Recycle Your Packaging Materials For Fun Fall Crafts!!!

Fall is such a beautiful time. Take advantage of all the nature around you – acorns, leaves, pine cones, etc.
There are so many crafts that you can make with natural items and paper products. You just need to be creative. Here’s three fun ideas to get you started.
1. Paper bag scarecrow puppet – This fun craft is perfect for the younger kids. There’s nothing scary about this easy project.
What you’ll need:
A. A paper lunch bag
B. A printer and paper
C. A black marker, pencil, or crayon
D. Scissors and a glue stick
Here’s two templates to choose from to create a cute paper scarecrow!
If you want to add some flair to your scarecrow, use twigs for hair and small acorns for eyes!

A Paper Bag Scarecrow is One Craft to Create Using Paper Products

2. String of leaves – Add some color to your home’s play room, dining room, or even classroom with this simple, easy, Fall paper craft.  Drape the strings of paper leaves over windows, ledges, or from light fixtures.
Items you’ll need:
A. Construction paper (orange, red, yellow, brown, dark green)
B. Crayons, or markers
C. Scissors, glue, tape
D. Green or brown string
Easy steps:
A. Draw a leaf on a piece of construction paper. Make sure to draw a thick stem on the top. Use a template if it will be easier for you.
B. Cut out the leaf, and draw the leaf veins. Fold the leaf’s stem in half.
C. Attach the leaf to the string using the tape, or glue. Make as many leaves as you want, and continue attaching them to the string.
D. Hang your stringed leaves wherever you want. There you go! You have a fun, easy, Fall craft using paper products.
If you don’t want to outline fake leaves and string them, put real leaves under a piece of paper and rub crayons over the surface to get the texture of the leaves etched onto the paper. Then, cut those designs out and string them!
3. Fall place mats – Bring the beauty of the outdoors inside with this simple craft.
Materials needed:

• Glue stick
• Construction, colored paper and Con-Tact paper
• Acrylic paint and brushes
• Scissors, leaves, camera

How to:
A. Start with a pile of festive-colored leaves and a camera. After the pictures are developed, pick one that captures the spirit of the day and glue it onto a place mat-sized piece of paper.
B. Decorate the border with drawings, or leaf prints (lightly paint the back of a leaf with acrylic paint, then press onto the paper).
C. Once dry, laminate with clear Con-Tact paper
There you go! A fun, festive craft to capture the beauty of the season. Try using paper sacks form the grocery store, or Kraft paper for a neat alternative.
The Fall season introduces us to endless bright, beautiful colors and textures. The possibilities are endless in creating simple, festive crafts using paper products and items from nature. Use your imagination to develop fun Fall projects!