Most parents eventually discover that their young child’s favorite toy is not an expensive, brand-name product, but rather the box that it came in. The same back-to-basics approach can be true for kid’s crafts, too – sometimes the most fun craft supplies don’t come from a store. Get creative with your family and collect unusual bits and pieces for some truly original craft projects.

Take advantage of the summer sunshine and take a family walk. Collect interesting artifacts along the way – fallen leaves, colored rocks and small flowers, for example – to make a “found objects” collage or collection. Also, new craft supplies can be as close by as your kitchen cupboard. Dried pasta in interesting shapes, like elbow macaroni or farfalle, can bring new life to a project. Set your child up with some construction paper, scissors and glittery glue for an afternoon full of fun.

Crafting and activities that involve the entire family are great ways to bond with each other and share quality time, while having a great time too. Put away the video games, turn the television off, and just get busy being creative. Make it enjoyable for all involved, and you’ll be glad you made the effort.

We all know that pumpkins that are left plain are perfectly suitable for display, and pumpkins with the facial features cut out are very fun, especially with a burning candle inside – BUT have you ever gone through the effort of cutting out eyes, nose and mouth?

Why not take the easier route? Paint your pumpkins! The designs are limited only to your imagination – and after that purpose is served (if you do not wait TOO long and are so inclined), you can cook the pumpkin and make pies, cookies, or casseroles.

Be sure to guard your pumpkins from thieves. Quite a few years ago, when we were living in Ohio, my husband and I bought two very large pumpkins (probably 80 to 100 pounds each.) We put one on each side of our front steps for display. Imagine our surprise when we went out one day to find that one had been stolen.

I really hope this doesn’t happen to you!

Halloween parties are popular at this festive season of the year, I can remember parties which my mother hosted in our basement years ago. I remember playing games and bobbing for apples. (Do they even do that anymore?) I particularly recall one party when my brother and our cousin (both very masculine) dressed as twin Victorian belles in their frilly pink dresses with pantaloons. What fun we had!

Costumes come in any and all categories (butterflies, clowns, ghosts, witches, skeletons, mummies, pirates, scarecrows, princesses, just to name a few.) Some people wear masks; others paint their faces.

Candied apples, caramel apples, candy corn, caramel popcorn balls are a few of the treats that are abundant at Halloween time. Crafters are busy at this time of year making costumes, painting faces, carving or painting pumpkin faces along with, perhaps, baking and decorating the house.

Halloween is the beginning of the most enjoyable time of the year, ushering in Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas, and then the New Year celebrations.

With Halloween approaching, it may be time to explore the aspects of facepainting. It seems as if all kids love to have their faces painted – not only at Halloween, but on any occasion which comes along.

At Halloween especially, when your children are out ‘trick or treating’ and perhaps crossing busy streets, consider the safety issue. Rather than wearing a face mask, having their faces painted allows them more visibility to observe their surroundings.

An important fact to be aware of when painting your child’s face is that one cannot use just any paint for this process. Just as there have been specific paints created for other specific applications, there are very special paints made for face painting. Be sure that you purchase these paints or check that the person painting your child’s face is using these paints in order to avoid allergic reactions.

Facepainting booths are popular, not just on Halloween, but at carnivals, fairs, birthday parties, and anywhere kids and adolescents gather. Perhaps you may want to venture out into this fun field and set up your own facepainting booth at these affairs.

It’s something to consider — and could be fun and profitable too!