Holiday Crafts | Halloween | Fall Crafts | Thanksgiving
Halloween Gourd
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What you need:

• Gourds of any size and shape - of course this includes pumpkins
  (especially those cute miniature ones)
• Clear paint sealer
  (aerosol form is the easiest to handle)
• Fabric pieces - the brighter the better
• Felt
• Yarns
• Ribbons
• Little eyes
• Found at any craft store - you also can create your own with fabric pieces.
• Acrylic paints
• Hot glue gun

What you do:

1. Once you have picked your gourd have the kids use a slightly damp sponge to clean it off. Then spray the gourd with the sealer. This will make the gourd have a shine and prevent chipping of paint if used for decoration. It dries pretty quickly. Remember to spray in a well ventilated area. Have your child think about what type of personality she would like her gourd to have. This will help her decide what types of fabrics, yarn and face to put on her gourd. This is always the most fun part. It's incredible what kids come up with!
2. Hair can be made with yarn or fabric strips. The yarn can be braided or cut into strands and glued to the top of the gourd. Fabric, ribbons can be attached to the "hair" for more excitement.
3. There are so many interesting ways to make the face. Paints are one way to go. If paints are used it probably would be a good idea to spray paint sealer over the painted areas. This way chipping will be prevented. Cutting out pieces of felt or fabric in the shapes of mouths, eyes, ears are sure to make your child's gourds an individual.
4. Many times kids come up with the best ideas for their gourds. Just let them go and create!

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& the History of Papier Mache
by Jackie Hall
Jackie Hall loves Papier Mache and she caught our eye with her life sized papier mache Basset hound modeled after her Basset named Bunty. So we loved the papier mache version of her Basset so much that she mailed us a picture of the "original" Bunty, the inspiration for her artwork. She says, "I have loads of toy Bassets plus ornaments as I get given them for presents, along with Basset cards! My papier mache Basset has been to quite a few exhibitions and I often get teased when I am out walking the "real" one as to which one I am with!" Come see if you can tell the difference and learn more about the history of Papier Mache!!

Haunted House Treat Carrier
Make a haunted house for your Halloween goodies. It is brought to us by Kathy Ross a noted craft creator and author.  She has written a terrific book, Crafts for Halloween. It includes instructions for ghost necklaces, party favors, and games.

Fall & Halloween Decoration
Soft Sculpture Pumpkin
excerpted from"Crafts for All Seasons"
by Kathy Ross
make a lovely pumpkin from old panty hose
This is a lovely pumpkin craft comes from Kathy Ross' book, "Crafts for all Seasons" that you can make out of old pantyhose and some fiberfill.
You can make it as a nice fall craft or you can modify it for Halloween by adding a face.

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