I get a bit melancholy when I have to trade in my beloved flip-flops for stiff loafers, but I still look forward to the fall season and all the wonderful things that occur with its arrival.
As autumn approaches, I begin dreaming of apples: sweet, juicy Macouns picked right from the tree, Granny Smiths baked into pies and topped with vanilla ice cream, a steaming cup of fresh-pressed cider mulled with cinnamon, and homemade apple butter spread over toast on a chilly morning.
Then there are the leaves, of course; leaves the color of a bonfire – glowing crimson, orange, yellow and gold. Fall in the Northeast is simply spectacular.
I can still remember sitting around the kitchen table on weekend mornings as a child with my very crafty mother, sipping hot cider, while we dried apples in the oven to make scary kitchen witches, or rubbed leaves under tracing paper with colored crayons in an attempt to capture just a sliver of their beauty. In celebration of autumn—and of my own childhood memories—I share with you a few of my favorite fall crafts. These simple, homey and fun crafts that celebrate the best of the Hudson Valley are a wonderful way to make both special memories, and treasured keepsakes, on a blustery fall day.
LEAF RUBBINGS
You’ll need…
- Crayons, chalk, colored pencils or drawing pencil
- Tracing paper
- Spray fixative (available at craft stores) or hair spray
What to do…
Collect a variety of interesting leaves and lay them flat on a hard, smooth surface. Cover the leaves with tracing paper, and rub the side of the crayon or chalk on the paper. To make your rubbings more realistic, try using different color crayons on your drawings, or experiment with leaf arrangements. You can also use a thick drawing pencil for a simple sketch rubbing. Spray your rubbing with spray fixative or hair spray to prevent smudging.
LEAF SUN CATCHERS
You’ll need…
- Wax paper
- Fall leaves
- Iron
- Newspaper or towel
What to do…
Cover a flat work surface with newspapers or a towel. Lay a piece of wax paper on the newspaper or towel, then arrange a few leaves on top. Cover with another piece of wax paper. Place a piece of newspaper on top of the waxed paper and iron with a warm iron until the two pieces stick together. Trim your sun catcher and hang in a window.
Suzanne Brown is an award-winning graphic designer, crafter, author of Summer: A User’s Guide, and proud ‘Summerolgist,’ who happily wears flip-flops well into fall. She lives in Croton-on-Hudson.