Our Fall Craft

Most people like to do a craft every now and then and usually kids like crafts too. Of course, there are variances based on their personalities, but typically I can fine one that everyone can enjoy together. I also like to try and make something useful and not just some piece of obscenely decorated, glittered (which is outlawed in my house, btw), glued piece of "art". It just so happens that the craft that we have done for Fall also is environmentally friendly. Isn't that precious? It's not easy being green.
Our craft chosen for this Fall is Pumpkin Tea Lights.We used some of the mini pumpkins that we scored at the Parking Lot Pumpkin Patch. Basically, we hollowed out the inside, washed it out, dried it (sort of), added a wick, added wax, and waited for them to dry. If you want real instructions... There are several different plan available online for this, if you look here and here, and lots of other places too. Most of the plans that I came across online suggest using a purchased tea light or votive candle. I chose to follow the basic idea and use my candle making supplies, melting my own paraffin wax, etc. Caleb, Sophia and I did this while the other kids were napping one afternoon and it went very quick. Since we first did this a few days ago, one of the pumpkins has started to whither a little bit around the top edge, but other than that they seem to be holding up nicely. It would be a great decoration for the Thanksgiving table... I would love to put one at every place setting! Then again, that would probably fill the table with so many candles that we wouldn't have enough room to fill it with all the food that we plan to gorge ourselves on. Hmm, maybe that would be a nice way to suggest that we eat lighter. Or not. Overeating aside, this was a fun craft and it makes a very simple, pretty decoration that I can use and then throw away to rot and "give back" to nature. :)