As we have been getting some hotter days this year, we have made a few trips to the park recently. Whilst there, we played ball, look at the stream and collected some leaves. Now, I know autumn is the absolute best time for collecting leaves, but as Red Ted was keen, I thought, why not!? I did horrify me to realise that when it comes to leaves, I am clueless. I will have to brush up!
So once we came home, I found a book on leaves. It is about Autumn really, but it is the nicest one I could find on relatively short notice:
Leaf craft
Leaf Trouble, Jonathan Emmett. This book tells the story of a little squirrel called Pip (perfect for our Pip Squeak!). Pip wakes one day to find that things are different: the leaves are changing colour and falling off the tree. Surely this isn’t right?! What is happening. His mum comes and explains why it is happening and that the leaves will come back again – a little like how the sun sets and comes back again the next day. I love the ending, where Pip compares the beautiful autumn colours to the setting sun. Very pretty.
So. What to make?
We have the leaves. But leaves can become brittle with time. I decided we should try leave rubbing – to discover that Red Ted is still too small. So I changed it to leaf printing and painting!
He loved it! And had great joy doing it all by himself. Choosing colours. Painting and printing. I also found that your preserve the leaf a little if you paint it with acryclic paints. But in a way that seems a shame – you want to look at the lovely colours, no?
Whilst at it, he painted some loo rolls too.
And I decided t make some autumnal birds. One out of Red Ted’s craft and one out of mine. I selected Red Ted’s prints that worked together well (greens, blacks and greys) and picked an orange set of mine to represent autumn. I used all pieces of string from gift bags & pepples/ forked sticks for feet and marionette handles. (I think the pictures speak for themselves):
Previous Craft Porjects:
Craft: Cork Boats
stART:Piep Piep Piep, Loo Roll Watches
stART: Bear Cards & Strawberry Growing Video
stART: Touchy Feely Book – That is not my Puppy
stART: Jolly Postman & Greeting cards from Toddler Art
Book & Cook – Duckies Rainbow & Rainbow Cookies
stART – Story Telling, Bunnies & Stars
stART: Giraffe’s can’t dance – a Giraffe Loo Roll Marionette
stART: Chick – a Pop Up Card
Book & Cook: Alphabet Cookies – Learning through play
stART: Busy Airport – Cotton Wool Clouds and, erm, PIGS!
stART: Hit &Myth – a mix & match book for older children (>5yrs)
stART: Story & Thank you time – inspirational thank you cards
stART: Hurray for Fish – one for babies or messy toddlers!
stART: Bedtime Star – Red Ted, makes a starry night for Pip Squeak’s nursery
stART: The Way Back Home, Oliver Jeffers – Red Ted makes a plane and a UFO
Posted by Patricia on July 21, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Adorable!!! Looks like a lot of fun!
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 21, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Thank you! We did have fun and I think Red Ted was very proud of his bird!
Posted by MummyMatters on July 21, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Wow looks like you had lots of fun. I always dread painting and crafts but its never as bad as I think its going to be once I get started! And the kids always love it – I’m feeling inspired perhaps a little arts and crafts in the morning!!
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 21, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Ooooh yes! Do get crafty 😉 and yes, usually it isn’t as messy as you think!!! x
Posted by Christy on July 22, 2010 at 11:44 am
It’s so much fun to paint on a different surface. My kids love it too.
Posted by Little Wonders' Days on July 22, 2010 at 11:46 am
The birds turned out really cute. Thanks for sharing this book and project!
Posted by Michelle on July 22, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Oh wow these look amazing I am so impressed!! I will have to look for this book to it looks really cute, I will add it to our list for the fall.
Thank you for linking up to stART!!
Posted by Char on July 22, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Love the birds, very cute.
Posted by Its Sew Stinkin Cute on July 22, 2010 at 6:07 pm
You are just so stinkin crafty! Where do you get all of these cool ideas? I feel like I am getting an F as a mother. Seems like I never get the time at home do do these fun things with my tyke. Awesome! Just so stinkin awesome! Thanks for linkin to It’s Stinkin’ Cute Craft Thursday as always!
