Fall Craft Ideas, Make a Spicy Autumn Potpourri
Autumn Crafts for Kids and a Recipe for Fragrant Autumn Supplies
Sep 28, 2008
So many interesting treasures cover the ground during the autumn that fall arts and crafts come naturally. Kids can make everyone in the family happy with these fall craft ideas to bring those beautiful sights and smells inside and make an autumn potpourri.
The autumn potpourri will need ingredients from two places, the yard and the kitchen. Why not make it a family fall craft ? Kids can collect the outdoor autumn craft supplies on a fall nature walk, and parents can supply the spices.
Fall Craft Ideas, Gathering Supplies for Potpourri
Kids can use large zip lock baggies to collect their supplies. To prevent six-legged stowaways, parents may want to store the baggies in the freezer for a week or two.
Great fall-time potpourri possibilities kids can be on the lookout for during their nature walk include
- Pine needles
- Cedar bows
- Pinecones
- Cedar or pine Bark
- Acorn caps
- Walnuts
Fall Crafts for Kids, Potpourri Ingredients from the Kitchen
Parents can assemble a mixture of fall spices to complement their child’s supplies. In a paper bag, place
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole nutmegs
- ½ cup of cloves
Once the bag is taped shut, kids can smash the ingredients inside with a hammer. The spice mix should be in tiny pieces, but not a powder. A few whole bay leaves or vanilla beans snipped into small pieces can also add a nice touch if they’re handy.
Fall Arts and Crafts Instructions for Drying Orange Peals
Dried orange peals are the last important ingredient. They’ll help hold the potpourri’s scent and add some color. Kids can use the microwave to dry the peals.
Cover a plate with paper towels.
- Place orange peels on the towels and then spread several more towels on top
- Microwave for five minutes at half power making sure to rotate the plate and turn over the peels halfway through.
- Let the peels dry for a few days.
Fall Craft Ideas, Combining the Autumn Potpourri
Once the outdoor supplies have been gathered, the spice mixture smashed, and the orange peals dried, kids are ready to assemble their potpourri. They might want to make a large batch since Christmas is just around the corner. A rough ratio for combining the ingredients is
- 10 cups Outdoor autumn supplies
- 2 cups spice blend
- 2 cups dried orange peals
- Mix ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl
- Store potpourri in a tightly sealed container for two to four weeks to let the fragrance build.
- Shake the container once a day to stir up the ingredients.
- Check the potpourri’s aroma after a week and add cinnamon fragrance oil if it needs a boost.
- Divide potpourri into jars and decorate with a ribbon for gifts.
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