Caroline Sanchez and Emma Issagholian

Every year, billions of people around the world prepare for the fall season. For some people, this means busting out a favorite fall outfits and getting ready to drink some pumpkin spice lattes. However, others enjoy decorating their homes and finding the perfect costume for Halloween. As the season approaches, many families are in search of fun activities to do with their children as they await going trick-or-treating. That is why fun fall-related arts and crafts activities are a great way to occupy your time. Fall crafts are not only super cute, but they are extremely fun activities to take on and serve as wonderful decorations for the months of the fall season.

5. Pumpkin Plates

Materials: 

• Paper plate
• Orange and black markers or crayons 
• Hole punch
• Green Pipe Cleaner

What materials to buy: 

• 100 count of 6”/9” plates – $4.99/$12.69
• 12 count of orange Crayola Washable markers – $10.69
• 12 count of black Crayola Washable markers – $10.69
• 2-pack hole punch (1-hole punch brand) – $3.88
• 100 piece Chenille Stems green pipe cleaners – $5.99

What do you do:

• Color your paper plate orange.
• Punch a hole at the top of your orange plate with a hole punch.
• Put a green pipe cleaner through the hole.
• Twist pipe cleaner around itself so it stays attached.
• Using a marker or crayon, wrap your pipe cleaner around it, and slide the pipe cleaner off to make spirals.
• Draw a face on your pumpkin if you want!

4. Sock Pumpkins

Materials: 

• Any colored sock you want
• Thread or yarn 
• Stuffing (cotton balls)
• Hot glue gun 
• Scissors 
• Green pipe cleaners 

What materials to buy:

• Giugu 20 Pairs Women’s Solid Color Crew Socks Lightweight Dress Sock for Women Girls – $23.99
• SINGER 00264 Polyester Hand Sewing Thread, Assorted Colors, 24 Mini-Spools – $3.89
• Fairfield The Original Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber Fill, Soft Pillow Filler, Stuffed Animals, Toys, Cloud Decorations, and More, Machine-Washable, 16-Ounce Bag, White – $5.97
• SHJADE Hot Glue Gun with 30 Glue Sticks, Fast Preheating Hot Melting Gun, Mini Glue Gun Kit for Kids DIY School Craft Projects and Quick Home Repairs, 20W White – $9.99
• Westcott 16451 8-Inch KleenEarth Recycled Scissors for Office and Home, Black – $3.84
• 100 piece Chenille Stems green pipe cleaners – $5.99

What do you do: 

• Cut off the entire foot of the sock.
• Tie the end of the cut sock with your thread. 
• Turn the sock inside out.
• Add as much stuffing as you think is needed to the sock.
• Fold an inch of the open side of the sock towards the inside. 
• Tie the top of the sock with thread.
• With the glue gun attach the green stem to the tied opening.
• Your complete you can add whatever more details you prefer.

3. Puffy Paper Ghosts

Materials:

• Ghost paper template 
• Cotton balls 
• Glue 
• Black paint (optional)
• Clothespins (optional)

What materials to buy:

• Amazon Basics Cotton Balls, 200 Count – $4.19
• Elmer’s Liquid School Glue, Washable, 4 Ounces, 3 Count – $8.37 OR Elmer’s Disappearing School Glue, Washable, 6 Pack, 0.21-ounce sticks – $.499
• Crayola Washable Paint 16 oz Black – $5.59
• Honey-Can-Do DRY-01374 Wood Clothespins with Spring, 24-Pack, 3.3-inches Length, Brown – $6.83

What do you do:

• Start by downloading, printing, and cutting out the ghost template. 
• Take your glue and start outlining the edges and work your way to the middle.
• Get your cotton balls and start placing them around the edges and work your way to the middle.
• Once you add all the cotton balls except for the eyes and mouth, add glue to the eyes and mouth.
• Paint your cotton balls with black paint and add it to both the eyes and mouth.
• Place your ghost aside and wait till it dries, now you’re complete!

