MAKE LIKE A TREE The Best Fall-Themed Leaf Crafts
A CRAFT FOR GROWN-UPS: CLAY LEAF BOWLS These simple little bowls bring an elegant touch of fall to the indoors and can be used to hold candles, keys — or pretty much anything!
Summer is over, and when there’s a chill in the air, it’s tempting to stay inside all day. Don’t let your family hibernate in front of a screen for the next six months. Get active with these fun crafts, using the most abundant resource of the season: leaves! A CRAFT FOR KIDS: LEAF CRITTERS With this fun project, the leaves in your backyard transform into works of art featuring your kids’ favorite animals.
MATERIALS • Air-dry clay • Leaves • Clay roller • Clay scissors or craft scalpel • Aluminum foil
MATERIALS • Paper • Glue • Lots of leaves
DIRECTIONS 1. Roll your clay out to a 1/4-inch thickness and place each leaf, vein side down, onto the clay. Run your roller over the leaf, pressing it into the clay and making your clay thinner at the same time. 2. Cut the excess clay from around the leaf to produce the desired shape. 3. Create a small bowl out of aluminum foil to cradle the clay leaf while it dries into a bowl shape. Remove the tree leaf and let the clay dry overnight. Be sure to flip the clay over at some point so the underside dries too. 4. Once the clay is dry, you can paint your bowls or coat them in a clear varnish to enjoy a minimalist look.
DIRECTIONS 1. This project works best with leaves of different shapes and sizes. Does that big, round leaf look like a squirrel tail? Is there a long, skinny leaf that would be perfect for a butterfly’s body? Let your kids go through the leaves and think of what masterpiece they can create. 2. It helps to arrange all the leaves on a piece of paper first, then glue them down once your child knows how they want to piece their creation together. Cover the whole side of each leaf with glue and press it firmly onto the paper so that it lies flat. Repeat until all the leaves are glued down. Place the critter somewhere safe to dry before hanging it up for all to see.
Who says the fun has to end with summer?With a little imagination and a whole lot of leaves, your family can create amazing works of art together!
BEAT THE RISING COST OF TUITION The Ins and Outs of 529 Savings Plans
This September, a new generation of future thinkers, innovators, and leaders will be getting their starts as college freshmen. However, the vast majority of these bright young minds won’t just be taking in new knowledge — they’ll be taking on a mountain of debt. Because of this, more and more parents, grandparents, and guardians are seeking education investment strategies early in their children’s lives to meet the ever-rising cost of tuition. If you start saving early, you have several financial avenues at your disposal. 529 PLANS Otherwise known as “qualified tuition plans,” 529 plans are state-sponsored savings programs specially designed for those who want to make a long-term investment in a loved one’s higher education. Authorized by section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, these are tax-advantaged plans that are looked on favorably by financial aid assessors.
Under the umbrella of 529 plans are two types of savings options: savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. Deciding which is right for your child depends on your risk tolerance and how many options you want to give your budding scholar.
SAVINGS VERSUS PREPAID TUITION
While both savings plans and prepaid tuition plans have the same tax and financial aid advantages, they take very different approaches to meeting your fiscal goals. Savings plans consist of one or more investment portfolios designed to grow more conservative as your student approaches college age. Prepaid tuition plans are usually offered directly by public schools and allow you to purchase tuition “credits” at today’s prices rather than waiting to find out the cost of education by the time your child comes of age.
WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
The savings plan/prepaid tuition divide boils down to this: Would you rather take on some risk with an investment strategy and be able to provide tuition payments no matter where your student goes to college? Or would you rather secure their education here and now, with the caveat that they may be limited to certain state universities? These are tough questions to answer, but a trusted financial advisor can help you find the best fit for you and your family.
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