Thumbprint Pumpkins

source: http://thelongthread.com/?p=9070

Easy craft for a lazy autumn day!

^^ initially that was a black bat but EE thought it looked mored like an owl so she drew a beak.

  Cost: about $1.00 and change


Rations:



-orange ink pad (bought on sale 50% off for $1.00)
-fine tip permanent black marker or fine point black ink pen (I would suggest an ink pen)
-green color pencil, crayon or marker for stem and vine tendrils, preferably fine point
-(optional) black construction paper for background/framing the picture and you'll need glue, too if you choose this option


*To make:

 Use your pinky finger for smaller pumpkins. For larger pumpkins, make a print two or three
times with your thumb slightly overlapping the print. For any size pumpkins, your finger or thumb can be positioned either horizontally or vertically on the paper. *Tip: Use a scrap piece of paper and practice printing first. 


"This is Grumpy pumpkin" says Effervescent Ethel. "He's grumpy because the witch is pestering him!"

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Super Easy Candy Corn Button Picture

Inspired by:

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/quartsizedjarcrafts/ss/Candy-Corn-Jar-Craft.htm

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/quartsizedjarcrafts/ss/Candy-Corn-Jar-Craft.htm

http://supermommytotherescue.com/candy-corn-craft-by-my-daughter

http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/2011/10/national-candy-corn-day-103011.html


Another super easy Halloween/Autumn craft project! 

Notions:


-buttons in yellow, orange and white
-glue
-black construction paper or black poster board for background (to make the paper sturdier I glued the black construction paper onto a piece of scrap poster board)
-scissors
-yellow, orange and white crayon (in retrospect it would have been better to use {neon} paint for this project)
-pencil to trace (if available white marking pencil for sewing works perfectly; or a white crayon)
-hand drawn candy corn shape or use a print out online, for example: http://www.frenchtoasty.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/candy-corn-2_coloring_page_jpg_468x609_q85.jpg)
-(optional) ruler
-permanent marker


Cost: if you have a collection of buttons on hand then the cost is insignificant.


To make:

Trace the candy corn design onto the black paper using a white pencil or crayon. Use a ruler to separate the three colors.

Use the crayons or paint to color the areas as shown here.




Glue on the buttons in color order shown above.


Set aside to dry.

Don't forget to sign and date!
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 CANDY CORN HAIKU

Some people pop corn
Others will grow ears of corn
But I candy corn 

John Watts 
Aurora, CO USA

Clay Pot Jack-o-Lanterns

Sources and inspiration:


http://www.thriftyfun.com/Clay-Pot-Jack-o-Lanterns.html


http://www.worthingcourtblog.com/2012/09/six-ways-to-create-pumpkin.html

Supplies used:


-small clay pot (or clay pots of various sizes if you prefer). For very small size clay pots, check your local craft/hobby store. For larger pots, you can find those at your local plant nursery or home improvement store. They are very inexpensive. Purchase one or two extra in case you drop one.
-glue
-Halloween/autumn narrow novelty ribbon
-paint (orange, green and black for a traditional Jack-o-Lantern)
-paint brushes
-small unfinished wood spool (for stem) or similar item such as a large bead, button or Fimo™ clay piece, etc.
-green wire for the pumpkin vines (can substitute chenille stems, florist wire or thin green ribbon to make the vines) See this link on how to curl fabric ribbon: http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-curl-fabric-ribbon.html
-pencil, pen, knitting needle or similar item to wrap the wire
-black permanent marker (to write child's name and date) on inside of clay pot. Also, black permanent marker can be used in place of black paint to decorate the Jack-o-Lantern's face.



Total cost: about $2


To make:

Paint the clay pot orange then set aside to dry.

Note: Before decorating the pumpkin's face, be sure the hole is on top. That is where the stem will be attached. Decorate the face with black paint or a black permanent marker.


Glue novelty Halloween ribbon around the base of the pot and at the top. Let dry.

Paint the wood spool or similar item green for the stem. Glue the wood spool over the hole on the bottom which is now the top of the clay pot.

Wrap pieces of green wire around a pencil to make the pumpkin vine tendrils.

