Lone Star Nannies Pumpkin Crafts
Pumpkin Crafts
Hello, from Lone Star Nannies!
With all the excitement about pumpkins this time of year, we’ve curated some of the best craft ideas on the internet so that you can extend the fun at home! Don’t worry if you have a wide range of ages and interest levels in your family. We’ve got you covered! Check out our thoughts below on crafts appropriate for everyone from preschool students to grandparents…
Don’t forget to tag Lone Star Nannies when you post your works of art! We can’t wait to see what your little ones create. While you’re searching for tissue paper and glue sticks, we’ll be over here creating more connections between families and nannies.
PRESCHOOL
LEGO STAMPED PUMPKIN
Sometimes you need a back pocket activity with common items around the house. LEGO is one of the most classic toy brands on the market, so it’s likely you have a few blocks hidden under couches or in nooks around the playroom. In fact, finding stray LEGOS may be all the inspiration your kids need to move from budding architects to artists! Using each block as a stamp, kids dip LEGO pieces in paint and press them onto paper. See this link on Crafty Morning for more instructions.
APPLE STAMPED PUMPKINS
If you’re on a roll stamping painted objects, try a few apples! Simply grab another piece of computer paper, cut up the apples in your fridge, and fill bowls with different shades of orange paint. The author of Mom in the Six used sprigs from plants as stamps when creating the stems. The final product will be a cute addition to the collection of art on your fridge and, when you’re done, you may find something else around the house to paint and stamp!
PUMPKIN SUN CATCHER
This craft is fun because it’s simple, yet leaves a lot of room for creativity! Kids can use different colors of tissue paper to dress up their pumpkins or glue extras such as googly eyes to the finished product. Check out Learn Create Love for a free printable pumpkin template or create your own pumpkin using these simple instructions from the website “And Next Comes L”.
ELEMENTARY
PUMPKIN PIE PLAYDOUGH
If you’re a parent or nanny who embraces time in the kitchen and a little messy fun, this pumpkin pie playdough recipe will keep kids entertained for a few hours! Break out cookie cutters, tell stories with playdough characters, or spell out sight words…just make sure they don’t eat their creations! You’ll need all purpose flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice, cream of tartar, and vegetable oil. Visit Retro Potluck for the full recipe and instructions. With a little research, you may even be able to sub out some of the ingredients for things you already have at home.
PUMPKIN SLIME
Some things never change, including kids’ fascination with slime! With a few ingredients, you can turn an afternoon in the kitchen into a lab for major science experiments…just make sure having slime around the house doesn’t turn you into a mad scientist! This recipe from “i heart arts and crafts” gives step by step instructions and even suggests using the recipe for Halloween classroom parties. The ingredients list is small and includes items you may already have at home.
CRAFT STICK PUMPKIN FRAME
If you plan on going to a pumpkin patch, why not preserve the memory of that day with a frame handmade by your own children? By the time your kids are graduating high school, they’ll remember that polaroid photo you put out on display every year. The author of Free Kids Crafts also points out that this would make a great craft for a fall birthday party! Take instant pictures of the kids by pumpkins and have them take their frame home as a favor. For more fun ideas and instructions for this craft, check out the Free Kids Crafts website here.
JACK O’ LANTERN LUMINARIES
Candles are one of the most popular household decorations in the world. This craft is beautiful, simple, and can be used on your front porch for years to come! Depending on your style, there are at least three different materials you can use to make luminaries - tissue paper, paint, or epsom salts. Use this link for instructions on how to make the tissue paper night light jars pictured below. For instructions on how to make jack o’ lanterns using epsom salts, check out the Epsom Salt Council website. No matter what style you choose, these mason jar luminaries are so cute your neighbors will want to join in the fun!
CHALKBOARD PUMPKINS
While we love the idea of carving pumpkins, most of us just don’t have the time…or the energy to make sure no children are running around with sharp objects in their hands! Enter chalkboard pumpkins, a brilliant way to have the fun of designing and decorating without the mess of cleaning everything up. Written by a mom of three kids, the author of Delia Creates can empathize with all the moms willing to brave the carving route, yet realized how quickly the process turned into chaos. Walking through Michaels, she saw pre-painted chalkboard pumpkins, and a new tradition was born. Check out her blog for more information.
PUMPKIN STRESS BALLS
The best thing about this craft is that the return rate is pretty high. It’s quick, easy, all of the items can be purchased at the dollar store, and it will entertain your kids for hours! All you need is a pack of orange balloons, a bag of rice, and a sharpie. Once kids have drawn their happy faces, simply fill the bags with rice and tie them off. Read this Backyard Camp blog post to spark more ideas. Having something to throw outside could be the time killer you need to get dinner ready!
ORIGAMI PUMPKINS
Origami is an ancient Japanese practice that comes from the Japanese words ori (folded) and kami (paper). Order takeout from your favorite Asian restaurant and spend an evening exploring Tokyo while making piles of origami pumpkins for friends and family. While the first few folds might be a challenge, you’ll eventually get the hang of it and your kids will feel a sense of accomplishment from learning something new. Who knows, they may love it so much they’ll start an after school origami club! Check out the step by step instructions on Mombrite.
ADVANCED
PUMPKIN PLANTERS
According to Gardening Know How, “Nearly everything that holds dirt can become a planter,” including pumpkins! If you have a green thumb and love being outside with your kids, converting a pumpkin into a gardening project may be the creative outlet you need. For more detailed instructions and tips, check out this blog post on the Gardening Know How website. Use the process as an educational opportunity or pass on your love for making things grow to the next generation. The end result is worth the effort and will add beauty to your daily life.
DRIED FLOWER PUMPKINS
It seems that flower pressed pumpkins are all the rage this year! The finished product looks impressive, but the process is really quite simple. This is a great activity for moms to do with their daughters or for girls to spend a Saturday afternoon doing with their friends. Amazon has a lot of great options to purchase pressed leaves and flowers, so you can order all the materials you need in one swift click. Use this project as a great bonding activity or time for you to recharge after a long work week. Your entire family will enjoy the way it brightens up your home! Read this blog post from Domestically Blissful for more detailed instructions.
With care,
Lone Star Nannies