Sunflower Stamped Pumpkin Patch Art

 

This adorable pumpkin patch art is great for kids of all ages! Made with simple supplies like paint, paper and a sunflower head, this is a great way to create art using nature!

Harper and I love to paint together. We have been crafting side by side since she was just a tiny toddler, strapped into a high chair for safety. We have painted pineapples, apples, baskets of fruit and even Christmas trees. We usually use corks to create our process art, but we had a bouquet of sunflowers that had seen better days, and well, inspiration hit.

We decided our fridge just had to have a pumpkin patch scene. We are all about creating refrigerator masterpieces . 

Supplies:

Orange paint

Green paint

A sunflower head

White paper

A paper plate

Pour orange paint and a small amount of green paint onto a paper plate.

Invite your child to press the sunflower head into the orange paint.

Encourage your child to press the sunflower onto the paper.

Use a stem, petal, or other small item to form the stem of the pumpkin with the green paint.

Allow the paint to dry, then

These were so much fun to make! And I think they turned out really cute! Harper was very proud of her efforts. Preschoolers can handle this project, as well as elementary aged kids like Harper. Your kids might also like to draw little pumpkin faces on these after they have dried.

I hope you get a chance to try this project with your family, it is the perfect project for a fall afternoon!

Find more fall ideas here.

Popcorn Candle DIY

Fall is on the way and I am itching to decorate, bake and savor the cooler weather and the bounty of last of the season produce that I will scout out in the coming weeks! This year I want to keep my decorations for autumn simple and my costs at a minimum. I am gathering inspiration from nature to make my home feel warm, inviting and seasonal.

I have been experimenting with natural supplies to create stunning additions to my decor. This super simple candle holder is perfect for adding something naturally lovely to your home this fall on even the tightest budget!

All you need is a bag of popcorn kernels and a LED tealight and a clear glass candle holder.

Simply fill the candleholder with popcorn kernels then add a battery operated tea light!

I made a short facebook video to show you how lovely this is. I love the simple touch of natural beauty this easy project offers. You could also wrap a simple burlap ribbon around the candleholder also to add another sweet touch to the finished product.

12+ Fall Mason Jar Crafts

Mason Jars are fantastic for storage, but did you know they are also a favorite supply for crafters? 

This collection of 12+ Fall Mason Jar Crafts has fabulous ideas. I have a feeling you are going to love these ideas for how to use mason jars in your fall crafting sessions.

From lovely luminaries to mason jars that look like Indian corn, this collection has ideas for everyone. I can't wait to hear which is your favorite. 

Fall Leaf Mason Jar Luminaries by Create Craft Love
Fall Pine Cone Mason Jars by Pillar Box Blue
Fall Mason Jars by Crafts by Amanda
Hanging Fall Mason Jars by Live Laugh Rowe
Fall Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holders by Creative Homemaking
Fall Mason Jar Centerpiece by DIY Beautify
Plaid Painted Mason Jars by Daily DIY Life
Mason Jar Centerpiece with Burlap Rosettes by Oh My Creative
Fall Themed Mason Jars by My Turn For Us
Glittery Pumpkin Mason Jars by The Best Ideas for Kids
Scarecrow Mason Jars by Easy Peasy Fun
Fall Harvest Corn Mason Jar by Thrifty Jinxy

You can find more mason jar ideas here.

Some of our favorite fall crafts include:

Apple Tree Window Clings

Easy Ombre Pumpkins

Apple Desserts to Fall For

Leaf Window Clings

Crafts are always a great way to spend time together on a chilly fall day. This easy leaf window cling craft is perfect for adding some color to your space. This craft is so easy even little kids can do it and best of all, you can get everything you need at Dollar Tree for $2.

We love to craft together. Now that both kids are in school all day, it is the thing I miss the most about Harper being home. We don't have time to make something fun everyday anymore. But, sometimes I can get the kids to take a break from their after school social life to make something fun with me.

This leaf window cling is perfect for adding some color to your house in  between Halloween and Christmas. It is made with 2 simple supplies to create something cute and colorful. I got the supplies at Dollar Tree, and you can literally make dozens of these for $2.

Supplies

Precut squares of tissue paper in red, yellow and orange

Transparent clear contact paper

Scissors

Sharpies if needed

Directions

If needed trace the shape of leaves on one section of contact paper, to cut or just cut the shapes out.

Peel the paper off and lay the contact paper sticky side up.

Begin layering contact paper on the sticky contact paper. Leave just a few tiny spots uncovered to attach to the window.

Press to the window firmly to attach.

Remove when the season ends.

You can find all of my other window cling ideas here
Reader favorites include:
Witch Window Cling

Pumpkin Window Cling

Apple Tree Window Cling

Ghost Window Cling

Easy Ombre Painted Pumpkins

This easy pumpkin painting idea brings the style of ombre to your fall decor.

I love to decorate pumpkins! In years past I usually carved them, but we painted a lot of pumpkins on our facebook live show on Quirky Momma and I have to admit, I was hooked on the options painting brings to pumpkin decorating!

This was one of my favorite pumpkins! The pumpkin was a tiny one, and the technique was simple. With a brush, 3 colors of pink paint and some mod podge, this little beauty came together in just a few moments time and was admired by all who saw it in our yard!

