Stain Glass Leaves

K, 6 & Up

This activity is definitely for older children, I would recommend Kindergarten and up.

To make this craft you will need:

• Contact paper (clear)
• Tissue paper in fall colors
• Leaf pattern print out (or hand drawn)

Cut out a square of clear contact paper and lay it over top of a leaf pattern print out--sticky side UP (you are using the pattern under the clear contact paper as a guide for your kids). Have your child tear off small pieces of tissue paper and stick it (as flat as they can get it) to the sticky contact paper, staying inside the pattern (the best they can).

Once they have finished their colors you will need to place another square of contact paper over top of the finished tissue paper. Carefully stick and smooth the contact paper on top of the other piece.

Then, using the same pattern they used, trace with a pencil the shape on to the contact paper.

Your or your child can cut out the shape.

You can add a hole punch and hang with string, or do like I did and just tape them to the window. These look so pretty in the afternoon sun!

Mommy note:
Another variation I have seen on this craft is to cut out the leaf shape with black construction paper and cut the middle out so it looks like a frame (you would need two of these). Stick the pattern you just made to the contact paper and the kids fill in the middle with tissue paper like above. This makes it easier for the kids to stay inside the pattern I am sure. Then, you lay the other leaf pattern on top of the bottom one hiding any scraps that weren't "inside the lines" and top with another square of contact paper. The kids and I may try this version in the weeks to come, and I will be sure to post the outcome and let you know if it was indeed easier!

Below are some leaf patterns to get you started:

Five Little Squirrels Activity

For your ToddlerI had two different ideas about how to use this adorable little rhyme:

Five Little Squirrels

Five little squirrels sitting in a tree. (Hold up five fingers.)
The first one said, “It's getting cold for me.” (Hold up one finger.)
The second one said, “The leaves are falling to the ground.” (Hold up two fingers.)
The third one said, “Let's get busy; there are nuts to be found.” (Hold up three fingers.)
The fourth one said, “We better not wait.” (Hold up four fingers.)
The fifth one said, “Fall is really great!” (Hold up five fingers.)

I thought I could color and cut the squirrels and put them on Popscicle sticks to do the rhyme with my toddler, and then I got the great idea to use flaps since those are his new favorite kind of books.

I will tell you how I did my craft, but you could use the rhyme in anyway you like. This craft is a little more time consuming, but Thomas is enjoying it, and to me that is all that matters.

To make this craft you will need:

• Green construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• Tape
• Squirrel pattern

There are tons of squirrel patterns on the web for you to use, and I will share one below. The one I used was extremely small and I actually traced all five squirrels by hand after blowing it up in Microsoft Word (which made it even more grainy, thus my tracing).

I simply colored my squirrels with coloring pencils (you could color with whatever, or find a colored squirrel pattern and print it out saving you a ton of time, or you can let your child color the squirrels!.

I used two peices of green construction paper and taped them together and then cut out a tree shape free-hand. I free handed a trunk with one sheet of brown as well.

Before I added my trunk to the bottom, I cut each squirrel out placed him face down to the BACK of my tree top, taping it around the edges. I used a sheet of carbon paper from Gracie's pretend waitress pad and placed the carbon paper under the tree top, and drew a door opening around the edge of the squirrel from the back. (Basically you need to make sure you have a door/window to open to see the squirrel. I made my flaps open in several different directions so they didn't all go the same way, and I cut them out.

If you don't have carbon paper, cut your doors (flaps) out of your tree top FIRST and then tape your squirrel to the underside (which in hindsight was probably a much easier way to do it!!).

Add your trunk to your tree top.

I used the left over brown paper to make my little handles for the flaps. I cut thin strips and rolled them into a tight curl. I taped them closed and then used good glue to add them to the flap door.

I made a copy of the rhyme to add to the bottom so that we can open the doors one by one as we read about each squirrel.

Now whether you have the time and energy to do this craft or not, you will want to share the rhyme with your preschooler. You could use stickers, or make felt squirrels and add to a winter glove. There are tons of ideas out there--use your imagination!

Squirrel pattern:

Squirrel Magnet

6 & Up, Mommy Craft

There really isn't much of a pattern for this craft, but I found the idea on a Bible School web page. So, I kind of did my own thing, and it looks super cute on the fridge. But, you too can make a squirrel magnet for fall, or really any kind of magnet to show off your little ones art work.

To make this craft you will need:

• Paper
• A good pattern
• Brown Paper bag
  
• magnet

I started to make my magnet out of felt, but I found that it was a lot harder to do, so I just used thick brown construction paper, traced the pattern on to it. I added some contrast by making certain parts of the squirrel and nut a different color. I used a brown paper bag for the squirrel's belly (which I just kind of free-handed), and the top of the nut. The bottom of the nut is brown paper bag too, but I knew it needed some color, so I colored over it with a maroon-ish colored marker.

Once I finished my cute little squirrel I used an old magnet. You probably have a ton of these some where like from a pizza or Chinese place. But, if you don't, you can buy magnets from the Dollar Store or any other place, usually in the craft section. Just glue your art work to the front of it. I cut my magnet a little and used a small strip for the nut so that it would lay nice and flat.

I had already decided to make a squirrel magnet for the theme this week, but when I found the adorable saying days later, I couldn't wait to get it assembled. What a perfect reminder of what we are all striving to do as parents!

"From little acorns mighty oaks do grow"--American Proverb

If you want to use the same squirrel I used, I am adding it below. It was simply a free coloring page I found online.

Leaf Rubbings

Toddler, Pre-K, K, 6 & Up

By far one of most simple of fall crafts.

Let your kids loose and tell them to find all different kinds of leaves in your back yard, or front yard, or the playground, or the park, or even the church lawn. Have them avoid brown crunchy leaves, and of course and leaf the unidentifiable content ;)

For this craft you will need:

• White paper
• Leaves assorted shapes and sizes
• Crayons (fall colors will better show the season and idea, but any crayon will work)

I would suggest doing this craft outside if you have the space. If not, spread news paper or use paper towels or something to hold the leaves. I did this craft with Gracie when she was small and we lived on the top floor of and apartment. Needless to say the leaves brought in all sorts of "visitors" and you will want to scoop up the leaves quickly when you are done and toss them.

Simply have your child place a leaf UNDER the white paper and rub gently with a crayon over top. Soon they will see the veins and stem and outline appear like magic. It is so neat to watch their faces when the leaf slowly appears to them.