Jenne Kopalek
How to Make a Scarecrow DIY for Your Home This Autumn
Just like pumpkins and brightly colored leaves, scarecrows are a sure sign autumn has fallen (sorry, we couldn’t resist). While they were once used to frighten off hungry birds from newly seeded fields, nowadays straw men—be they creepy or charming—are probably most often made strictly for decor’s sake. That includes the following DIY scarecrow ideas, which are as fun to create as they are easy to craft. Best of all, they’re all very different, so whether you’re looking for cool scarecrow costumes for the whole fam, delightful scarecrow door hangers, or pretty scarecrow porch decorations, you’ll find a range of projects below.
And if you don’t have the energy to DIY? No worries! We’ve dug up some of the best scarecrow-themed looks for your home and yard you can buy anywhere. Then you can use all that time saved to enjoy favorite fall activities like watching scary movies on Netflix, making spooktacular treats and cocktails, and warming up with a good bowl of homemade soup. Speaking of warming up, if you’d like to DIY your scarecrow crafts in front of a fire this year, be sure to read our Best Electric Fireplaces to Take the Chill Off.
Scarecrow Mason Jar
Jenne Kopalek
Make your fall mantel extra adorable this year by adorning it with this cute Mason jar craft. If you’d like, you could also paint it to match the rest of your seasonal decor.
Get the tutorial at Yesterday on Tuesday.
How Can I Use This In My Lesson Plan?
The Autumn Scarecrow Craft isn’t just a chance for children to express their creativity as they make their very own versions of the iconic symbol of fall we all know and love. It’s also the perfect opportunity to have discussions about the changing fall scenery, fall harvest celebrations, and even the purpose of scarecrows and their importance to community helpers like the farmers that help grow our food! The Autumn Scarecrow Craft is a great way to satisfy children’s innate curiosity surrounding fall and the changes to their outside environment while encouraging them to explore these changes through art.
Download our FREE printable below!
Required Materials:
Gather all of the materials you need to create your fall-themed scarecrow including: a fabric square, a pompom, rubber bands, two popsicle sticks, scissors, brown and yellow chenille stems, burlap, a kwik stik in the color of your choosing, a hot glue gun, and a black marker to add the final details needed to bring your scarecrow to life.
With your fabric square lying flat, place a large pompom in its center. Pull each corner of the fabric towards the center covering the pompom and secure the scarecrow’s new head with a rubber band. Trim any excess fabric. Next, twist and tie brown chenille stems around the “tail” you secured with the rubber band. This is now top of the scarecrow’s head! Using a black permanent marker, add a friendly face to your scarecrow and, using a piece of burlap and a kwik stik, encourage the children to design their scarecrow’s outfit. Cut out the scarecrow’s clothes from the burlap. Then, using a hot glue gun, glue your two popsicle sticks together in the shape of a small “t.”
3 Add The Finishing Touches
Once your popsicle sticks are secure, glue down your scarecrow’s head, add their outfit to its scarecrow stand, and tie a rubber band around the scarecrow’s middle to keep it in place. Don’t forget to add the straw! Twist and tie yellow chenille stems around the scarecrow’s arms to bring your new friend to life.
Fall into learning with fun seasonal activities and experiments! Browse our selection of classroom arts and crafts and related resources to encourage autumn explorations and incorporate engaging activities into your classroom.
Some Tips For Building Your Own DIY Scarecrow:
- If you use plastic bags and plastic water bottles to stuff the scarecrow, as opposed to the traditional straw method, they will hold up better in wet weather.
- Pool noodles make excellent arms and legs.
- Clothing for your scarecrow can be found at the thrift stores or even your closet.
- You can easily make a head by placing burlap over a ball or an upside down flower pot and drawing the face on it.
- Go with a theme for your scarecrow – player on a sports team, gardening lady with watering can and hoe, girly-girl wearing a skirt, high heels and a purse, construction man with a shovel.
View the web story version of this article HERE.
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