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 22, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Oh no! Please don’t feel like you are getting an F in Motherhood. That would be totally contrary to what I want to achieve with this blog. Here to inspire not depressed!!!!! Aaaarrrrggggh. I bet you are really good at other motherly things that I am not (you should see the state that their cupboards and drawers are in for example…). But am pleased that you “like”…
Posted by Almost Unschoolers on July 22, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Those are just excellent – I love them! And, it looks like Red Ted had a ball.
Posted by Charlene@Adventures-In-Mommy-Land on July 22, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I love the marionettes. They look great.
Although I have to admit, I’m not ready a bit ready for fall to arrive……..=)
Posted by Sarah on July 22, 2010 at 10:35 pm
what a great project! I love how they came out…so fun!!!
Posted by JDaniel4's Mom on July 23, 2010 at 12:21 pm
I love the puppets and the leaf rubbings. These are wonderful!
Posted by Anne@LittleSproutBooks on July 23, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Absolutely adorable! Love the trimmed rolls to form the bird beak – so smart! Thanks for linking up to Little Sprout Books: Feed Me Books Friday is HERE!
Posted by coloradolady on July 23, 2010 at 6:17 pm
How cute!!! that is a great idea!
Posted by threeundertwo on July 23, 2010 at 8:18 pm
What a resourceful person you are, adjusting the craft to suit his skills. The results speak for themselves. He is a lucky little guy, you feed his mind and his creativity so well. Thanks for linking up to Finished for Friday!
Posted by Ticia on July 24, 2010 at 3:27 pm
I love the project! I’ll have to think of a way we might do this.
Posted by Chari on July 25, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Hello…
Ohhh…I love the marionettes! What a great art/craft project to do with the little ones! Your post took me back to when my three daughters were small and still at home…we were always crafting! Thanks for sharing your post with us today for Sunday Favorites…it’s sooo nice to have you join in with the fun!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 25, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Now you just have to wait for the grandchildren 😉 x
Posted by Becky on July 26, 2010 at 7:02 am
Really cute! my kiddos would love to make these, glad I found your site we will be homeschooling in the fall and will be checking back to steal some of your ideas!
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 26, 2010 at 7:43 am
I would be honoured to know that homeschooled children are deriving some benefit from my blog! 🙂
Posted by Kaysi @ Keeping It Simple on July 27, 2010 at 12:34 am
Those are adorable!!!! So creative!
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 28, 2010 at 7:44 am
Thank you! Do have a go too!!
Posted by J. Hill on July 27, 2010 at 1:03 am
Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party!
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 28, 2010 at 7:44 am
Thank YOU for hosting such a fab link up!
Posted by vanessa @ silly eagle books on July 27, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I love how you reused the paper tubes and they puppets turned out beautifully!!
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 28, 2010 at 7:43 am
Thank you ! Glad you like them! Do Get Crafty too!!
Posted by teachingyoungchildren on July 27, 2010 at 5:13 pm
I am adding the book and the craft to the list of things to try in the fall – very pretty!
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 27, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Oh how lovely! Hope you enjoy the book and making some birds 🙂
Posted by icklebabe_com on July 27, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Such a fab idea! and how cute is your little one? …Adorable! 🙂
Posted by Red Ted Art on July 27, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Aaaah thanks! Glad you like them! We certainly had fun making them!! And yes, Red Ted loves painting the most of all our crafty activity! x
Posted by Audra on August 2, 2010 at 3:58 am
Very fun!
You don’t cease to amaze me! 🙂
Thanks for linking this up as well!
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 2, 2010 at 11:31 am
Aaahhh, thank you for your kind words!!! And thanks for hosting the link up!!
Posted by Bridgette on August 3, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Sorry I am late getting to see your project…thanks for joining us last week for Anything Related! ~Bridgette
Posted by Angie on September 17, 2010 at 9:09 am
Love this craft and book and will be linking back to you on Monday.