Scarecrow Fun

There sure is a stark difference between our temperatures of today and that of yesterday! I know a lot of you are having wacky weather too! Yesterday we had the air conditioning running, but by early evening, we were able to open our windows and enjoy a comfortable cool breeze. This morning I arose to chilly temps in the lower 40's. It's now almost 1:30 in the afternoon, and the current temperature 52 degrees. That's quite a drop from yesterday's high of 78 degrees. They say it is supposed to reach 59 today, but with the wind and no sun shining, it sure won't feel it. It's definitely time for some mulled cider, herb tea or hot chocolate.

It's also the time where folks are getting out all of their Fall decorations. I thought I'd put up a fun craft that you can make with the kids. After all, I'm sure they'd like to get in on the act and give their own bedrooms a bit of a seasonal feel too. :)

This craft idea comes from Amanda Formaro. Amanda is the mother of four children. She is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine. You can subscribe to her free weekly kid's craft newsletter, Busy Little Hands, by visiting her website at Family Corner. Have fun!

Scarecrows not only watch crops and brave the weather, they make great puppets, too! Make one with your kids today and invite their friends over for an afternoon show.

What you'll need:

* Brown paper lunch bag
* White craft glue
* 2 medium wiggle eyes
* 2 feet of ribbon infall colors
* A stir stick
* 2 sheets of newspaper
* Black marker
* Scissors
* Orange foam flower
* Construction paper: white/tan, brown, yellow, pink, orange
* Pattern for hat (you will need an Adobe reader to view the hat pattern)

How to make it:

1. Trace the pattern onto white or tan construction paper. Cut out. Draw some stitches onto the rim and hat top by making tic-tac-toe symbols.

2. Lay the paper bag on a work surface with the flap side facing down. Glue the wiggle eyes in place roughly three inches from the top of the bag.

3. Cut out a triangle from the orange construction paper for the nose. Glue in place slightly below the middle of the eyes.

4. Cut out two circles from the pink construction paper. Glue on either side of the nose, and draw a smile from the bottom of one circle to the other (see photo). Draw a few stitches on the mouth.
5. Use a marker to draw eyebrows above the eyes.

6. Fold yellow construction paper in half, greeting card style. Cut along the fold so you have two pieces. Cut one piece into thin strips. Starting at the top of the bag, glue some strips on so they hang down like hair. Cut some strips shorter for bangs.

7. Cut a strip of brown construction paper to glue onto the hat top as the band. Fringe- or scissor-cut the top of the hat brim piece. Glue the brim to the hat top so it partially covers the brown brim.

8. Glue the yellow foam flower to the hat. Cut out a circle from brown construction paper and glue to the center of the flower.

9. Glue the hat on top of the yellow hair.

10. Carefully fill the bag with crumpled newspaper.

11. Coat the first three inches of the paint stir stick with glue and insert into the bottom of the bag.

12. Crumple the bag around the stir stick, being careful not to let the end of the bag stick to the stirrer.

13. Tie a ribbon around the end of the bag, about two inches above the bottom. Tie the ribbon in a tight knot and then tie into a bow to close the bag.

14. Cut some of the leftover yellow strips in half or thirds and glue them to the stick under the bag.

15. Carry your scarecrow by the stir stick.

Notes:
* You can get paint stir sticks for free at any home improvement store or hardware store. Just visit the paint aisle and ask an employee for a few.
* Dispose of your craft scraps by stuffing them inside your scarecrow before putting the crumpled newspaper in!
* Make your scarecrow a girl by adding eyelashes with your marker and using pink and purple as your colors.

This, as well as other kid friendly seasonal crafts can be found at: KABOOS TM