Materials

• Felt (Colours that match your desired project- we went with two shades of green, some purple & a little bit of white.  This a perfect project to use scraps for.  We are hoping to use orange for the next one to make a jack-o’-lantern)
• Black bead
• Embroidery floss
• Needle
• Fabric scissors
• Buttons
• Pencil
• Template halloween_gift_card
• Stick pins
• Sewing marker
• Note: For a no-sew option, use fabric glue!

Directions

• Measure your felt for the base of the holder.  Most standard gift cards are approximately 8.5cm X 5.5 cm/ 3.75 inches X 2.5 inches so we cut out felt to be 9.5 c.m X 12.5 cm/ 5 inches X 3.75 inches to allow for a border. (We also left space to trim off an excess to make it uniform account for any errors, spreading of glue etc.)  You could use one of the pre-measured templates we provided to cut your felt.  (Pin it to the felt, cutting around twice or double your felt over, cutting once).

• Cut out the components of your Halloween character’s face (e.g., it could be  a ghost, jack-o’-lantern etc.).  Lay them out to make sure that they work and look the way that you want.

• Don your smock. Glue or sew your parts to one side of the felt.  Hand sew or machine sew any details you may like.

•  Glue or sew three of edges of the base pieces together (two of the long sides and one of the short on the bottom, as seen in the photograph).  Allow it to dry overnight.

• Insert your gift card and give it to someone special!

Purpose

• Thinking of others
• Developing fine motor skills (cutting, sewing etc.)

Safety Notes

• Exercise care when using fabric scissors as they can be quite sharp!
• Be sure to wear a smock when using fabric glue to protect your clothes.
• Buttons can be a choking hazard so they are not recommended for children 0-3 years of age or who tend to put things in their mouth.
• Be careful with pins and needles- sometimes a thimble can be helpful for beginners.  We also love a threader.

Materials

• Twigs
• Cord, yarn, straw etc.
• Glue glue (to be used by an adult)
• Twine
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Dark coloured mug

Directions

• Go on a nature walk, collecting fallen twigs.

• Loop your cord or yarn around your fingers loosely and remove it. (So it is in an ellipse formation.)

• Cut through both ends of the ellipse, as shown to make your “straw”.

• Have an adult glue the pieces to the twig on one end as shown, with the about 1/3 of the cord length on the twig and 2/3 off.

• Tie a piece of twine around the “straw” portion that is on the twig and knot it. Trim off the excess.

• Trim the end of your broom.

• Attach your broom to your mug or any other gift with ribbon.

Purpose

• Getting out into nature
• Creating a replica of something
• Thinking of others

Safety Notes

• It is recommended, for safety, that an adult use the glue gun.

Materials

• Candy (we suggest something like Skittles, Smarties or M & Ms for these activities)
• Sorting Mat colour_sorting_mat

• Least/ Greatest Mat least_greatest

• Counting in a Ten Frame Mat  ten_frame   ten_frames

• Patterning Mat patterning_template_1 patterning_template_2  patterning_template_3

• Subtracting Mat subtraction_mat

• Addition Mat adding_mat_template

• Page protectors or laminating supplies (Optional)
• Cardstock
• Pencil/ eraser OR overhead pen
• Damp & dry cloth

Directions

• Print the provided templates onto cardstock.  Slip them into page protectors for longevity or laminate them if they are for classroom use.  Children can re-use the templates that you write on by using an overhead pen which wipes off with a damp cloth.  (Be sure to dry it before the next person’s turn!)

Sorting

• Sort your candy into colours.  We provided a template with some spots for customization depending on the candy type you use.

Counting in a Ten Frame

• After you have sorted by colour (or another attribute of your choice), count how many of each colour you have, using the ten frame.  This is particularly helpful for younger children to stay organized and as the metric system is based on tens, it gets them into thinking of these groupings.  We provided a template with 1 ten frame and another with a few.

Least/ Greatest

• After you have sorted and counted your candies, decide which colour has the most and which has the least in the group, using the mat.

Addition

• Put two different colours of candies on the first two boxes of the mat. Record how many you have.  Add them together and move them to the last box, writing the numeral in the small box below. Repeat.

Subtraction

• Now for the tasty part! Put your candies on the mat in the first box. Record how many you have.  Decide on how many you would like to eat.  Record this number on the second box, moving that number over.  Move the remaining candies from the first box to the last box (following the arrow) and record how many you have left!  Repeat.

• If you child or students are ready for it, this would be a great time to discuss and explore the relationship between addition and subtraction.

Patterning

• Create different patters  in the boxes on the patterning template.  If you child is a bit older, try to get them to assign letters to the pattern above the colour or to identify the core of the pattern.

