Pinch Pot Pumpkins!!!

I love fall and I love pumpkins.  Used to celebrate fall and harvest as well as Halloween this time of year is about pumpkin everything from decorations to pies to lattes.  A feast for the eyes as well as the palette!

This project is an easy introduction to clay.  Pinching a pot is a very basic shaping method used in clay building.  I used paper clay which becomes fairly hard when air dried.  

First, form a ball (for this project about the size of a tennis ball).

Next, push your thumb into the middle of the ball to create an opening.  

With your thumb inside the ball and your fingers on the outside, press them together.  Rotate the ball as you press in a repetitive motion.

Keep doing this as your opening becomes larger and the walls of the ball become thinner.  

For a pumpkin shape try to pinch in towards the centre of the ball at the top to keep the shape nice and round and the opening smaller than the middle.  

For the lid its simply a matter of pressing a smaller ball flat and shaping it again with pinching, or pressing it onto the table until it is the size you want.  

To add a stem roll a small bit of clay into a desired coil, add a little water and press it onto the lid.  

Take a pin tool or other carving tool and lightly draw a face and then cut it out.  This is when the pumpkin character comes out!

Add little bugs or leaves and vines or any other thing that you like.

Some of the fabulous creations from my Super Saturday group!!

These can be painted with acrylics once they are dry and are great with a tea light inside (keep the lid off if using a tea light) or a battery operated mini light.

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

This past Super Saturday we made bird feeders from pine cones, bird seed and honey.  A simple process and a wonderful fall activity. Did I mention that fall is my absolute favourite season? Finding pine cones was easy, they're just there, on the ground, all I had to do was pick some up whenever I went walking with the dog.  And there's nothing like a fall walk. If there is time for outdoor activities this sort of scavenger hunt adds a fun element to the process.   

Once you drizzle the pine cone with honey the birdseed will stick to it.  And sure it was a big sticky mess…. but it was worth it!  We added some flair to this project by incorporating sticks to act as perches and leaves to catch seeds, or just as visual elements. 

As always, the best part was tapping into the minds of children (and adults) and watching them develop ideas.  There was a lot of talk about birds regarding what they might like and how they would get at the food, then incorporating those details when making the feeders.  

The amazing results