Supplies needed:
A Paint brush
A Pumpkin
Mod Podge to seal
3 shades of paint (I used 3 shades of pink)

Directions:
Begin by painting the bottom the darkest shade of paint you want to use.
Use the second paint in a shade a little lighter than the bottom shade
Paint the top portion in the lightest shade.
After the paint has dried, use the mod podge to seal your pumpkin so that the wildlife is disinterested in eating it, and the weather doesn't wash your efforts away!

There you have an easy ombre pumpkin for fall decorating!

You can find all of my Halloween ideas here.

Favorites include:

Paper Plate Witch

Mumkins

11 Apple Crafts to Make with the Kids

I can't help but get excited about the end of summer, because it means that fall is near! Trips to the orchard with the family; lots of action in the kitchen, the temps are finally cool enough for baking! And of course, the crafting with the kids! How could I not get excited for fall!? 

This year I have 11 apple craft to make with the kids to share with you that I know you will have fun making with your little ones!

Toilet Paper Roll Apple Stamp
Paper Plate Apple Craft
Caramel Apple Fall Craft
Apple Suncatchers
Take a Bite Out of Fall Craft
Apple Playdough
Button Apple Trees
Fruit Loop Fall Tree
Apple Tree Craft
Toilet Roll Apples
Stuffed Paper Apples


I love all of these ideas! I am hoping to make them all with the kids! We are planning to make these Apple Tree Window Clings again this year but we might make it a crafting marathon with these great ideas!

You can find my Halloween posts here

You might also like this easy homemade play dough recipe

Apple Dessert Recipes to Fall For

It is only August, but we have picked our first apple of the season and now I have all of the symptoms of seasonal obsession. I MUST MAKE ALL OF THE YUMMY APPLE THINGS!

If you too suffer from seasonal apple obsession, you are going to adore these tips for picking the best apples and these awesome apple recipes I am crushing on this year.

Tips for Picking the Best Apples

• Pick apples from the outside of the tree first, as these will be the ripest.
• Select apples that are firm to the touch.
• Fragrant apples are also a good sign of freshness.
• Avoid bruises, nicks and apples that have fallen to the ground, as these may have insects feasting inside!
• If an apple isn't quite ripe, it won't ripen more after picking. 

Now that you know what to look for in apples as you are picking them, let's get on to more important matters, what to make with these lovely apples!

Baked Honey Crisp Apples
Crockpot Baked Apples This is perfect for dessert on crazy busy days.
Apple Butterscotch Snack Cake
No Bake Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Baked Apple Chips These are perfect for healthy snacking!
Apple Cheese Danish
Heirloom Apple Cake


Which of these recipes will you try first? I think it has to be the Baked Honeycrisp Apples for me! They look perfectly delectable! We made a really cute apple tree window cling last year you might want to make your own.

Find all of my apple posts here

13 Savory Pumpkin Recipes

Fall is here and I am craving all things pumpkin! Pies, breads and cakes are lovely but there is something amazing about a savory pumpkin dinner! I gathered 13 recipes from my favorite bloggers to share with you. These recipes are completely craveable! I still can't decide which I will make first!

Pumpkin Pasta with Sage and Sausage by Food, Folks and Fun

Bacon and Pumpkin Pasta by Dizzy, Busy and Hungry

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls by Tastes of Lizzy T

Cheesy One Pot Pumpkin Pasta by Domestic Superhero

Beef and Cabbage Dinner in a Pumpkin by Over the Big Moon

Family Dinner in a Pumpkin by Capturing Joy

Vegan Pumpkin Nugget Tacos by Elephantastic Vegan

Pumpkin Chicken Enchiladas by Tatertots & Jello

Pumpkin & Feta Empanadas by Amuse Your Bouche

Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Bread by Om Nom Ally

Pumpkin Sage Scones by Houseful of Handmade

One Pot Pumpkin Mac & Cheese by B Inspired Mama

Pumpkin Chili by Food, Folks and Fun

If you still need a pumpkin fix, check out these yummy pie recipes or these other pumpkin for dinner ideas.

Which of these savory pumpkin recipes will you make first?

Easy Paper Apple Craft

Every day, my little girls says, "Let's make a craft!" I love her enthusiasm and always encourage activities we can do together. On this particular day, we were anxious to get into some fall themed crafts, and we are always super excited to kick off fall with the harvesting of apples!

This craft was so incredibly fun! It was a bit of a challenge for my almost 4 year old, but we worked together to get it right.

You will need:
A square of heavy white paper {Ours was about 6'' x6''
A piece of green, red or yellow construction paper
School Glue
A tiny strip of brown paper for the stem

To begin we made thin strips of green paper that were 4 inches longer than the square of paper
Next we began folding those strips of green paper so we had 2 folded edges per strip
We glued these on the white paper
Working in a circle we kept gluing both sides of the strips on to the square, being careful to not disturb the other strips of paper
At the end, we added a tiny stem to the top.

We liked this apple craft because it was challenging, a good exercise in patience for both Harp and I. It was also really cute when it was finished! This was a fun craft to follow up with apple slices as a snack!