As the leaves turn colors and fall from the trees, summer wanes and we welcome autumn. These fallen leaves are the perfect material to use for making a spooky Halloween banner. Round up your kiddos and head outside to find some of these cast-offs. This activity can also be partnered with teaching and learning about the types of trees from which those leaves have fallen.
My three-year-old daughter and I grabbed some snacks and headed outside during my son’s morning naptime. We searched the ground for fallen leaves; it is the end of September in Missouri and the colors are just beginning to turn in the trees. It’s been a particularly dry summer, so most of leaves are turning from green to brown. However, since she and I plan to cover these leaves in paint, the original color really doesn’t matter.
The morning became windy and a little colder than we’d like, so we journeyed back inside the house to continue this craft. I used an app called “Picture This” to determine from what kind of trees each leaf came. My daughter and I talked about these trees and some of their identifying features. After discovering a small Poison Sumac leaf in the mix (yikes!), and a quick trip to the sink to scrub with dish soap from fingertips to elbows, we were ready to make our spooky banner.
You will need the following materials to make this craft:
First, be sure to protect your work surface from paint. Now is the best time to identify your various leaf types (if unknown). Use a large craft paint brush to cover one side of each leaf with paint. Allow the paint to dry and apply a second coat. Use a smaller brush and a contrasting-color paint to add details (like eyes, fangs or mini moon shapes). A tip: you can use a small brush with the base color to “clean up” these details if necessary.
Next, allow your leaves to dry fully. Our leaf ghosts took about two hours until they were dry to the touch. Thread a needle with a length of fishing line. Then, poke the needle through your leaves, either tying off the line at, or “sewing” through a few spots in each leaf to hold it in place on the banner. Be sure to leave appropriate spacing between your leaf ghosts along the length of your fishing line.
Finally, hang your spooky banner in a prominent place. Another fun way to display this craft would be on the fridge, using magnets to secure the fishing line!
Want more simple and spooky crafts that are kid friendly for Halloween? Check out our Coffee Filter Bats and Dracula Bean Art.
Jackie Baird Richardson is an interior designer, editor at The WON and avid junker. Watch for her design tips and occasional crafting ideas, bringing the outdoors indoors. View all posts by Jackie Richardson
