October Crafts and Activities

Wizened apple faces--Peel and core a large apple, carve a little away to suggest eyes, nose, and a mouth. Then place the apple in a bowl filled with salt water or lemon juice for about 30 min. Dry the apple gently, spear it from below with a pencil and place in a long-necked jar. The apple will dry and shrink over the next few weeks and start to look like an old, weathered face. You can decorate the jar with fabric or paint to make clothing for you apple person.

Pressed Autumn Leaves--just find leaves that are not too dry and press them inside a heavy book (protect the pages by putting down paper on each side of the leaf.

Leaf Prints--use a sponge to cover one side of the leaf with ink or paint, lay the leaf where you'd like a print, cover with newspaper or a paper towel, firmly rub (you can use a rolling pin or your hand). You can decorate cards, wrapping paper, picture frames, etc. . .

More leaf fun: leaf rubbings, mapleleaf crown (just link the leaves putting their stems through a slit in the next leaf)

Corn necklace--soak kernels of Indian corn in water for a day or so, then use a needle and thread to string them.

Roast pumpkin seeds--clean, salt, bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, stirring or shaking the pan a couple times. Remove when crisp and dry, before they turn brown.