Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Hallowe'en craft round-up

Ghost feet:

2007_10_26_ghost_feet



Pumpkin book:

Monday, October 27, 2008

Pumpkin carving for easy candle access

Have you ever burned your hand trying to get a candle in or out of a jack-o'-lantern? Try cutting your pumpkin 'lid' a little differently.

Materials:

  • pumpkin
  • carving knife

Instructions:
  • Prep the pumpkin for carving.

    pumpkin_carving_01


  • Mark where you're going to cut the 'lid.' The front (shown as top of the photo) will be a semi-circle, while the back will extend all the way down the back of the pumpkin.

    pumpkin_carving_02

  • Using your favourite method, clean out and carve the pumpkin.

    pumpkin_carving_03


  • Now you're able to put a candle in through the back of the pumpkin, with much less risk of getting burned!

    pumpkin_carving_04 pumpkin_carving_05


[Remember to keep children away from lit flames and matches!]

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Hallowe'en mobile

mobile_halloween_06

This was created at our local Ontario Early Years Centre.

Materials:
  • white, orange or black construction paper
  • orange or black crepe paper
  • orange or black string or yarn (yarn shown)
  • paper towel roll (shown one is cut to about 20cm in length)
  • stickers, crayons, markers for decorating
  • glue
  • scissors
  • masking tape

Instructions:
  • Have an adult cut out fun Hallowe'en themed shapes and have child decorate with stickers, paper, markers etc.

    mobile_halloween_01 mobile_halloween_02 mobile_halloween_03


  • Attach one length of yarn to the back of each shape using masking tape (vary the lengths to make the mobile more interesting)

    mobile_halloween_04


  • Attach the other end of the yarn to the paper towel roll, using masking tape. Cover the roll with crepe paper to hide the taped yarn. Place a last piece of yarn through the paper towel roll and knot. This last piece will be used to hang the mobile.

    mobile_halloween_05

  • Hang your mobile and enjoy! [Remember that long lengths of string / yarn present hazards to young children. Safety is your responsibility.]

    mobile_halloween_06

Friday, October 17, 2008

Dynamic Fall centrepiece

milkweed_05

Materials:

Instructions:
  • Take the unopened milkweed pod and place in the bottom of the vase.
  • As the pod dries out, it will crack open.
  • As the long silky hair, attached to the seeds, dries out, they expand, forcing the pod to open more and accelerating the drying of the pod contents.

    milkweed_01

  • With time, the pod will completely open and the seeds will be suspended throughout the vase on the fluffy silky hairs. (Little hands may also be happy to assist with the process!)

    milkweed_02

    milkweed_03

    milkweed_04

    milkweed_05



CAUTION: Place out of reach of curious little hands and / or paws, unless you wish for a milkweed filled house!

milkweed_06


Friday, October 10, 2008

Autumn collage

autumn_collage_1 autumn_collage_2

Materials:
  • construction paper
  • white glue
  • things found on the ground at Autumn (leaves, acorns, flowers etc)

Instructions:
  • Send your youngster out to collect things specific to Autumn (leaves, acorns, flowers etc)
  • For pre-schoolers, have the child tell the adult where on the construction paper they'd like to glue items down. Have the adult apply the glue to the paper and the child place the item on the glue.
  • For older children, have them glue items to the paper as they see fit.