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For a FUN fall activity that the whole family can participate in, why not make a scarecrow? Scarecrows are fun to make and provide for a festive fall decoration for your yard or front porch. To start making your scarecrow, you'll need an old long sleeve shirt & pants, or a one-piece outfit. For a smaller scarecrow, use children's clothes. A traditional idea is to use jeans or overalls with a flannel shirt, but your scarecrow can be made to look formal, glamorous or as monsters too!
The Scarecrow's Skeleton:
If you want your scarecrow to stand, you'll need to give him or her a skeleton to hold him or her up. You can make this out of two wooden pieces (old broomsticks, extra wood, etc.). The skeleton should have one piece that is about six feet in length and another that is about three feet in length. Attach the pieces together to form a cross using nails, rope, floral wire or even duct tape.
The Scarecrow's Head:
You can make the scarecrow's head out of several items - a pillowcase, burlap bag, jack-o-lantern, or even a Halloween mask works well. If you use a pillowcase or a mask, you will need to stuff it with filling, old socks, clothing or leaves. You can paint the face on the pillowcase or use permanent markers to create your facial features. Using a jack-o-lantern may require you to use additional support for the weight. A dowel, ruler or stick will work well for supporting the head. The head should be placed on the top of the cross/stake.
The Scarecrow's Hands & Legs:
Put a shirt over your scarecrow's cross shaped framework. You can use mittens or gloves for hands (you'll need to attach them to the shirt and be sure you've stuffed them first.) If you are not using mittens or gloves for hands, tie the ends of the sleeves shut so the stuffing will stay inside. Use string, safety pins or florist wire to tie the shirt & gloves together if you are using mittens/gloves. Put the pants on - the center of the skeleton/stake should be inserted into one of the pant legs. There needs to be enough wood at the bottom of the pant leg to stake your scarecrow in the ground. Tie the bottoms of the pant legs.
The Scarecrow's Stuffing:
You can use straw, hay, old clothing, plastic grocery bags or newspapers for stuffing your scarecrow. You'll need to stuff the shirt and pants until they are full for your scarecrow to hold its shape. Stuff the pants first, once they are full, tuck the shirt into them, then button & zip the pants. You may need to tie rope or twine around the waist to act as a belt (or use an old belt). Stuff the arms of the shirt first, then the rest of the torso.
Accessorize:
You can sew a hat onto the head of your scarecrow if you are using a pillowcase or burlap bag. If you are using a pumpkin, jack-o-lantern or mask you can glue an old hat to the head. Other options are to accessorize with a wig, scarves, ties and/or an old pair of shoes. Tuck the bottom of the pants into a pair of shoes once your scarecrow is staked up.
Finishing Touches:
Dig a hole in the ground to stake your scarecrow. Stick the bottom of your skeleton (the stake) into the hole and pack dirt in around it. You may want to use additional wood for support or use hay bales to help hold up your scarecrow and provide an even more festive setting. Other additions to the setting such as corn stalks & pumpkins make for a festive scene! |
