Make an Indian Corn Pin

Make this adorable Indian Corn Pin with your kids. This makes a great craft for fall or for Thanksgiving. You'll need some tri-beads in fall colors and chenille stems. Once finished, you van wear it to celebrate the season, or give as a gift!

Get the instructions for this cute Indian Corn Pin 

Harvesting and Storing Herbs

I am not going to pretend to know the proper technique for every herb out there - there are far too many! But, over the years I have gathered many harvest and storage tips that have worked for me and many other gardeners.

My first tip is to be brave! So many people that write me are afraid to cut back their herb plants. Herbs are very tough with the right conditions. It's often what you least expect that hurts them-such as overwatering, too much fertilizer or too rich of a soil. Many herbs, such as lemon balm, mint, chives, sage and oregano maybe cut within two or three inches of the ground and will grow back within no time for another harvest! If you are in doubt, you can cut back by half to be cautious.

Gather your herbs, using sharp kitchen or gardening shears, in the morning after the dew has dried. You will also catch the peak flavor if you harvest just BEFORE flowering, but don't let this deter you from harvesting if you have missed that time frame. You can dry the flowers for wreaths and dried arrangements and use the leaves for cooking. If you live in a zone that freezes be sure to allow your herbs a month and 1/2 or so before frost to grow after you harvest and before the first frost.

For more on freezing, drying and storing your herbs go to FamilyCorner.com

Cardboard Tube Scarecrow

This fun recycled craft made from a paper towel roll and scrap fabrics and felts is an adorable project for Fall. Gather the kids around, pull out the craft supplies and get cracking on your own scarecrows!

You will need

cardboard tube from paper towel or wrapping paper
straw doll hat
felt: tan, peach or cream, light blue, orange, and brown
bandana
3 buttons
2 pink sequins
2 small wiggle eyes
2" piece of skinny black chenille
1" foam flower
1/2" brown pom pom
scissors
white craft glue or hot glue gun

Editor's Note: We used hot glue as it adheres so much quicker than white craft glue. However, if you are making this project with small children, you may want to use white glue or even a glue stick. You may also do the gluing for them if using the hot glue gun.

To get the instructions and a printable version, visit the Cardboard Tube Scarecrow craft on FamilyCorner.com

Fall Crafts: Plastic Cup Crow

So many scarecrow crafts, but what about the crows? As autumn rolls in and farmers work on their harvest, the crows will be looking for free goodies. Make this cute little crow to celebrate fall!

Plastic Cup Crow

What you need

2 small plastic cups (bathroom size)
2 cotton balls
2 medium wiggle eyes
1 red button
scrap of orange craft foam
scrap of orange construction paper
Acrylic craft paint: black and goldenrod
scissors
white craft glue

Go to FamilyCorner.com for instructions and a printable version of this Plastic Cup Crow craft!

Fall Fun for Kids

Looking to make some sweet fall memories with your little ones? Here are some great ideas to get your family laughing, smiling and enjoying each other's company during these crisp autumn days.

Hit the trail. Kids love to be outside. The out-of-doors is a huge playground and children are naturally attracted to it. Exploring some of the hiking trails in and around your community is a great way to spend time together.

While you're walking...

Collect leaves. Take them home and arrange them on a piece of poster board measuring approximately 17 inches by 12 inches. Smooth a piece of clear contact paper over the poster board on both sides, laminating the board and leaves. Now you have a special placemat to use for the remainder of the season.

Contact your local library to ask where you can find a guidebook on local flora and fauna. Take it on your hike and try to identify as many different trees, plants, and critters as possible.

To see the rest of this article, visit Fall Fun for Kids on FamilyCorner.com

Clay Pot Scarecrow

Clay pots are probably one of the most versatile mediums for crafts. This adorable little scarecrow proves that statement without a doubt! This is an absolutely charming Fall craft that looks great in your kitchen, dining room, or even on the porch!

You will need:

3 1/2" clay pot
Acrylic paint: White, Brite Red, Liberty Blue, Midnight Blue
Brushes: #8 flat and #2 long liner
Strip of thin denim fabric: 9 1/2" x 2"
Strip of red checked fabric: 7 1/2" x 2"
1" button
Jute twine: about 3 yards
Raffia: about 100 pieces, 2" long
Polyfil: fist size piece
Ultimate Craft marker: Black, fine
Pink chalk, rouge, or lipstick to rosy cheeks
Glue gun and glue sticks
Osnaberg fabric (or use muslin) - 10" circle, cut with pinking shears if possible

Use any size clay pot and adjust accordingly!

Click here to print the pattern. Resize on your printer to fit your project.

Visit FamilyCorner.com to get the instructions and a printable version of this craft.

Caramel Apple

This craft is quick and easy. Elementary aged children will enjoy this project, with a little help from a grown up!

You will need

Artificial apple
Craft stick
Acrylic paint: Honey Brown
Glue Pot with glue sticks
Gloss finishing spray

What you do

Spray the apple lightly with gloss finishing spray to give it a shiny finish.

Insert a craft stick in the apple. Dip into a hot pot of melted glue. Quickly tip it upside down and let the glue run down the sides a bit. Not too much.

Let the glue cool and harden completely. Paint the glue area with the Honey Brown acrylic paint.

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Pumpkin Cake Balls

Dressed in bright orange and green, these little pumpkins will look charming decorating a party table. Add an icing face to them and they'll turn into jack o' lanterns, making them a irresistible favors for your Halloween party guests.

What You Need

1 box white cake mix
2 container vanilla frosting
1 package of orange candy melts
1 package of green candy melts
black paste food coloring
mini pretzel sticks

To get the instructions visit Pumpkin Cake Balls on FamilyCorner.com

Autumn Garden Chores

Autumn is the time for garden clean-up! I know it seems like a droll chore, but it really isn't. Any work you do now, while it's cool, will make for an enjoyable spring and summer.

Clean all of your garden and yard tools, then wipe them down with some 3 in 1 type oil on an old rag. Store them in your garage or shed together where you will easily locate them in the spring.

As your potted plants finish up, rinse out your pots and set them out to dry-then store them together for the winter in a sheltered location. If you want to clean any that may have had disease or just look a little rough, use a solution of water and bleach. Do use gloves and do this outside though! Dump the dirt from the pots in a pile and add chopped up leaves, plants you've pulled up and grass clippings. Even if you don't normally compost you can do this in a corner of your yard without much effort! The items will decompose if you dampen them now and then, and turn them with a shovel. You can add vegetable and fruit peelings too!

Gather up your lawn ornaments that you think won't weather well, and store them as well, again cleaning them first.

Take one flower bed at a time, and cut down anything that has finished blooming. If you don't do this you'll have a mushy mess in the spring. Some exceptions are plants you want to reseed, but many of them have scattered seeds, so even they can be cut down. Also any plants that are still blooming should be left to enjoy! Remember too, you still have time to move daylilies, oriental lilies, irises, peonies, and many other plants.

Planting bulbs and moving plants is a good thing to do at the same time so you can visualize where you want everything as you plant. Also, compare bloom times and try to stagger these if possible.

I like doing these chores as we get into fall instead of waiting and having to rush to get it done all at once. It makes for an enjoyable autumn season, and it's a great excuse to get outside in the yard!

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