Make Your Own & Storage

• Now that you have tried out these mathematical concepts create templates of your own together.
• Pop your templates into a binder or folder and tuck them away for next year.

Purpose

• Using a variety of objects to explore mathematical concepts (sorting, counting with a ten frame, identifying least and greatest, subtraction, patterning etc.)

Safety Notes

• Small candies can be a choking hazard so this activity is not recommended for children 0-3 or those that tend to put things in their mouths.
• Laminators should be used by an adults.

This post was featured on The Crafty Crow! Check them out for more Halloween ideas!

 http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/10/7-great-pumpkin-crafts-for-kids.html

Materials

• T-shirt
• Fabric paint
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Pencil/ eraser
• Paint brush (Whoops! We forgot to include it in the photo!)
• Glue gun
• Smock

* If you want to change your t-shirt into a bag you will need a sewing machine/thread, fabric scissors and a bowl or plate.

Directions

• Sketch out the shapes you want to make into stamps on your cardboard (for example, triangles for jack-o-lantern eyes or ovals for a ghost face).  Have an adult cut them out (as cardboard can be tricky to cut!).

• Have an adult glue gun a two small rectangles of cardboard onto your stamps to make a little “handle” or glue them with craft glue and allow to dry overnight.

• Don your smock.

• Put a larger piece of cardboard into your bag so as to prevent the paint from seeping through from one layer of the fabric to the next.

• Apply a bit of fabric paint directly onto the stamp and spread it out evenly with a brush.  You could also put some paint in a tray and use the dipping method.

• You can apply layers of the paint (as we did below), allowing them to dry in between. (We used a pencil eraser for the wort stamp!)

• Carefully remove the cardboard insert once your paint is completely dry and enjoy your t-shirts! (Beware: Scary faces included!)

Halloween T-Shirt Bag

We ran into a little problem in that our black vampire t-shirt was too big for the kids and too small for the adults in our family so we tried this idea that we saw on the Martha Stewart site: http://www.marthastewart.com/266942/t-shirt-bag, adding a spooky twist. This would make a great bag for taking your costume to school or a party, for collecting treats or for holding a gift.

• Turn your t-shirt inside out.  Sew the bottom closed with a thicker stitch.  You might want to do several.  Turn your shirt right side out.

• Cut off your sleeves and around the neck.  Use a bowl or plate and a sewing marker to help you.  You may need an adult to cut the fabric, depending on the type.

• Sew on any additional embellishments (such as glow in the dark paint accents or little jingle bells for safety.)

Purpose

• Encouraging children to re-use, recycle, reduce and re-think items.

Safety Notes

• Use scissors with care and direct supervision.
• Be sure to wear a smock to protect your clothing from fabric paint.
• If any of the embellishments you choose are choking hazards be sure to keep them out of reach from children 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things in their mouths.

Whether you are a family of mini makers, an educator, a fellow children’s site or someone who wants to try something new, we are grateful.

Last week, we were sent this activity from Erin Y. and her 3 young boys (D. who is 4.5 and her twins K. & T. who are 14 months).  They made this October keepsake gift together for their family and with small children ourselves, we know this is quite the feat (and in this case feet!) to get all the kids involved.  As you know, we are beginners in the sewing department and I am always so impressed by Erin’s sewing projects.

We wanted to thank her family with this book: Art Lab for Kids by Susan Schwake

Have you tried something on our site or made something fun for yourself or with your children or students?  We would sincerely love to see it!

Thanks again Erin!  You made our week!

Materials

• Bag (we used a jute one)
• Felt (yellow, orange & white)
• Fabric glue
• Sewing machine/ thread (optional, you could also hand sew)
• Sewing marker or stick pins.
• Embroidery floss and/or yarn and needle
• Smock
• Paper/pencil or paper/template candy_corn_template

Directions

• Have your child draw out a piece of candy corn on paper or print the provided template.  Cut it out.

• Trace the entire template on a piece of white felt, using a sewing marker.

• Cut off the top portion of the template.

• Trace the template again on orange felt, using a sewing marker.

• Cut off the middle portion of the template.

• Trace the template on yellow felt. Cut out.

• Take all your pieces and put them together to make sure they align, giving them a unifying trim if necessary.  Depending on the type of sewing marker that you used, you may want to flip the felt pieces over to hide any lines.

• Don your smock.

• Glue or sew the orange portion onto the white base.  Glue or sew the yellow portion on top of the orange.  Allow to dry overnight.

• Glue your felt candy corn piece onto your bag and allow to dry overnight.

