10 Fall Craft Ideas for the Whole Family

Originally Published on September 22, 2022. Last Updated on October 2, 2023.

Fall is a lovely time of year. The weather cools down, the leaves change, and the sweaters come out. And for many of us, fall is also the time to get some serious crafting done.

We found easy fall craft ideas you can do with your kids, friends, or on your own. The best part is that many of these ideas use items you probably have on hand. Read on to see these 10 fall crafts that will make your home gourd-geous. 

1. Canning Jar Pumpkins

Photo: Creative Moments

Why we love this craft: Canning rings are the underappreciated crowns of mason jars, and craft projects like this show off their versatility. Try using rings that may no longer be fit for canning (the dented or rusty ones), and pick any paint you want to add a pop of color.

You’ll need:

  • Canning jar rings
  • Glue gun and hot glue sticks
  • Pipe cleaners
  • (Optional) spray paint

Start by painting a few of the rings (or skip this step and leave the metal bare). Once dry, form them into a circle, securing the middle with a pipe cleaner. The final touch for these mini pumpkins is gluing cinnamon sticks to the centers.

2. Wooden Post Pumpkins

Photo: Diary of a Crafty Lady

Why we love this craft: Here’s a DIY project that’s fun for the whole family (once you put the power tools away, that is). All you need is a long 4×4 post, thick branches, sandpaper, wood glue, and orange and white exterior paint.

Here’s how you do it:

  1. Cut your post into blocks using a circular saw, and repeat the process with the branches.
  2. Sand your blocks on all sides.
  3. Glue a branch piece on top of each one.
  4. After the glue dries, paint your pumpkins.* 
  5. Once the paint is dry, display the creations on your front porch.

*In the Diary of a Crafty Lady post, the author uses painter’s tape and stencils to create the stripes and polka dots. If your children want to follow suit, that’s great. If not, let them paint whatever makes them happy (their names, a rainbow, a family portrait, etc.).

3. Bandana Wreath

Photo: Mom Home Guide

Why we love this craft: Front door wreaths are like jewelry for your house. This is a two-step craft you can finish in under 15 minutes, and the only supplies you need are bandanas in fall colors, scissors, and a wire wreath frame.

Lauren, the crafter behind the Mom Home Guide, cut each bandana into three strips. Then she secured every strip onto the frame using a lark’s head knot. Here’s how she did it: 

  1. Fold a bandana strip in half.
  2. Slide the looped end under the wreath frame.
  3. Lay the end pieces over the top of the frame.
  4. Feed the end pieces through the loop.
  5. Pull the ends toward the outside of the frame until the knot is taught.

4. Candle Sweaters

Photo: Bre Pea

Why we love this craft: This is a clever way to repurpose old clothes you no longer wear. Glass jar candles, old sweaters, a needle and thread, and scissors are all you need to start crafting.

Here’s how you do it:

  1. Slide a sleeve over the base of the candle, taking care not to pull the fabric over the mouth of the jar.
  2. Cut the sleeve off the sweater—extra fabric will hang off the bottom (which is what you want).
  3. Take the sleeve off the jar, turn it inside out, then slide it back on.
  4. Bunch the extra fabric together at the bottom of the jar, making sure not to pull the sleeve off. 
  5. Thread your needle and sew the fabric together, tightly wrapping the thread around the bunch and fastening it.
  6. Trim the excess fabric as close to the thread as possible.
  7. Remove the newly sewn sleeve, turn it right side out, then slip it back over the jar.

5. Tomato Stake Fall Tree

Photo: Burlap Kitchen

Why we love this craft: This project can be done with tomato stakes, pyramid trellises, or A-frame trellises (lean this last one against the wall). If you want your tree to transition from fall to holiday decor—use white lights and swap the leaf garland with evergreens. 

You’ll need:

  • 1 6’ tomato stake 
  • 1-2 strings of orange outdoor lights
  • 7-8 strands of leaf garland
  • 6 yards of burlap wire ribbon
  • Wire or twine

To make the tapering tree shape, turn your tomato stake upside down. Wrap the lights around the stake, starting at the bottom and working upward.* Repeat this process with the garland and ribbon, securing it to the stake with the wire. For a final, festive touch, set some ribbon aside that you can tie in a bow and use as a tree-topper. We give this project two green thumbs up. 

*Ensure the cable mount portion of the light strand is at the base so it can reach nearby outlets. 

