During this time of the year, the perfect Texas Hill Country weather may have you spending every spare minute outdoors. However, there is bound to come a time when excursions outside your home are just not possible. During these situations, you might find yourself scrambling to entertain your youngest family members. A great way to keep them busy is by utilizing arts and crafts.
The internet is flush with all sorts of fun projects, but we here at the Texas Hill Country page have done the hard work for you. Below are three crafts we have found that are sure to keep the kiddos distracted, and as a bonus, they act as a great catalyst for discussions about fall and the changing season!
1. Colorful Mini-Pumpkins
Photo: Youtube/Mom Spark
Materials Needed:
- Pumpkin or gourd (Mom Spark’s website suggestions a white one like the one shown in the video above.)
- Crayons
- Clear tacky glue
- A source of direct heat such as a blow dryer or heat gun
- Trash bag to protect whatever surface you are working on
This craft is definitely a great opportunity for you to spend quality time with the little people in your life. Because it does require some gluing and melting, this project would be best suited for school-age children. Once your pumpkins are finished, put them on display for an extra special piece of fall decor.
Photo: Pinterest/Happy Hooligans
Materials Needed:
- Cardboard Tubes
- Pipe Cleaners
- Plastic Eyes
- Craft Foam
- Paint
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Glue
This simple craft is perfect for children from pre-school age and up. As always, we encourage you to oversee the activity, as it does involve some cutting and gluing. For an added touch of fun, compete to see who can make the scariest, or the silliest, monster mobile! For a full list of directions, follow this link to the Happy Hooligans blog.
3. Pumpkin Handprint & Photo Keepsake
Photo: Pinterest/Teach Me Mommy
Materials Needed:
- 1 Cup of Flour
- 1 Cup of Salt
- 1/2 Cup of Water
- Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter (not specifically mentioned, but might make the overall process easier)
- Circle-shaped cookie cutter or small glass
- Sharp Stick
- Stamps for writing child’s name/age/event (optional)
It is always nice when crafts can serve multiple purposes. With this example, your kids can spend time crafting and at the end of the day you have an adorable keepsake. Win, win right? Nadia, the talent behind this craft, (which can be found on the blog Teach Me Mommy) notes that the recipe listed here can be altered depending on how many pumpkins you will be making. As long as the ratio remains 1:1:1/2 you should not have any issues.
While being outside is wonderful, sometimes its necessary to remain snug and warm indoors. Hopefully, the activities listed here will provide hours of fun for both you and the little loves in your life.