FPHATTY'S CRAFT CORNER

Fall’s gray skies have rolled over us, setting the mood for piles of leaves, pumpkins, ghosts, and ghouls. It’s the perfect time for craft-making. You may remember our project from a few years ago: JFK and Jackie ‘O Lanterns. Today we’ll concentrate on something a bit less perishable: scarecrows. Now, true craft aficionados agree that our possessions aren’t worth having unless we make them ourselves. However, the hustle and bustle of everyday life leaves little room for do-it-yourselfing. Well, I’ll have no excuses today. The materials needed for this project are easily accessible. A good start is to browse through your closet for items to dress your scarecrow in. Next, find two sturdy poles and fashion them into a “T” shape. Splintery wooden posts have a great effect, but make sure the materials you choose can endure 40-90 pounds of weight. Now comes the fun part! Call all the neighborhood kiddies over and have them try on items from your pile of clothes in order to find the best look for your creation. Decide on your favorite, and offer that dressed-up child either a Werther’s Original or a Chocolate Riesen to stand by the pre-erected pole. Note: before the children gather, you should set up a booby trap-- the kind made of a looped rope draped over a tree and resting on the ground-- like you see in cartoons. Have the kid stand in just the right place and the trap will set off. With the kid’s mouth full of sticky German candy, no one will hear it scream for help. Secure its wrists and ankles using torn strips of pretty Fall fabric. Save one piece to cover the mouth. Voila! With hardly any work you have your very own scarecrow! I assure you, the whimpers and squeals it makes are only evidence the child is loving every minute of their adventure. The only maintenance needed is a daily handful of Riesen or Werther’s to keep the kid quiet-- I mean, well-nourished.