Fall DIY fun for young and not so old ;)

It's the season of cinnamon spice, pumpkins, and your favorite hoodie! The air has a chill, the leaves start falling, and the summer season winds down. My favorite time of year...

Do you love to DIY?? This is for you. But, if you are like me, and diy isn't your favorite thing on a fall day, stick with me anyway...there are some fun things in here others may enjoy - feel free to share or let your kiddos make some of these! There is even a special activity for those favorite littles in your life...


Halloween Diffuser Cauldron or Autumn Pumpkin 
Here is a simple and fun seasonal decor using your diffuser + favorite fall oils! 
You will need:
  • Your diffuser
  • A plastic decorative cauldron or galvanized pumpkin
  • Orange & Clove essential oils 
    Poke a hole on the side/ bottom of the cauldron/pumpkin, if plastic, for the diffuser's cord. If using metal, simply set the diffuser in and lift the cord out the back. Fill with water, add oils, turn on. Add spider web or tissue paper on top of the cauldron as desired!

  • Pumpkin Succulent Diffuser
    Create a cute, fun and festive centerpiece with a pumpkin, some succulents and essential oils! 
    • Plastic pumpkins - real work as well but don't last as long
    • Potting soil 
    • Small succulents 
    • Natural materials - wood slices, Spanish moss, small pine cones, wood rings, etc. (find them at the craft store)
    • Essential oils of choice
      Simply cut the top off your pumpkin and scoop out the insides if you're using a real one. Fill about 3/4 with soil, then plant 2-3 small succulents into the top. Add moss, wood slices and rings, small pinecones, anything fall and festive that will soak in essential oils. Add 3-4 drops of oil to the porous materials for a 'diffuser' or spritz with a DIY room spray (witch hazel + water + EOs) every few days! *NOTE: If you use a real pumpkin, this will only last about a month at most. Using a plastic or ceramic pumpkin will extend the life of the diffuser/succulents indefinitely.

  • Festive Wreath Diffuser 
    Create your own festive wreath (and switch it out each season!) with some florals and essential oils.
  • DIY Scented Pine Cones 
    This is a fun one because you get yourself outside and collect pinecones in various shapes and sizes. If you have kids they will love doing this with you!
    • Preheat oven to 200°
    • Line an old baking sheet with aluminum foil
    • Place pinecones on baking sheet
    • Bake pinecones for 30 minutes
    • Remove from oven and let cool completely
    • In a ceramic, glass or stainless bowl add pinecones, then add essential oils of your choice about 30 total drops. Seal the bowl & shake so that the oils soak into the pinecones. Leave the bowl in a cool dark place for at least one week. The longer you can leave the bowl covered the better your pinecones will be scented.
    • Now they are ready to be displayed on your favorite tray!

  • Cinnamon Pinecone Fire Starters 
    This craft is a very simple one that kids LOVE! It starts with gathering pine cones, which is always a fun fall task.
    • Pine cones in various sizes
    • Yarn of desired color (or even dryer lint!)
    • Essential oils
      • Gather your pine cones and spray with diluted Thieves Cleaner, then let sit overnight to dry. Once dry, wrap the yarn around the pine cones as desired. You can wrap all of it in the center or cover the whole thing - it's up to you! Just weave the yarn through the individual ‘leaves' of the pine cone. Drop a few drops of Cinnamon Bark essential oil onto the yarn and let it sit overnight. Store then next to the fireplace, and add 2-3 to the wood when starting a fire!
Pumpkin Preserving Spray 
Do your pumpkins get eaten by squirrels or rot super quickly after you put them on your porch? Save them with this super easy DIY! 
To a 16 oz glass spray bottle add:
  • One capful of Thieves Household Cleaner 
  • 10 drops of Tea Tree. 
  • Fill the rest of the way with water!
    Use this to clean your pumpkins once before putting them all out (and try to keep them out of direct sunlight so they last even longer!), then spray as needed to preserve them as long as possible. Spritz your pumpkins every other day to keep the squirrels away!!

