These actually make a great Autumn Craft for Kids, however you can of course make them at any time of year. As we have been getting some hotter days this year, we have made a few trips to the park recently. Whilst there, we played ball, look at the stream and collected some leaves. Now, I know autumn is the absolute best time for collecting leaves, but as Red Ted was keen, I thought, why not!? I did horrify me to realise that when it comes to leaves, I am clueless. I will have to brush up! Time for some more fun with Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for kids!
These fun Bird Marionettes were first published in Autumn 2010 and republished for your convenience!
So once we came home, I found a book on leaves. It is about Autumn really, but it is the nicest one I could find on relatively short notice:af craft
Leaf Trouble, Jonathan Emmett. This book tells the story of a little squirrel called Pip (perfect for our Pip Squeak!). Pip wakes one day to find that things are different: the leaves are changing colour and falling off the tree. Surely this isn’t right?! What is happening. His mum comes and explains why it is happening and that the leaves will come back again – a little like how the sun sets and comes back again the next day. I love the ending, where Pip compares the beautiful autumn colours to the setting sun. Very pretty.
So. What to make?
We have the leaves. But leaves can become brittle with time. I decided we should try leave rubbing – to discover that Red Ted is still too small. So I changed it to leaf printing and painting!
How to make a Bird out of Toilet Paper Rolls
He loved it! And had great joy doing it all by himself. Choosing colours. Painting and printing. I also found that your preserve the leaf a little if you paint it with acryclic paints. But in a way that seems a shame – you want to look at the lovely colours, no?
Whilst at it, he painted some loo rolls too.
And I decided t make some autumnal birds. One out of Red Ted’s craft and one out of mine. I selected Red Ted’s prints that worked together well (greens, blacks and greys) and picked an orange set of mine to represent autumn. I used all pieces of string from gift bags & pepples/ forked sticks for feet and marionette handles. (I think the pictures speak for themselves)
Then we strung them all together:
And then we played!
Hope you liked our Autumn Leaf Birds!
More great Toilet Paper Roll Crafts here:
Patricia says
July 21, 2010 at 2:46 pmAdorable!!! Looks like a lot of fun!
Red Ted Art says
July 21, 2010 at 4:50 pmThank you! We did have fun and I think Red Ted was very proud of his bird!
MummyMatters says
July 21, 2010 at 4:26 pmWow looks like you had lots of fun. I always dread painting and crafts but its never as bad as I think its going to be once I get started! And the kids always love it – I’m feeling inspired perhaps a little arts and crafts in the morning!!
Red Ted Art says
July 21, 2010 at 4:51 pmOoooh yes! Do get crafty 😉 and yes, usually it isn’t as messy as you think!!! x
Christy says
July 22, 2010 at 11:44 amIt’s so much fun to paint on a different surface. My kids love it too.
Little Wonders' Days says
July 22, 2010 at 11:46 amThe birds turned out really cute. Thanks for sharing this book and project!
Michelle says
July 22, 2010 at 1:44 pmOh wow these look amazing I am so impressed!! I will have to look for this book to it looks really cute, I will add it to our list for the fall.
Thank you for linking up to stART!!
Char says
July 22, 2010 at 2:34 pmLove the birds, very cute.
Its Sew Stinkin Cute says
July 22, 2010 at 6:07 pmYou are just so stinkin crafty! Where do you get all of these cool ideas? I feel like I am getting an F as a mother. Seems like I never get the time at home do do these fun things with my tyke. Awesome! Just so stinkin awesome! Thanks for linkin to It’s Stinkin’ Cute Craft Thursday as always!
Red Ted Art says
July 22, 2010 at 6:18 pmOh no! Please don’t feel like you are getting an F in Motherhood. That would be totally contrary to what I want to achieve with this blog. Here to inspire not depressed!!!!! Aaaarrrrggggh. I bet you are really good at other motherly things that I am not (you should see the state that their cupboards and drawers are in for example…). But am pleased that you “like”…
Almost Unschoolers says
July 22, 2010 at 8:01 pmThose are just excellent – I love them! And, it looks like Red Ted had a ball.
Charlene@Adventures-In-Mommy-Land says
July 22, 2010 at 8:14 pmI love the marionettes. They look great.
Although I have to admit, I’m not ready a bit ready for fall to arrive……..=)
Sarah says
July 22, 2010 at 10:35 pmwhat a great project! I love how they came out…so fun!!!
