They could do it on cloth and make placemats.

I hate to say it, but Martha Stewart Kids always has super rad ideas -- check on their website maybe!

Ooh, nice idea, brujita. That has total potential. Thanks.

Heh. I just found this warning on a cute-ish craft page where you make little pumpkins out of acorns:

As several FamilyFun readers who made this craft found out, some acorns are infested with weevils. The weevils feed on the nutmeat while they develop over the summer, and when the acorns hit the ground in the fall, these insects know it's time to start chewing their way out and into the ground -- or your home.

Carmen Miranda hats? Paper plate masks?

I'm starting to put together our annual Halloween party this year, and I'm not sure I'm going to even do a craft. Last year I bought one of those pre-made craft kits from Oriental Trading, which ended up being a total waste of cash- the materials were subpar and the kids weren't interested in sitting still to do crafts when there were GAMES!!! and CANDY!!! I'm not sure it's worth the energy to put together a craft for the crowd I get (last year was mostly kids between 6 and 10)- it's really hard to find a balance between having all the necessary supplies ready and allowing enough room for creativity so that the craft isn't just a boring paint-by-numbers thing. The games last year were a big hit, so I'm going to focus all of my energy on having ideas for those ready and skip planning a craft unless one falls in my lap (i.e. somebody else wants to plan it).

Ewwww. I had to nuke everything in my kitchen last year because of weevils. AVOID!!! They are the devil's tiny spawn.

How about leaf garlands? Sort of like paper dolls but with leaves?

Make placemats with autumn leaves - you'll need to get a ton of clear contact paper (in rolls at the supermarket) and cut it into placemat sizes first, but then you just peel off the backing on one piece, lay out the leaves in a nice pattern and then put another piece of clear contact paper on top. I love clear contact paper. You could add glitter too - I would, but many shortsighted museums, particularly ones where I have run children's programs, have put these silly bans on glitter in the galleries. ;-)

Apple & leaf printing is easy but messy - you'll need big sponges soaked with tempera paint to press the leaves & apples & whatever else, seed pods, etc, into and then you can print them directly onto any kind of paper, almost like you're making a rubber stamp print. Smaller kids will get paint all over them. This will make them happy.

Kinderart is a good website for kids craft ideas.

Ban on glitter? Nevah!

Sponges for tempera is a good idea. We're leaning toward the apple printing on cardstock and brown bags. WITH GLITTER.

I somehow remember ironing fall leaves in sheets of wax paper as a girl scout.

i don't have pictures because this is something i do myself with my step daughter when she was little and even larger children can take part. it's super super easy. it's a bit like this. this has been around well before martha, my gradmother used to do it. you can make them large or you can make them ornament sized. it's up to you.

you can use this to recycle newspaper but be sure you have enough for everyone.

what you'll need:
lots of newspaper
tape
white kid friendly glue
green and white tempera paint or fall colors tempera paint & brushes


1. first take a full large sheet of newspaper (the standard double sheet with the fold) and fold it sw corner to ne corner - or there abouts. you don't need to be exact at all with this. you'll get a kind of sad triangle. just one fold, you want this long.

2. roll it up from large end to small peak, making it a tube, not too tight, you want to be able to bend it later. tape peak to secure tube. you'll need quite a few of these. (for much smaller wreaths, you can cut this in half, but not too small, you need the room.)

3. make one tube, bend it and tape iends into a circle. this is the center that you'll use to wrap the other tubes around - kind of like your template. doesn't matter if it's off, it will fix quickly and not show.

4. using your template circle. take each paper tube, secure one end with tape to the template and just start wrapping it around the template until it runs out and secure with tape. do this a few times with a few tubes until you reach your desirable thickness. just go around and around, inside, over and back inside. it will be like you're making a big paper donut. don't worry if it is messy, this part honestly doesn't show but you do want it stable, thick and round enough. the end product really shouldn't bend too easy. what you're making is almost exactly like the foam wreath bases in craft stores - only much cheaper. as you add tubes and wrap them around, you will start to bulk up your circle. make sure the end product is secure, you can add a few strips of tape around it.

5. using the rest of the newspaper, cut out leave shaped pieces and paint. let dry.

6. using glue start attaching leaves around front side of the paper donut (only front) and they don't have to be all in the same direction but anyway the crafter likes. ensure you cover entire front with leaves. with a little attention and patience, it's likely you'll end up with something you'll want to have for holiday decorations for some years to come.

i hope that was clear enough.