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The rhythms of life here at Solstice are a thing to behold, and here’s where you can keep pace with them.
The rhythms of life here at Solstice are a thing to behold, and here’s where you can keep pace with them.
We know that fall is truly here when acorns are suddenly everywhere. Acorns are the fruit of oak trees, one of which — the Gambel oak —- is native to Colorado. At Solstice™, a relationship with our stunning landscape is just in our nature — our multiple future community parks and miles of trails seek to connect you to what’s beautiful in Colorado. Try acorn-hunting in our neighborhood, or take a walk along the High Line Canal Trail to find these green and brown harbingers of autumn. Read on for five creative acorn-inspired crafts that you can make with your kiddos this fall.
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Tissue paper suncatcher
This inventive acorn craft doesn’t use actual acorns themselves, but instead lets kids create a lovely fall colorscape using tissue paper inside an acorn outline. Acorn-shaped outlines are available for purchase online, but you can easily make your own with brown craft paper. Simply trace a large outline shape of an acorn and its cap on your paper then cut inside, leaving an inch-wide border. Glue the acorn outline to a sheet of clear wax paper and buy or assemble tissue paper in fall colors like red, orange, yellow, and brown.
Younger kids can arrange their colors at random — they’ll be able to practice fine motor skills by manipulating scissors and using glue (sparingly). Challenge older children to create a gradient or even an ombre pattern of their colors! Kids can cut squares of tissue paper, then arrange and glue them to the clear wax paper to create a suncatcher that will glow with fall colors in a window. To finish, simply punch or cut a hole in the acorn cap, loop some string through, and hang your suncatcher from a window.
Painted or glittery acorns
There’s little that kids love more than painting, and this craft allows them to create painted acorns with a reusable purpose. Simply collect acorns, glitter glue, paintbrushes, and washable paint, then set down some paper or a drop cloth for easy clean-up. Help your kids develop teamwork by having one hold the acorn while the other paints, then swap roles. Glitter-painted acorns make an eye-catching centerpiece when collected in a dish, or they can be mounted onto a canvas for a seasonal wall display. Don’t want to buy glitter glue? Mix half Elmer’s glue and half glitter for an easy replacement hack. Glittered or painted acorns can also work as Christmas ornaments, or as easy decoration for presents as fall transitions into winter and the holiday season.
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Acorn characters
Indulge your kids’ silliness (and encourage their creativity as well) with these acorn head characters. Simply collect some acorns, pop off their caps, and assemble a variety of decorations like googly eyes, yarn, pipe cleaners, stickers, sequins, etc. This craft is a perfect way to use up leftover craft odds and ends you might have hanging around — any scrap of fabric or paper can be a funny mouth or hat for your acorn characters. Let younger kids go wild with their goofy creations, or encourage older kids to decorate their acorns like their favorite superheroes or fictional characters. Leave the heads as-is, or glue them to the top of construction paper and encourage your kids to draw the characters’ bodies as well.
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Acorn handprints
The fall crafting season wouldn’t be complete without a handprint craft — kids love painting their own hands, and the brush work and coordination required is ideal for honing fine motor skills. This acorn handprint craft requires only white paper, brown and white washable paint, a paintbrush, and a paper or plastic plate to use as a palette. Protip: Be sure to lay down newspaper or drop cloths to prevent stains! Begin by mixing brown and white paint to create a lighter shade of brown — this is also a great teachable moment about mixing colors to create new ones. Once you have two shades of brown at the ready, have kids paint their hands with the lighter shade then press them to the paper. Encourage children to keep their fingers pressed together to maintain the acorn shape’s sloping sides. Then wash off the paint and finish by painting the acorn tops together. Recreate this craft next year to see how your kiddos’ hands have grown from year to year!
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Planting an acorn
Children or teenagers interested in gardening will appreciate the chance to plant their own acorns and grow an oak tree sapling. This hands-on activity is a wonderful way to teach them about the life cycle of oak trees and the value of patience — planted and watered acorns can take up to five years to grow into saplings, but the knowledge and appreciation for nature your child will gain is worth the wait.
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No matter what you choose to do with your kids this fall, what’s most important is spending quality time with them indoors and out. Solstice™ homes offer flexible spaces like second-story lofts, basements, and studies for crafting and family time — check out our homes online or visit to find your dream art studio today!