Autumn Crafts

[Guest guest]

With two whole days of cool weather in my area and school starting for

the kids I'm already getting into Autumn mode! :-)

Here is an article I came across with some fun ideas for Autumn crafts

and projects, so I figured I'd share!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

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Fall Gatherings.(Brief Article)

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1041/10_78/65344563/p1/article.jhtml

 

Author/s: Barbara Mundall

Issue: Oct, 2000

Autumn arrives in a blaze of glory. Why leave its fiery beauty outdoors?

Bring the bounty inside with seasonal decorations made from colorful

leaves and sculptural pumpkins, pinecones, and pears. Making the most of

fall's abundance can be as easy as tucking some leaves into a purchased

wreath of wheat (above). With just a few craft-store supplies and

findings from the local farmer's market--or your own backyard--you can

fill your home with color and grace.

Bodacious base

A plump green gourd makes a bold candle base. Cut a slice off the top

and hollow out the center to hold the candle. Dress the cut edge with

leaves, berries, and pods held in place with florist's clay. Want a

touch of reflective luster? Tuck in a leaf-shaped ornament. And

remember, never leave a candle unattended.

An apple a day

Shed new light on the classic appeal of apples in a bowl. Nestle a

stocky candle in the center of a simple glass salad or punch bowl, then

fill around it with small fruits. There's no need to purchase a tall,

expensive candle. Choose a short one and elevate it on a candle stand or

aluminum can. Then completely cover the stand or can with apples.

Hue can do it

Create big, billowy arrangements by filling containers with seasonal

flowers and herbs in similar hues. Yellow-green spider mums and lacy

dill flowers make a fragrant pair. To cast a warm glow from below, wrap

plain glass votive candleholders with rough-hewn rag paper, then tie the

wrappers with sashes made of silk cord threaded with glass beads.

Stuffed squash

Skinny striped squash make whimsical containers for playful tapers and

posies. Hollow the squash with an apple corer, then take a thin slice

off the bottom to keep it upright. Place the squash on a plate or tray

to protect your tabletop from moisture.

Nesting bowls

A casually stacked pair of wooden bowls filled with apples and sprinkled

with maple leaves looks as if it's just arrived from orchard-picking.

The bowls' sunset hues echo the apples' painterly color. Nesting the

bowls creates height and dimension in the arrangement. More maple

branches spill from a large urn, giving the grouping a graceful sense of

balance.

Pressing matters

Pull on a sweater and head outdoors on a leaf-collecting expedition.

When you return, press your favorites between the pages of a book. In a

few days, when they've flattened and dried a bit, slip leaves between

the panes of glass-backed frames. Sheets of hand-made paper, pinked on

the edges or carefully torn, make a fitting mat for these natural works

of art.

Blowing in the wind

Capture the fluttering beauty of falling leaves by suspending them on

silk cords. Hang the leaves in front of a window--and watch how the

light illuminates their weblike skeletons. For a point of iridescence,

string a single glass bead onto each length of cord, knotting it below.

Slip the leaf stem through both knot and bead.

Earthly delights

Unearth fall-themed serving pieces from your cupboards and let them

shine as the focal points of natural displays. Here, the woodsy tones of

a leaf-patterned iron-stone pitcher and bowl call for the fruits of fall

in similar shades of brown and gold. Clusters of oak leaves spill from

the pitcher; dark pinecones and golden gourds grace the bowl for a

visual feast that only autumn can host.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Meredith Corporation

COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1041/10_78/65344563/p1/article.jhtml