2. Hand Wreaths

Materials:  

• Construction paper in strong fall colors (green, yellow, orange, red)
• Scissors 
• Pencils 
• Permanent marker 
• Glue 

What materials to buy:

• AnyDesign 50 Sheet Assorted Autumn Card Stock Paper Red Yellow Green Brown Colored Scrapbook Paper for DIY Maple Leaves Card Making Fall Thanksgiving School Office Home Supplies, 8.5 x 11 Inch – $17.99 OR Tru-Ray Seasonal Sulphite Construction Paper- Fall Colors, 9″ x 12″ (Pack of 400) – $23.99
• Westcott 16451 8-Inch KleenEarth Recycled Scissors for Office and Home, Black – $3.84
• AmazonBasics Woodcased #2 Pencils, Pre-sharpened, HB Lead, Box of 30 – $6.19
• Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point, Black, Pack of 5 – $4.87
• Elmer’s Liquid School Glue, Washable, 4 Ounces, 3 Count – $8.37 OR Elmer’s Disappearing School Glue, Washable, 6 Pack, 0.21-ounce sticks – $.499

What do you do:

• Start by laying your hand on your paper, fingers apart and trace it around your different colored construction paper. 
• Cut out a set of 12 hands three from each of the four different construction paper colors.
• Optional: You can write on each hand things you are thankful for.
• Arrange the groups in an overlapping circle.
• Glue each wrist to the space between the thumb and the index finger.
• Hang your wreath wherever you want to place it.

1. Turkey Cones

Materials: 

• Brown card stock or construction paper
• Red, yellow, orange, and green construction paper
• Compass or plate
• Pencil
• Scissors
• White glue
• Googly eyes
• Red, yellow, orange, and green feathers (optional)

Materials to buy:

• Prang Construction Paper, Light Brown, 9″ x 12″, 50 Sheets – $3.79
• AnyDesign 50 Sheet Assorted Autumn Card Stock Paper Red Yellow Green Brown Colored Scrapbook Paper for DIY Maple Leaves Card Making Fall Thanksgiving School Office Home Supplies, 8.5 x 11 Inch – $17.99 OR Tru-Ray Seasonal Sulphite Construction Paper- Fall Colors, 9″ x 12″ (Pack of 400) – $23.99
• Westcott ACME UNITED 12201 Scholastic Compass, 7.5 x 0.8 x 3.6″, Multicolor – $6.49 OR 100 count of 6”/9” plates – $4.99/$12.69
• AmazonBasics Woodcased #2 Pencils, Pre-sharpened, HB Lead, Box of 30 – $6.19
• Elmer’s Liquid School Glue, Washable, 4 Ounces, 3 Count – $8.37
• DECORA 500 Pieces 6mm -12mm Black Wiggle Googly Eyes with Self-Adhesive – $4.99
• Soarer Colorful Craft Rooster Feathers – 300pcs 3-5 inch Colored Feathers Bulk for Kindergarten DIY Crafts,Wedding Home Party Decorations,Dream Catcher Supplies (Rooster Colorful) – $6.99

What do you do:

• Draw a circle.
• Cut out your paper circle.
• Cut the circle in half.
• Take one half-circle. Position it so that the straight edge is on top. Let’s call the left and right corners as points A and B.
• Mark the tip of the cone. Bring point A to meet point B. Lightly pinch the paper at the midpoint, which we’ll call point C. Point C marks the tip of your paper cone.
• Apply glue: Unfold the half-circle. Apply glue along the straight edge between points C and B.
• Set the size of your cone’s base: Imagine dividing the curved edge of your half-circle into thirds. Mark the ⅓ point from point B as point D.
• Point D defines the size of your cone’s base. If you want to make the base bigger, just move point D closer to point B.
• Bring “A” towards “D”: Bring point “A” down to meet point “D”.
• Form a cone shape: Bring point B down towards the curved edge to form a cone shape. Carefully press along side CB to glue it in place.
• Glue a pair of googly eyes near the top of the cone.
• Create a paper beak:The beak can easily be made by cutting a small orange paper triangle. However, if you want a more three-dimensional beak, you can do these easy steps: First cut out a small rectangle from orange paper. Mine is about 1” x ¾”. Fold the rectangle in half. Then, cut out the triangle from your folded rectangle, making sure the base of the triangle is along the paper’s folded edge. Unfold the paper to check out the paper beak.
• Glue the beak below the turkey’s eyes.
• Cut out a teardrop shape out of red paper. Glue it below the beak.
• Create the turkey’s tail feathers out of paper or use real feathers.