• Should you like, add a little embroidery and yarn embellishment to the top of the bag (a great way to practise a bit of sewing!)

Purpose

• Developing hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills.
• Making a likeness of something.

Safety Notes

• Use scissors and needles with adult supervision.
• A  sewing machine should be used by an adult or based on your child’s age and abilities with direct supervision and guidance.
• Be sure to wear a smock to protect your clothing from fabric glue!

Materials

• White plate, serving dish etc.
• Black ceramic paint pen
• Pencil/eraser
• Paper
• Smock

Directions

• On paper practise making webs.

• Sketch out a spider web on a plate lightly with a pencil.  For younger children here is a tip: get a starting centre point, make spokes and then the joining threads.

• Don your smock. Trace over your web with your ceramic paint pen.

• Follow the directions to set the paint and enjoy!

Purpose

• Recycling (if the plate has a chip for instance- wouldn’t that contribute to the “spookiness” of it?!)

Safety Notes

• Follow the product directions.
• This is an activity for children who could comfortably handle a breakable plate.
• Wear a smock to protect your clothing.

Materials

• Cardstock
• Printer
• Pumpkin printout pumpkin
• Thin black pens (we used permanent, but you might want to go with a smock for that option)
• Scissors
• Toothpicks
• Clear tape
• Laminating materials or contact paper (optional)

Directions

• Print out the pumpkins or better yet, draw your own!

• Cut them out, leaving a little border.

• Using your thin black pen, draw a variety of faces- spooky, silly etc.

• If you want to save these for future years, laminate them (and then each year just wipe them down and replace the toothpicks).

• Lay your jack-o-lanterns face down and tape toothpicks to the back as shown.

• Insert them into cupcakes etc.

Purpose

• Adding a personal touch to things.

Safety Notes

• Exercise care with scissors and toothpicks.
• Laminators should be used be adults (if you go with this option).

Materials

• Cloth napkins
• Embroidery floss
• Needle
• Threader
• Thimble
• Scissors
• Beads (optional)
• Sewing marker
• Paper & a pencil

Directions

• Have an adult iron your napkins.

• Practise drawing webs on a piece of paper.  With a sewing marker, draw you web lightly on your napkin.

• Cut a length of embroidery floss.

• Tie a knot in one end.  (An adult might need to help with this part, particularly if you are trying to make a double knot.)

• Thread your needle.  For children (adults too!) using a threader may be helpful.

• Start at the centre and make straight spokes going out, using a basic “up and down” stitch.

• Make lines in between the spokes to join the web together.  Or if your child is older,  they could try a “U” shape to join together the spokes.  Take off your needle and knot the end, trimming off the excess.

• Should you like, add a bead or two and make it into a spider with the thread as legs as shown.

Purpose

• Developing one’s fine motor skills with sewing.

Safety Notes

• Exercise care with a needle and scissors, with adult supervision.

This activity was featured on The Crafty Crow!  Check them out for all sorts of seasonal fun to do together.

http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/10/child-art-halloween-tree-ornaments.html

Materials

• Air dry clay*
• Sealant (optional)
• Bamboo skewer
• Black permanent marker
• Branches
• Vase
• Circle, square, rectangle cookie cutters or clay knife
• Rolling pin
• Clay board or old cutting board
• Ribbon, twine or cord
• Smock

* Another option (that we have also shown) is purchasing “blank” ready-made ornaments (which are often out for Christmas) to draw on.

Directions

• Go on a nature walk and collect fallen branches.

• Don your smock.

• Roll out your clay to a thickness about 1 1/4 centimetres/ 0.5 inches.

• Cut out your shapes using either cookie cutters or a clay knife.

• Poke a hole where you would like your ornament to hang, using a bamboo skewer.

• Let your shapes dry according to the package’s directions.  (We found this was a few days, with flipping them over for the undersides to dry.)

• Once dry, draw Halloween themed items on your clay shapes in black permanent marker.  Add a border to each.

• Have an adult brush sealant onto your ornaments lightly or apply sealant outdoors in a well-ventilated area according to the directions. (Optional)

• Loop a piece of ribbon through the hole you made.

• Put your branches in a vase, hang your ornaments and place them at the centre of your table, on a mantle etc.

Purpose

• Developing fine motor skills, working with different materials.
• Recognizing various symbols of cultural celebrations.

Safety Notes

• Follow the directions on the package of the air dry clay for use and storage.
• An adult should apply any sealant type materials in a well-ventilated area.
• Be careful when using permanent markers, protecting surfaces and clothes.
• Exercise caution when using a bamboo skewer as the tip can be quite sharp!