Now that Fall is here, I decided it was time to do some Fall and Halloween crafts. I love this time of year. I am hoping the babies will enjoy the season too.
Quinoa Leaves and Poppy Seed Bats:
You will need:
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Free Printables found online or freehand drawings you can cut out
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Laminator and plastic sheets (optional, if you want to do the project multiples times or with multiples)
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Tempera paints in yellow, red and black
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containers for paint (and toothpick to swirl if desired)
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exacto knife and cardboard and/or scissors
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Paint Brush
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quinoa (a very small handful for each leaf)
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poppy seeds
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card stock or other thick paper
First, I searched for free printables online on Google (search terms ‘printable fall leaves and printable bat coloring pages’) and lots of images appeared that could be made into stencils. I printed images of a bat and leaf and laminated them. I used a combination of an exacto knife (with a cardboard box backing) and scissors to cut designs creating stencils. I reserved the leaf and bat cutout for later use to paint over creating the images underneath. There would be no need to laminate your stencil if you were using it as a one time project. But, with four toddlers, laminating made the stencils go further. They can also be saved and used for future projects.
Once the designs were cut out to create stencils, I put a sheet of card stock underneath the leaf stencil and taped it to the table. I repurposed a plastic cup that came with an egg dying kit and put half yellow and half red paint inside. I swirled it with a toothpick so there would be red, yellow and orange. I added a paint brush and the babies got to work painting their leaves using the stencil and swirled paint. While the paint was still wet and the stencil was still on top, they sprinkled dry quinoa on their leaves. Then the stencil was removed revealing their leaves sprinkled with quinoa underneath. The same procedure worked for the bats, except that they sprinkled poppy seeds on top of the wet black paint to add texture. It was a fun, easy and inexpensive fall project.
Finished Fall Leaf with Quinoa Texture Sprinkles
Finished Bat Complete with Shadow and Poppy Seed Sprinkles
Swirled paint in the egg cup
Ryder enjoyed painting his bat
while Xayden concentrated on staying within the lines.
Grayson loved the poppy seed sprinkles
and Capri liked adding splashes of color to her leaf.
What Halloween and fall crafts have you been doing? Your comments are always welcome. I enjoy reading each one.
Christi says
What a cute project! You children all seem very artistic. 🙂 I love the idea of using a stencil to make a nice design and the swirled paint is a great idea too.
Multiples Mom says
Thank you Christi.
I would love for our toddlers to join your play school. Your apple collage is so cute. I love that you have so many books and activities to go with the theme.
: 0 ) Theresa
Chelsey Marashian says
Thanks so much for linking up to last week's Discover & Explore linky! I'll be featuring this post this Friday!
Theresa says
Thank you so much Chelsey!
I really appreciate that you are featuring this post!
: 0 ) Theresa
Sarah @ How Wee Learn says
Such a creative idea! AND OH MY YOU MUST BE BUSY!!!!!!!! My wee ones would love the different sensations of the seeds. Thanks for the inspiration – we have done a few fall crafts too! Fall play doh and gourd people were the biggest hits from my wee ones so far 🙂
Theresa says
Thank you Sarah.
Your Fall crafts sound like a lot of fun. Gourds are the best! I imagine the gourd people are adorable!
: 0 ) Theresa
The Monko says
i love the look on Grayson's face, that slightly cross eyed look of concentration. My son used to have the exact same look when he was that age
Theresa says
Hi The Monko.
That's funny. I never noticed the 'slightly cross eyed look of concentration.' Now that you point it out, I see it.
: 0 ) Theresa
jmommymom says
Adding quinoa and poppy seeds was a great idea. Today my daughter picked leaves and used crayons to make rubbings.
Theresa says
Hi Jmommymom.
I remember making crayon rubbings when I was little. Your daughter must have had a great time. The leaves are so pretty this time of year.
: 0 ) Theresa
Tara from The Magnolia Barn says
The paint colors are so pretty and projects are very creative. Just pinned for our Autumn theme.
Theresa says
Thank you Tara.
I appreciate that you pinned this post to your Autumn theme board.
: 0 ) Theresa