JDaniel4's Mom says
July 23, 2010 at 12:21 pmI love the puppets and the leaf rubbings. These are wonderful!
Anne@LittleSproutBooks says
July 23, 2010 at 6:07 pmAbsolutely adorable! Love the trimmed rolls to form the bird beak – so smart! Thanks for linking up to Little Sprout Books: Feed Me Books Friday is HERE!
coloradolady says
July 23, 2010 at 6:17 pmHow cute!!! that is a great idea!
threeundertwo says
July 23, 2010 at 8:18 pmWhat a resourceful person you are, adjusting the craft to suit his skills. The results speak for themselves. He is a lucky little guy, you feed his mind and his creativity so well. Thanks for linking up to Finished for Friday!
Ticia says
July 24, 2010 at 3:27 pmI love the project! I’ll have to think of a way we might do this.
Chari says
July 25, 2010 at 4:49 pmHello…
Ohhh…I love the marionettes! What a great art/craft project to do with the little ones! Your post took me back to when my three daughters were small and still at home…we were always crafting! Thanks for sharing your post with us today for Sunday Favorites…it’s sooo nice to have you join in with the fun!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
Red Ted Art says
July 25, 2010 at 5:35 pmNow you just have to wait for the grandchildren 😉 x
Becky says
July 26, 2010 at 7:02 amReally cute! my kiddos would love to make these, glad I found your site we will be homeschooling in the fall and will be checking back to steal some of your ideas!
Red Ted Art says
July 26, 2010 at 7:43 amI would be honoured to know that homeschooled children are deriving some benefit from my blog! 🙂
Kaysi @ Keeping It Simple says
July 27, 2010 at 12:34 amThose are adorable!!!! So creative!
Red Ted Art says
July 28, 2010 at 7:44 amThank you! Do have a go too!!
J. Hill says
July 27, 2010 at 1:03 amThanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party!
Red Ted Art says
July 28, 2010 at 7:44 amThank YOU for hosting such a fab link up!
vanessa @ silly eagle books says
July 27, 2010 at 1:27 pmI love how you reused the paper tubes and they puppets turned out beautifully!!
Red Ted Art says
July 28, 2010 at 7:43 amThank you ! Glad you like them! Do Get Crafty too!!
teachingyoungchildren says
July 27, 2010 at 5:13 pmI am adding the book and the craft to the list of things to try in the fall – very pretty!
Red Ted Art says
July 27, 2010 at 5:53 pmOh how lovely! Hope you enjoy the book and making some birds 🙂
icklebabe_com says
July 27, 2010 at 7:47 pmSuch a fab idea! and how cute is your little one? …Adorable! 🙂
Red Ted Art says
July 27, 2010 at 8:07 pmAaaah thanks! Glad you like them! We certainly had fun making them!! And yes, Red Ted loves painting the most of all our crafty activity! x
Audra says
August 2, 2010 at 3:58 amVery fun!
You don’t cease to amaze me! 🙂
Thanks for linking this up as well!
Red Ted Art says
August 2, 2010 at 11:31 amAaahhh, thank you for your kind words!!! And thanks for hosting the link up!!
Bridgette says
August 3, 2010 at 3:45 pmSorry I am late getting to see your project…thanks for joining us last week for Anything Related! ~Bridgette
amandab says
September 21, 2010 at 1:01 amSorry it’s taken me so long to read this, have had the page open for days, but a sick little girl has seen me a little bit busy in RL.
Love the leaf painting, I should do that with our box of collected leaves (if they aren’t too brittle) and the birds are lovely! Toilet roll craft is a favourite in our house 🙂
Michelle says
October 8, 2010 at 6:57 pmWhat a neat way to bring in Autumn.
I love the crafty birds you both made.
Amy says
October 8, 2010 at 7:32 pmThanks for the great leaf ideas. I know my little one will want to paint one for sure. Have a great day. Thanks for the second link up..
Pinkoddy says
March 4, 2013 at 10:11 amOh these a brilliant, am really looking at TRH craft atm. Have pinned.
Mama Carmody says
July 13, 2013 at 1:59 amI love your marionette birds. They are so cute. I look forward to making these with the little ones in my life.
Perrine says
August 15, 2013 at 1:59 amSo cute!!!!
I will do it with my boys, thank you so much!!!
Where did you find this cute yellow apron with the red apples?