spramani elaun author art educator — Spramani visiting kids art museum in Seattle

Happy Autumn Folks!

Chilly cooler weather is a great reason to bundle up and head outdoors.

Leaves are falling, birds are preparing for winter, and wonderful changes are happening.

Natures beautiful autumn change is a perfect spring-board to inspire arts and crafts for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Collecting natural materials on walks or trail hikes can lead to some beautiful projects.

In this holiday blog I want to give you some quick tips for gathering art supplies and materials for projects kids love doing during Thanksgiving time.

If you want to know more about on teaching kids visual arts, check out my book “Nurturing Children in The Visual Arts Naturally”, it’s filled with lots of wisdom and my easy teaching method.

Thanksgiving art and craft projects ideas for kids thank you cards — Thanksgiving cards blog post, how to make, read blog here: http://www.ecokidsart.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=5371&action=edit

Easy Holiday Preparation

Some light preparations will get kids excited to sit down and get creative.

Traditionally each season I rotate supplies in my art studios and home to stimulate creativity.

For fall, autumn and thanksgiving I pull out stuff like knitting yarn, natural wool, felt and sewing kits.

I also include earthy natural objects like fallen leaves, twigs, rocks and dried fruit in these baskets.

Books celebrating thanksgiving, autumn and fall how-to-books come out for inspiration.

I place baskets with all this stuff near my families favorite nesting areas around our house.

Gathering Supplies

If you plan ahead for simple to complex projects for your home and holiday travels will help kids be successful in making cool projects.

Include earthy objects

fallen leaves
twigs
rocks
dried fruit
small scraps of wood

Include basics

glue
scissors
natural twine
yarn
sewing supplies
felt
fabric scraps
pencils
pencil sharpener

Include Artsy Supplies

small acrylic paint set
drawing paper
watercolor paper
crayons
color pencils
watercolor pencils
small watercolor kit
origami paper
paint brushes
markers

Making holiday decorations is so much for kids!

Ask kids to help make decorations for the holidays, they love this!

Decorations can be simple natural collections from outdoors.

Display collected items in a nice bowl, arrange on a mantle or home entrance way.

Kids love exploring while on a mission to collect beautiful leaves, twigs, dried fruit, rocks or sea shells.

36 Thanksgiving Art & Craft Ideas

1. Paint jack-be-little or large pumpkins (non-toxic paints)
2. Pine cone collecting – paint pine cones or make pine cone art sculptures
3. Leaf foliage art – gather a collection of leaves, arrange in a picture and glue
4. Fall leaf bouquet for table center piece
5. Pine cone bird feeder – use peanut butter, bird seeds and natural twine
6. Recycle bird feeder –
7. Thankful place cards (recycle old cards, paper or brown bags)
8. Tree rubbings (place paper on rough bark areas and rub with crayons or wide color pencils).
9. Crayon leaf rubbings (use Colour Block Recycle Crayons – Fall colors)
8. Leaf Prints – arrange in different sizes, glue or frame in glass
9. Fall Wreaths – made with acorns, leaves, twigs,etc
10. Pressed Leaf Collection (arrange in different sizes, glue or frame in glass)
11. Pine Cone Turkey
12. Leaf Catchers
13. Fruit & Veggie Prints
14. Fruit carving sculptures like pumpkins & gourds
15. Woodland Creature Sculptures
16. Framed sign with natural materials, family name or crest with twigs or acorns
17. Paint acorns or not – collect and put in beautiful bowl
18. Technicolor acorns using tissue paper
19. Leaf weaving with recycled paper or paper bags
20. Rock painting
21. Twig Painting
22. Nature Mobile (use twigs, leaves, acorns, pine cones, etc.)
23. Gods eyes
24. Yarn & Wool creations
25. Felting – wool
26. Sew small felt creations
27. Needle Point
28. Finger Knitting
29. Knitting
30. Sewing
31. Nature Journal
33. Watercolor paint
34. Paint on found natural elements like bark, rocks and sticks
36. Jar collect any natural element

Enjoy the season!

30 Thanksgiving arts and craft project ideas for kids