Brooke Tucker-Reid, momstown Writer
As the weather starts to cool down, it’s a sure sign fall is on its way. And with the wonderful season comes a whole slew of fun, fall activities for the kids. Picking apples was always right up there on my list of nostalgic fall activities. Here are a few ways you can get crafty with apples.
Apple pie play dough
Get your family’s noses warmed up for fall by making delightfully scented apple pie playdough. Take your favourite play dough recipe, then add a tablespoon of cinnamon and a tablespoon of allspice. Consider adding some red or green food colouring as well. Not into dyes? There are natural methods of colouring playdough with plant-based dyes – like beet juice – as well.
Apple jars to fill with treats
In need of some fall table décor, or a place to store autumn goodies? Purchase some glass canning jars. Have the tots paint the jars red and the lids green. While they’re having fun painting, cut out leaves out of green construction paper and punch a hole in the ends. Feed a couple leaves through some brown twine then tie it around the green lid once the paint has dried. Fill the jars with your favourite fall goodies like roasted pumpkin seeds or candy corn and enjoy.
Pumpkin apple stamps
Halloween is about a month away so why not use some of those freshly picked apples to create jack o’lanterns stamps. All you have to do is cut an apple in half vertically, dip it in orange paint, then stamp it on a piece of paper. Finish it off by painting a green stem, and adding black construction paper cut outs for the eyes and mouth.
Felt apple coasters
For kids who are a little older, teach them how to sew with this basic coaster craft. Cut out apple shapes from red or green felt. Cut slightly smaller apple shapes out of white felt. With a small running stitch, sew the white cut-out onto the larger red or green cut-out. Glue a few small brown felt seeds into the middle, as well as a green felt leaf on top. And voila – a cute coaster to rest your warm apple cider on.
Too good not to eat
While all of this crafting is going on, why not whip up a plate of apple nachos for the kiddos? Slice a few apples horizontally so they create discs. Slices or wedges will work well too. Layer them on a plate then drizzle them with melted peanut butter, yogurt or caramel. Top them with chocolate chips, nuts, mini marshmallows or raisins. A snack that is sure not to disappoint your hungry little crafters.
What are your favourite apple crafts?
