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The autumn season, known to many as fall, is on it’s way after what can only be described as an out-of-the-ordinary spring and summer. As well as being a great time of year to get outdoors and enjoy the changing of the seasons, the arrival of autumn means we can celebrate that 2020 is that bit closer to being over. But you’re still going to need some inspiration for keeping the family busy over the next few months!
When autumn arrives, we usually start to spend more time indoors, so here are some fun autumn crafts for all the family to enjoy.
Back to school crafts
Home school has been a reality for many of us this year, and with that comes the need for a practical work-station at home. Even if your kids are back at school now, it’s a good idea to keep this setup for homework, and any potential future disruptions to schooling. Try one of these great ideas to create that perfect homework spot.
DIY calendar
When you’ve got multiple projects going on, having a calendar is a brilliant way to stay organised. It’s not hard to make your own calendar, and doing this means you can personalise it to meet your needs exactly.
You’ll need a basic message board (IKEA is a good place for these), washi tape, letter and number stickers, and dry wipe marker pens. Use the washi tape to mark out the calendar grid, and the stickers to add in the days and dates. If you don’t have stickers, you could use a fabric marker or permanent marker instead. If your message board is the opaque glass kind, you can even use spray paints on the reverse side to create a pop of colour. Once your calendar is finished, you’re ready to fill it in with the dry-wipe markers.
Fun pencil cases
Foam sheets are great for making pencil cases. A wallet style is great for older kids, and you can make animal shapes for little ones. A good option for this is something with a simple shape, like a shark or whale. You’ll need to print a template onto your foam sheets (these are easy to find online), or if you don’t have a printer, try tracing a pattern or drawing freehand. Use a child-friendly needle and thread to sew the foam together to make a pocket, and then add details like googly eyes, gills and a big smile.
Autumn-themed home decor
We’re heading into pumpkin season, which means you can get the whole family involved with some autumn-themed indoor decorations. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Leaf Lanterns
There’s something so welcoming about the glow of candlelight, and using flickering LEDs allows you take this glow safely throughout the home. Kids will have lots of fun building a blanket fort on a comfortable bed and reading by lantern light.
To make your own home lantern, pressed and dried leaves work best. Using leaves in a range of autumnal colours will create a lovely effect. Grab a clear container like an old vase or mason jar, and glue your leaves onto it using mod podge, which will also work as a sealer. You can add your candle LED now, or get creative and glue on a pipe cleaner or wire handle. Then let everything dry and it’s ready to use.
Autumn scatter cushions
This is a great option for older kids and sewing fans. Use plain fabric in autumnal colours to create simple cushion covers, then personalise them with your own designs. You could use free embroidery designs, print shapes with fabric paint, or go freehand and let their imaginations run wild.
Scarecrow papercraft
If you’d like to add some fun interior decorations, a happy scarecrow face will liven up your home. You’ll need brown paper, a glue gun, pva glue, coloured paper, and pipe cleaners or rafia.
Fold the brown paper accordion-style, then connect multiple “accordions” to make a pinwheel and trim into a circular shape for the scarecrow’s face. Use a template or draw freehand to create the scarecrow’s hat from coloured paper.
The rafia can be used for hair, or add some additional curls with pipe cleaners or yarn. Glue on some googly eyes, a triangle nose, and a mouth. You could even add some patches of ribbon to the hat if you’ve got some scraps in your craft box.
Autumn nature crafts
Harvest time offers lots of wonderful resources for nature craft activities that you can do with the kids. Here are a couple of my favourites.
Natural noughts and crosses
Making natural noughts and crosses is is a great nature craft that you can do with just a few materials – you can even find these in the garden if you don’t want to venture further afield. You’ll need straight things to make the grid and the crosses, and round things to make the noughts. Sticks and twigs are great for the straights, and leaves, dried flower heads and conkers make brilliant noughts. Once you’ve got your materials, use string to tie the grid and crosses together, and you’re ready to play!
Leaf prints
With so many fabulous leaves lying around, why not put them to good use with a simple leaf print craft? You just paint the back of your leaf, then press it onto a sheet of paper to create a print. Repeat with a variety of leaves and paint colours, and you’ll have a lovely autumn collage. Because it’s so simple, this is a great activity for very young children to have a go at – just make sure you protect your work surface first!
When it comes to autumn crafts, the only limit is your imagination. Start with some basics like fallen leaves, craft paper, and glue, then keep going as you become craftier and more inspired. Don’t worry about making perfect creations – the most important thing is to have fun!
What are your favourite autumn crafts?
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