Fall is one of the best seasons for crafting. Leaves, pinecones, acorns and small pumpkins are free or cheap, the colors are warm and the projects can stay up from September through Thanksgiving. Many fall crafts take less than an hour and work for both adults decorating the home and children looking for a rainy-day activity.
This guide covers easy fall craft projects with the materials, rough time and difficulty for each, how to collect and prepare natural materials, tips for crafting with children and how to make simple projects look finished. It is general guidance. Costs are approximate and depend on what you already have.
Gather your basic supplies
Most fall crafts use a small set of supplies: a hot glue gun or craft glue, scissors, twine or ribbon, acrylic or chalk paint, brushes, cardstock, mason jars and a few battery tea lights. Add natural materials collected outside, such as leaves, pinecones, acorns, twigs and small branches. Dollar stores and the seasonal section of discount stores are good places to find faux leaves, small pumpkins and wreath forms.
Choose a palette of two or three colors, such as orange, cream and brown or deep red, mustard and green, so the finished projects look good together around the house.
Fifteen easy fall craft projects
| Project | Main materials | Time and skill |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf garland | Pressed or faux leaves, twine, glue or clips | 30 minutes, easy |
| Painted pumpkins | Small pumpkins, acrylic or chalk paint | 1 hour, easy |
| Pinecone fire starters or décor | Pinecones, string, optional paint or glitter | 30 minutes, easy |
| Mason jar leaf lanterns | Jars, leaves, decoupage glue, tea lights | 45 minutes, easy |
| Fall wreath | Grapevine or foam wreath form, faux leaves, ribbon | 1 to 2 hours, medium |
| Acorn cap decorations | Acorns, paint, glue | 45 minutes, easy |
| Twig and yarn wall hanging | Branch, yarn in fall colors | 1 hour, easy |
| Book page pumpkins | Old book pages, cardboard stem, glue | 45 minutes, medium |
| Leaf rubbing art | Leaves, paper, crayons | 20 minutes, kids |
| Handprint tree | Paper, washable paint | 20 minutes, kids |
| Paper plate scarecrow | Paper plates, yarn, paper, glue | 30 minutes, kids |
| Cinnamon stick candle holders | Glass votive, cinnamon sticks, twine | 30 minutes, easy |
| Burlap table runner | Burlap fabric, fabric glue or simple stitching | 1 hour, easy |
| Fabric scrap pumpkins | Fabric scraps, stuffing, cinnamon stick stem | 1 hour, medium |
| Gratitude jar | Jar, paper slips, ribbon | 20 minutes, family |
Example: A family wants something festive for the front door without buying a wreath. They collect fallen leaves and small branches on a weekend walk, press the leaves in a heavy book for a few days and attach them to a grapevine wreath form with a glue gun, adding a burlap bow. The finished wreath costs a few dollars, and the children enjoyed collecting the leaves as much as making it.
Preparing natural materials
Natural materials last longer and stay cleaner with a little preparation. Collect leaves when they are dry and have bright color, then press them between paper towels inside a heavy book for several days, or iron them between sheets of wax paper on a low setting with adult supervision. Coating dried leaves with decoupage glue helps keep their color.
Pinecones and acorns can carry insects and dirt. Clean them by brushing off debris and baking on a foil-lined tray at a low oven temperature, watching closely, or by soaking them and letting them dry fully. Only collect from places where it is allowed, and take a small amount from any one area.
Step-by-step: making a leaf garland
- Collect leaves. Choose dry, colorful leaves of different shapes and sizes.
- Press them flat. Place them between paper towels in a heavy book for three to five days.
- Seal the leaves. Brush a thin coat of decoupage glue on each side and let it dry.
- Measure your twine. Cut a length that fits your mantel, doorway or window with extra for hanging.
- Attach the leaves. Use small dots of glue or mini clothespins, spacing leaves evenly and alternating colors.
- Hang and adjust. Hang the garland and shift leaves so it looks balanced from across the room.
Step-by-step: painted pumpkins without carving
Painted pumpkins last much longer than carved ones and are safer for children. Start by wiping the pumpkins clean and letting them dry. Apply a base coat of acrylic or chalk paint, using two thin coats rather than one thick one. Once dry, add details such as stripes, polka dots, simple faces or a monogram with a small brush or paint pen. Seal with a clear spray or brush-on sealer if the pumpkins will sit outside. Faux craft pumpkins work the same way and can be repainted next year with a different color scheme.
Budget ideas that cost almost nothing
Some of the most charming fall decorations use things you would otherwise throw away. Clean glass jars become lanterns and vases. Cardboard tubes become owls and pumpkins for children’s crafts. Fabric from old flannel shirts makes soft pumpkins and garlands. Fallen branches painted white or left natural look striking in a tall vase. Even a bowl of pinecones, acorns and small apples on a table looks seasonal and costs nothing.
Crafting with kids
Children enjoy fall crafts most when they help gather materials and make choices. Choose projects with short steps and visible results, such as leaf rubbings, handprint trees and paper plate scarecrows. Use washable paint and child-safe scissors, cover the table with newspaper or an old sheet and keep hot glue guns and sharp tools for adults. Small items such as acorns and googly eyes can be choking hazards for young children, so supervise closely.
Crafts can also become family traditions. A gratitude jar, where each person writes one thing they are thankful for each day in November, makes a meaningful centerpiece by Thanksgiving.
Make simple crafts look finished
A few habits help homemade projects look polished. Group items in odd numbers, such as three painted pumpkins of different sizes. Repeat materials and colors across the room so pieces look related. Add texture with burlap, twine, wood and greenery. Use warm light from battery candles or string lights to make natural materials glow. Finally, edit: a few well-made pieces look better than a crowded shelf.
Storing crafts for next year
Many fall crafts can be reused for years. Store wreaths and garlands flat or hung in a closet, pack fragile items in tissue paper in labeled boxes and keep dried natural materials in sealed containers so they stay dry and free of pests. Real pumpkins, of course, need to be composted after the season.
Common questions
What are the easiest fall crafts for adults
Painted pumpkins, leaf garlands, mason jar lanterns and cinnamon stick candle holders are quick, low-cost and look good in most homes.
What fall crafts can toddlers do
Leaf rubbings, handprint trees and sticker or paper collages are simple and safe with supervision.
How do I preserve leaves for crafts
Press them in a heavy book for several days, then seal them with decoupage glue. Ironing between wax paper with adult supervision also works.
How do I clean pinecones before crafting
Brush off dirt and dry them thoroughly. Many crafters bake them at a low temperature on a foil-lined tray, watching closely, to remove moisture and pests.
Before you start
Pick a simple color palette, gather a few basic supplies and collect natural materials on a dry day. Choose projects that fit the time you have and the ages of your helpers, and keep hot tools and small parts away from young children.
Editorial note: This article is general crafting guidance. Costs and times are approximate. Follow product labels for glue, paint and tools, supervise children closely and never leave heated tools or an oven unattended.