Attach the vine tendrils around the green stem with strong glue. We glued two vine tendrils in the hole of the spool and wrapped one around the base of the spool and glued well.

Let Jack-o-Lantern dry.



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A ghost ship dropped anchor one dark Halloween bearing three pumpkin pirates. They were small, tough and mean. They rowed to the shore and began there to measure, hoping to unearth a bountiful treasure.

Read the full story Three Pumpkin Pirates here: http://www.meddybemps.com/halloween/Pirates01.html

FOooooOooootprint Ghosts

The crew of the Ebony Oyster is back from our summer hiatus in Mejico!



  Footprint Ghost Family- introducing The Spectral's: Father, Mother, Grandmother, Big Sister, Little Sister, Little Brother, Ghost Doggie.

Source: http://blog.gummylump.com/2011/10/halloween-kids-craft-foot-print-ghosts.html

Materials used:

-white construction paper (for ghosts)
-scrapbook paper (for background)
-pencil
-scissors
-black marker
-glue
-ribbon, lace scraps
-buttons
-bead finding (for Grandmother's necklace)
-tape


*Trace around the child's foot-wearing a sock is optional. Depending on the child's age he or she may be able to do this by herself or himself. To make smaller ghosts we traced around a baby doll's foot. Cut out and decorate ghosts as desired. Glue ghosts onto scrapbook paper. Allow to dry then display.

*Note: to make tracing around the foot easier for Effervescent Ether the paper was taped down on the floor first.
































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Cherry Blossoms

We had planned on doing the Cherry Blossoms' project back in April but I forgot to add it to the ship's craft log. This painting project idea is from the Michaels.com website. Effervescent Ethel made several of these paintings for the junior crew members as mementos of their tour of duty spent on her Lady the Ebony Oyster.



This is her first piece which was painted on a small canvas (roughly 4"x5" and on sale at Michaels. I believe I paid about 2 dollars for the canvas). 

Need:

-paint
-paintbrushes
-canvas or paper
-frame (Yet to be purchased. We will paint the frame in gold gilt from our vast collection of acquired art.)

  *Don't forget to have the artist sign his or her piece!*

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Anything Goes Artwork

I had a surplus of odds and ends pieces of craft items that needed to be used in some fashion-and for that reason I created the Anything Goes Artwork craft project.


Need:

--any surplus craft items you need to use up (for your Captain this included a good amount of scrap paper)
--glue
--scissors
--decorations: sequins, buttons, ribbon, stickers, etc.


I started with nine 10"inch square pieces of card stock. These were taped and stapled together. Then I placed the large canvas on the deck of the ship, set out a large pile of paper/scrap paper and a tray of miscellaneous decorations including keys, buttons, feathers, sequins, etc.  Effervescent Ethel was instructed to have a go at it! Forty five minutes later we had this museum-quality masterpiece.

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Printmaking for all Ages

Source and aspiration: http://whipup.net/2011/10/27/guest-blogger-series-printmaking-for-all-ages-yarn-block-prints/


(I accidentally cut off Mickey's ears when I took this picture. Sorry, Mickey!)

Need:

-paper (we tested first on scrap paper and used nice card stock quality paper for the final product.)
-paint
-paper plate or similar for dipping the print into the paint
-items for printing: we used recycled containers in various shapes (good way to teach shapes including 2D shapes to children by the way), wrapped a long piece of yarn around and affixed with tape.
-your child's imagination
-mop and bucket to clean up. This is an easy crafty project but very messy!
-picture frame if your li'l' buccaneer has created a masterpiece by all means frame it! (*Gold gilt frame being the crew's preference.)

* https://www.google.com/search?q=gold+gilt+frmae&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48340889,d.cGE&biw=1255&bih=1222&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=lvLIUaq1IoreigLi-ICQAw

Notes from the Ebony Oyster Crafty Crew: We didn't have too much time to be overly creative with our choice of printing material due to the fact our ship was rocking terrible like from a sudden hailstorm! Effervescent Ethel says the designs look like "Chinese words". This was our first attempt at printmaking but certainly not our last!

This project will work for all age levels and you're only limited by your imagination. Cap'n always says: "If we ain't got no buttons nor sequins thar be always paper 'n' whitewash!