6. Outdoor Leaf Garland

Photo: Celebrate & Decorate

Why we love this craft: It’s one of the easiest, least expensive fall crafts for kids. The only items you need are real leaves, yarn, cardboard, and a big plastic needle. (The needle isn’t sharp, so the risk of booboos is minimal.)

Here’s how you do it:

  1. Give your kids plastic bags and have them go outside to gather fall leaves (you’ll need a lot). 
  2. Cut the cardboard into a square roughly the same size as a leaf. 
  3. Cut a piece of yarn to your desired garland length. 
  4. Poke a hole in the center of the cardboard, feed one end of the yarn through it, and knot it on the other side so it won’t slip out. 
  5. Thread the other end of the yarn through your needle. 
  6. Gently push the needle through the center of a leaf, and pull the leaf along the yarn until it reaches the cardboard. 
  7. Repeat this process until you reach the end of your yarn.
  8. Secure the end with a knot.

7. Acorn Art

Photo: DIY & Crafts

Why we love this craft: Here’s a sparkly departure from your typical fall leaf or pumpkin crafts. The author even shows three methods to paint acorns, so you can leaf, laugh, love any way you want.

First, rinse and bake your acorns to eliminate dirt and bugs. After they’ve cooled, choose a well-ventilated workspace and one of the following application methods:

  • Paint your acorns with nail polish.
  • Brush on glue and roll or sprinkle them in loose glitter.
  • Spritz the acorns with spray glitter.

Once fully dry, style the acorns however you wish—scattered among your fall tablescape, displayed in a clear vase, or dotting a fall wreath.

8. Cheese Grater Centerpiece

Photo: Country Living

Why we love this craft: It’s so easy to put together, and this centerpiece works well with multiple farmhouse styles.

The trick to making this centerpiece work is using old metal cheese graters. Find these treasures at thrift shops, then display them on a wooden platter with flameless tealight candles flickering inside. Dried flowers or leaves around the outside add to the rustic look.

9. “Bleached” Pine Cones

Photo: Garden Therapy

Why we love this craft: We’re all about multifunctional decor, and the minimalist, Scandinavian vibes of these pine cones fit fall, holiday, and winter themes. The best part is no bleach is invloved. You’ll need pine cones, white acrylic or craft paint, a bucket of water, and wax paper.

Here’s how you do it:

  1. Grab a large plastic bucket and head out on a nature walk to collect the pine cones. 
  2. Put the bucket in a well-ventilated area, and pour in two parts water and one part paint. 
  3. Don your rubber gloves and dip the pine cones into the paint mixture. 
  4. Let excess paint drip off before placing the paint-covered cones on a sheet of wax paper to dry overnight.
  5. Once dry, use these “bleached” beauties to create eye-catching outdoor decor such as garlands, swags, wreaths, and more.

10. Junk-O’-Lanterns

Photo: Diva DIY

Why we love this craft: Besides having the best name ever, this fall season craft allows you to use up any bits and baubles you’ve held onto over the years. 

You’ll need:

  • 2″ x 4″ and 2″ x 6″ chunks of wood
  • Orange spray paint
  • Power drill and drill bits
  • Staple gun and staples
  • Glue gun and hot glue sticks
  • A bit of junk

Spray paint the wood pieces on all sides, and while they dry, sift through your junk drawer to see what you can find. Old knobs, buttons, metal hinges, broken jewelry—anything will work to build the faces and stems. Attach your materials to the wood using the appropriate methods (drilling holes to screw in knobs, hot gluing buttons and jewelry, etc.), then proudly display your junk-o’-lanterns for all to see.

FAQs

What can I make with fall fabric?

Use fall fabric to make a variety of decor, such as:

  1. Table runners
  2. Tablecloths
  3. Outdoor wreaths
  4. Napkins
  5. Pillowcases
  6. Pot holders
  7. Halloween costumes
  8. Quilts
  9. Tote bags
  10. Aprons

How can I decorate for fall with no money?

You can save money and decorate your home for fall by creating DIY decor with items you have on hand, such as clothes you no longer wear, real leaves and branches from your backyard, cardboard paper towel rolls, etc. Look for budget-friendly craft ideas online that meet your needs. 

What is the easiest way to decorate for fall?

The easiest way to decorate for fall is to use minimal decorations for a clean look (and less cleanup later). Choose reusable pieces you can set out season after season, and plant popular autumn perennials like mums and asters in the spring so they’ll have time to take root and bloom in the fall.

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