Thrive & Dime: Mini Pumpkins - MetroFamily Magazine
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Thrive & Dime: Mini Pumpkins

by Megan Beisel

Reading Time: 2 minutes 

September has arrived! The start of the school year is behind us, and fall is just around the corner. I get really excited for fall and all the fun activities that are a part of the season. The weather is usually so much more favorable for outdoor activities and there are a lot of great opportunities for creating traditions and making family memories. One of my favorite traditions is to go to the pumpkin patch. This month’s craft is inspired by my love of the pumpkin patch. I mean, who doesn’t want to make their own mini pumpkin patch?

These little pumpkins are sweet and pretty simple to make. I love that the supplies are minimal and the possibilities are endless. It’s an activity that pairs perfectly with a stack of fall books, or before/after a trip to the pumpkin patch. Bonus points if you sip cider while you work!

Mini Clay Pumpkins

Supplies:

  • Clay in various colors (I used Sculpey brand that I grabbed at Hobby Lobby with a 40 percent off coupon.)
  • Clay tools (Optional. You can also use household items such as toothpicks or floss.)

Work the clay a bit to make it softer and easier to shape. This activity is suited for a little older crowd, but my boys (6 and 3) enjoyed playing with the clay. We rolled balls of all types sizes, and colors. Luckily no two pumpkins are identical so just shape as you desire. I found squeezing the ball of clay help create a better pumpkin shape, then I used the clay tools to add the ribs to the pumpkin by starting at the top and rolling to the bottom. We created a small hole at the top of the pumpkin, then we shaped stems and tendrils and added them to the pumpkins, pressing firmly into the hole. When we were happy with our pumpkins we baked them according to the clay directions.

Fall-Themed Books to Enjoy:

  • “The Biggest Pumpkin Ever" by Steven Kroll
  • "Sophie’s Squash" by Pat Zietlow Miller & Anne Wilsdorf
  • "Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin" by Tad Hills
  • "Fall Pumpkins Orange and Plump" by Martha E. H. Rustard
  • "Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn" by Kenard Pak
  • "Bella’s Fall Coat" by Lynn Plourde

Other Fun Pumpkin Activities:

  • Visit a local pumpkin patch or stand
  • Bake a treat using pumpkin; pumpkin dump cake is one of our favorites
  • Decorate/carve a pumpkin to look like a favorite book character
  • Roast pumpkin seeds
  • Learn more about how pumpkins grow and all the different varieties of pumpkins
  • Go for a walk and count all the pumpkins that you see on porches and in yards

This is one part of a series of ideas for thrifty family fun on our Thrive & Dime blog.

About the writer: Formerly a school counselor, Megan now spends her days playing trucks, reading dinosaur books, dispensing snacks and adventuring with her three little men; ages 5, 2 and 6 months. 

 
   

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