  • Pumpkin Pie Play DoughAn activity for the kids with the option of being free of harmful dyes and ingredients and leaves the house and their little hands smelling AMAZING plus it has immune boosting properties! You can make this together, super easy, then let them play the crisp, fall day away!!
    • 2 cups cornstarch
    • 1 cup Kidscents lotion
    • 4 drops Cardamom
    • 2 drops Orange
    • 1 drop Cinnamon bark
    • 1 drop Clove
    • Mix all the ingredients together and let their imaginations run wild!

      Next week we'll get you in the kitchen and bringing in all those smells of fall!!

Fall fun and not just back to school!!

STAYING FOCUSED...
Whether you're helping your little ones with homework, helping older kids stay focused in class, or needing some help yourself, these are some of our favorite oils for staying focused and alert!
  • Vetiver
  • Cedarwood
  • Brain Power
  • KidScent GeneYus
  • Inspiration
  • Envision
Why these? A study on essential oils and focus by Dr. Terry Friedmann found a 32% improvement in mental focus in children inhaling Vetiver, with similar results in the group inhaling Cedarwood Cedarwood. 
They realized that this is because of a specific constituent (a component of the oils). Vetiver and Cedarwood are extremely high in sesquiterpenes - molecules that deliver oxygen molecules to cells, just like hemoglobin does to the blood! More oxygen to the brain = better focus. These oils also help our brain waves calm from an overactive state to a focused one.
  • Cedarwood 98% sesquiterpenes
  • Vetiver 97% sesquiterpenes
  • Spikenard 93% sesquiterpenes
  • Sandalwood 90% sesquiterpenes

  • CLEANING...AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL...
Thieves Household Cleaner is our absolute favorite for green, plant-based cleaning. You know we use this in our homes, but did you know that a lot of teachers will use it in their classrooms as well?! So many people have gifted it along with a glass spray bottle to their kids' teachers to use daily in their classrooms. Spice it up with one of these recipes!
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A good night of sleep always makes you feel amazing, but did you know that sleep has even more effects than just having energy? It is a huge part of Your ability to focus, your immune system, and your ability to retain information! Sleep is crucial...Great oil choices are Peace & Calming, Cedarwood, Valor, Lavender, SleepyIze, Seedlings Calm, Tranquil. Immupro or Sleep Essence are my go to supplements. Have you tried Unwind or KidScents MightyPro? More and more research shows that a healthy gut is crucial for all things...including sleep!

              Nighttime Linen Spray: 
                                                        Spray this onto sheets, blankets, pjs and stuffed animals before bed.
  • Glass spray bottle
  • 30 drops Peace & Calming
  • 15 drops Lavender
  • Splash of witch hazel
  • Water
AFTER SCHOOL OR WEEKEND FUN!! 
Pumpkin Pie Play Dough Fun for the kids with the option of being free of harmful dyes and ingredients and leaves the house and hands smelling AMAZING plus it has immune boosting properties! Super easy to make together, then let them play the crisp, fall day away!!
  • 2 cups cornstarch
  • 1 cup Kidscents Lotion
  • 4 drops Cardamom
  • 2 drops Orange
  • 1 drop Cinnamon bark
  • 1 drop Clove
  • Mix all the ingredients together and let their imaginations run wild!
DIY Clay Leaf Tray This DIY tray is a fun craft for the little ones to make and gift! Before the clay hardens, you can drop essential oils onto it. Choose stronger scents like Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Thieves or Peppermint to ensure more scent. 
First, explore around your yard and gather your leaves! Cut out a piece of air dry clay, then roll it out about 1/2 inch thick, making sure your leaf will fit fully onto the clay. Then, press your leaf (vein side down) onto the clay. Make sure all parts of the leaf press in so that you get all the pretty nuances of the leaf!

Remove the leaf from the clay, and cut around the outline with a knife (have adults do this part), then remove the excess air dry clay from around your imprint. Go around the perimeter of the leaf and gently press the sides up and in to create a small edge If adding oils, do so now. 

Allow the clay to air dry and harden. We set ours on a baking rack so that both sides were exposed to air. After 24 hours they had hardened and were ready to paint!

Paint! Once the paint is dry, cover with a coat of Modge Podge gloss, then let that dry for 24 hours. After the coating is dry, have your children sign the back and write the year.

I'd love to see pics of your playdough fun and leaf creations! Post them in Intentional Wellness on Facebook!