7. Leaf Ghost Garland
Celebrate the beauty of autumn foliage with a craft that brings the outdoors inside. Collect large, sturdy fallen leaves from your backyard—maple or oak leaves work wonderfully due to their unique shapes. Gently wipe them clean and press them flat under a heavy book for a day if they are curled. Have your kids paint the entire surface of each leaf with white acrylic paint. It may require two coats to completely cover the natural colors of the leaf. Once the paint has dried, use a black permanent marker to draw simple, expressive ghost faces on the center of each leaf. String them together by tying a piece of rustic twine around the leaf stems, creating a beautiful, eco-friendly ghost garland that adds a rustic, festive touch to any fireplace mantle or classroom wall.