Fall 2006 Handicrafts--
"Week One: Fall Cloth Napkins Skill: sewing a simple running stitch or learn to use sewing machine. Select your choice of fabric: For every two 16 1/2'' x 16 1/2'' napkins 1/2 yard fabric is needed. Cut fabric into 18'' squares. To hem outside edges of the napkins, press all four sides to the back 3/4'', then 3/4'' again. Stitch the pressed edges. Use machine or sew by hand using running stitch.
Week Two: Fall Place mats (quick and easy)Instructions found here:http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10747Week Three: Leafy T-shirts Skill: identify and choose leaves and make an appealing layout.T-shirts go on sale at AC Moore for 5 for $10.00. Or buy larger white t-shirts at Walmart. You could press the different leaves on to the shirt and then when dry, have your kids print the name of each leaf on the shirt.Instructions here:http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/learn/activities/feature/famf48woods/famf48woods5.htmlWeek
Four: Corn Husk Dolls Skill: appreciate a colonial era craft.Save some of your corn husks from your summer bbq's for this project in the fall.Instructions found here:http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10747
Week Five: Draw or Paint Nature Scene for home using 3"X5" or 5"X7" other small standard sized frame. (small work is not quite as overwhelming!)Frames can be found cheap at Walmart. Use whatever medium your child enjoys. Pencil sketches are a good place to begin.Ideas: outdoor scenes, scenes from nature. Can be touched with watercolor if desired.(would need to be done on watercolor paper.)Have child plan out picture, deciding where the light is coming from and how it will be translated in drawing. Encourage proper shading for depth. Always frame even the feeblest attempts!
Week Six: Verse in Calligraphy or Best Handwriting for fridge. Have your child practice writing their favorite verse or inspiring quote, or Charlotte's motto. When they have the hang of the calligraphy pen, mark light guide lines on card stock paper with pencil first, then let them try with the calligraphy pen. Flourishes can be added or floral motifs colored in with marker.
Week Seven: Felt shaped leaves. Skill: blanket stitch.Collect some Autumn leaves. Using fall colored wool felt, cut out 2 of each leaf shape, and stitch together using a blanket stitch (with3 strands of DMC floss). Hang with floss in your windows.Variation: make a pillow: Cut two two squares of wool felt. Put one square aside. Lay out your leaf designs the way you like on the pillow top avoiding the edges. Then applique the leaf shapes onto the pillow using a blanket stitch.Sew pillow squares together(wrong sides together). Turn and stuff with batting.
Week Eight: Learn to crochet a washcloth. Instructions here:http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa041799.htmOnline resource shows how to make a simple washcloth or a doll blanket. These could be made pink or blue for a new baby, or in Christmas colors for a grandparents gift.
OR IF THAT IS OVERLY AMBITIOUS:
Learn to make homemade cards using rubber stamps or black and white clip art that can be colored. Start by just trying one card for a sick person in your church.(this is a time when you can also stress beautiful handwriting in the card---you kill two birds with one stone!)We love take an afternoon and make hand stamped Christmas tags, to which the kids love to add red, green, gold and silver glitter! Old victorian post cards make an awesome front for Christmas tags and many are available free online, so you can copy and print them out.
Week9: Scherenschnitte (paper cutting) Paper cutting is a neat thing to try because it is inexpensive and can yield beautiful results! You could also do silhouettes of your children using this method. Take a photo of their profile, enlarge it to fit a standard frame, and cut out the profile and use it as a template to trace onto black paper. Mount on white or cream paper and frame.Explained here: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/8063/scherenschnitte.htm
3 Free patterns: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/8063/scher_examples.htm (I like mother and child!)Snowflake patterns for young children: http://www.papersnowflakes.com/
Week 10: Pumpkin Centerpiece Skill: To make a centerpiece for the home that mom will enjoy.Hollow out pumpkin by making a round cut around the stem and cleaning out the insides. Fill ½ way with potting soil and then plant a fall mum inside. The pumpkin makes a pretty planter and is a good alternative for those who would rather not carve pumpkins for Halloween.Also, try roasting the pumpkin seeds for a nice treat for your kids:
Roasting Pumpkin Seeds 101When you're carving pumpkins for Halloween, don't forget to save the seeds. Roasted pumpkin seeds have a nutty flavor and are packed with protein and fiber. Pumpkin seeds can simply be salted, as in the following recipe, or can be spiced with cayenne pepper or Italian seasoning. Rinse pumpkin seed sunder cold water to remove pulp and strings. Place pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and coat with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees until toasted, about 25 minutes." -Angi
