We went on a really long leaf hunt yesterday and collected all different kinds of fall leaves and funky tree bits. The variety was really cool and the girls had fun running from yard to yard with their little buckets.
This morning, we dumped all the leaves and stuff onto some cookie sheets, and baked them at 200 degrees for 45 minutes to make sure any resident bugs or eggs were good and dead. We got that little gem of advice off the internet. (Ro is in the blue-striped jammies, and Ree is in the white and pink ballet ones.)
Then we got some heavy paper plates (we used the cardboard Chinet ones), traced circles in the middle, and cut out our wreath backings. At this point Ro decided to make a fall wreath like we had planned, and Ree (as usual) marched to the beat of her own drummer.
We used a hot glue gun to stick leaves, acorns, and lots of fun stuff to the paper plates. (You've gotta use hot glue because Elmer's just won't hold the heavy leaves in place.)
Ro's fall wreath came out really cute!
Ree made a wreath form, then went hog wild with brightly colored paper strips and ribbon that made us all grin. She also used up two whole bottles of Elmer's glue, but we don't really need to talk about that. Her wreath was so Ree, and we love it!
The contrast between their creations is my favorite part—the two wreaths are about as different as Ro and Ree, and that makes me smile.
Then it was craft-free-for-all time. I don't know what all they were doing, but it occupied them for about two hours, which is always a good thing in my book. Go BobBob!
Thanks for all the fall craft ideas. We still have a big ole pile of leaves, and BobBob and the girls are out collecting acorns as I type, so look for more craft pictures soon. And if you have any other ideas, please share!
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Both wreaths are so cute, and on the plus side, Ree's will work well for spring, too!
ReplyDeletethis is a lovely idea, I think Adia and I are going to go leaf hunting now...
ReplyDeleteLove that they are so different! As a mom to identical twin boys (12 months) it is exciting to see how far they can go!
ReplyDeleteThe projects turned out great! I have to giggle when I see that Ree did not use a single leaf that had been collected.
ReplyDelete-Heather
If ever a project so totally encapsulated such different personalities, even at this young age, it would be this one.
ReplyDeleteCome to Disneyland soon, please.
~A~
You inspire me! My daughter and I have the next two days off from school so... crafts it is!!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you let the girls be themselves!
Lisa V
Hey guys, a bunch of folks have asked about the footie pajamas. They're from Target online (just go to target.com and search for "circo cotton footie" and you'll see all the colors and prints, including my favorite the red ones with little skulls). Love those PJs, especially that they're lightweight and all cotton -- most footie PJs are polyester fleece. We got size 5T for the girls because their feet are huge (I'm buying size 11 shoes for them now, sigh...)
ReplyDeleteHere's a great one for little girls who love nature. Get two pinecones. Have TubaDad drill a hole in them so you can have the girls make a hanger out of thin ribbon or a thin piece of twine. Take peanut butter and have them scoop it out and put in between all the little spaces on the cone. Then roll the pinecones in bird seed so that the seed sticks to the peanut butter. They can pat it into the crevices.(put the whole thing on a newspaper cause it's messy.) Hang the pinecones in a tree where the girls can view them and watch the birds come and eat the seeds and peanut butter. Once they find the cones, the woodpeckers and songbirds will pick them clean. Much fun to watch!
ReplyDeleteThis isn't much of a craft, but good family time, nonetheless. Find the biggest leaves you can find. A few for each of you. With a marker, write on the leaves your wishes for each other, for the family, and what you are thankful for ( a different sentiment on each). Share them with each other, then rip them up and take turns blowing them into the wind. It's fun to say you are sharing your wishes with the world, yet only the family knows.
ReplyDeleteThose are great! I love how they are so different...just like the girls.
ReplyDeleteWe have those same ballerina PJ's and they are practically lived in around here.
we had tons of acorns, Mark drilled little holes in them, and Ryleigh made necklaces for herself, and Austin, We used fishing line as the string.(real easy to thread through the drilled acorns)..Gyll ( Gramma to Ryleigh)
ReplyDeleteTheir wreaths are so cute!! This is a really great project for the little ones.....I think Sarah might like to do this one:) Maybe we will be hunting for leaves this weekend!!
ReplyDeleteI love that the wreaths were so different....really shows their personalities!!
Thanks for sharing:)
Lisa
omg love the photos! i MUST know where you got the footie pjs??? so cute!
ReplyDeleteLove the fall wreaths! What a fantastic idea.
ReplyDeleteSo creative!! Looks like they had fun with their wreaths!! Good job, Ro and Ree!!!
ReplyDeleteWow - are their personalities ever different. You obviously encourage that - so good on you!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip about the baking to get rid of any lurking critters.We may have to try that this week-end. Well....with Dahlia - Milana will have to watch and learn.
:)
Oh, I just love it! We always collect leaves at the zoo in the fall. (they have the best trees!;) I think this is a great project to use them for!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. Once again, you amaze me. I too am laughing that the wreaths are so different. Kinda cute that after collecting all those leaves, not one was used. So cute! Obviously she knows what she wants and has a definate plan.
ReplyDeleteCool! I saw a head wreath made with leaves on another Mommy blog today that I want to try but I had no idea about the germs. We will bake them!
ReplyDelete