell I'm low on construction paper) The kids then used their thumbs to make leaves with red, yellow, and orange paint. Finally they glued on the poem. This idea was stolen right from pre-school. We did this craft one day a year or two ago when I was subbing.

My Thumbprint Tree

My thumbprint means a lot to me.

I used it for my thumbprint tree.

It is my thumb and only mine.

My lovely tree is oh so fine.

Fall Wreath

This is a really easy fall craft. (I know, more plates) Every year, they sell bags of fake leaves at the dollar store and craft stores. Last year, we used some to make wreaths. You just cut out the center of a paper plate, give the kids a pile of leaves and some Elmer's glue and let em have at it. Then you can punch a hole in the plate and attach a piece of string to hang it up.