I just love scarecrows!  They just stand around without a care in the world and are just a traditional sign of Autumn magic. Each year the girls and I create a new scarecrow using clothes they have outgrown from last year's stash; some years we even have two!  We also add lots of cute purchased scarecrows around the house and yard, you never know where you might run into one! 

A traditional scarecrow is basically a crossed figure that has been dressed and stuffed to add volume. Feel free to improvise on this basic design, based on what you have on hand. For example, while we suggest pieces of timber, lengths of plastic or metal pipe will work just as well. Straw, wadded fabric or even newspaper will do for stuffing.

What you will need:
Two pieces of timber (one slightly longer than the other) alternatively two pieces of timber (one slightly shorter than the other)
Nails or screws and string or wire.
Pantyhose, tights or a small flour bag for the head
Needle and thread or stapler.
Straw, or other material for stuffing

What to do:
Attach the two pieces of timber together to form a cross. Make sure that the arms are not too long for a shirt or jacket to be put on later.   If you are using stockings for the head, cut off the legs and put one inside the other for extra strength.  Stuff it into the shape of a head. Tie the head loosely at the neck end.   Paint a face on with acrylic paint or permanent marker, or stitch features with wool or thread.  Slide the head onto the short end of the vertical pole, then, attach the head to the body by tying tightly with string or wire.  Pumpkins, balls, gourds, masks or cut-out discs may also be used for heads.  From here, use your own creativity.  Drape any clothing onto the poles.  Stuff and tie off at the wrist, ankles and waist.  Attach strands of wool, straw or other fiber under a hat.
Tie gloves to the outstretched ends of the crossbar.  Experiment with any materials you can find. Using a broom handle, make a deep hole in the ground for the scarecrow pole to stand in.  Once your scarecrow is in place, stamp the earth down well to hold it firmly in place.

Your scarecrow probably won't keep birds out of your garden, (who would want to anyway?), but it will delight passers-by.

Here are some fun scarecrow songs for young kids and the young at heart scarecrow lover (hey, that's me!).

I'm a Little Scarecrow
(tune: I'm A Little Teapot)

I'm a little scarecrow short and fat.
Here are my gloves and here is my hat.
When the crows fly down to eat the crops.
I clap my hands and the birds fly off.
(add actions)


Scarecrow, Scarecrow
(tune: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear)

Scarecrow, scarecrow, turn around.
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch the ground.
Scarecrow, scarecrow, reach up high.
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch the sky.
Scarecrow, scarecrow, bend down low.
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch your toe.