Fall Craft-A-Thon: Easy DIYs for tweens, moms, and anyone who thinks hot glue is a lifestyle.
Fall may have officially checked in yesterday, but around here, we started celebrating the moment the morning air turned crisp, and the coffee tasted like a seasonal miracle. This weekend, autumn rolled in like a warm hug wrapped in plaid. By breakfast, my tween was already asking if we could decorate the dog. So naturally we hosted a full-blown Craft-a-thon, complete with 10 simple DIY crafts! The kind where the dining table disappears under felt scraps, the dog ends up wearing a leaf garland, and someone (my husband) gets way too confident with a glue gun.
My tween was the creative director, assigning projects and snack breaks with the authority of a seasoned party planner. Our black lab supervised from under the table, occasionally stealing a bead or two. And me? I was somewhere between proud mom and paint-covered project manager, soaking in the cozy mayhem that makes fall feel like home.
If you’re a seasoned DIY queen or just trying to survive the seasonal shift with your sanity intact, this roundup of easy fall crafts is here to help. These projects are simple enough for tweens to tackle solo (or with a little help), and fun enough for moms to join in without feeling like they’re stuck in preschool art class. You don’t have to knock them all out in one weekend—just keep the list handy for when you hear the dreaded “I’m bored” and need a quick creative rescue.
Craft #1: Leaf Garland
Supplies: Felt sheets, scissors, string, glue Why we love it: It’s cozy, colorful, and makes your living room look like a Pinterest board. Bonus twist: Add names or messages to each leaf for a gratitude-themed version.
Craft #2: Gratitude Jars
Supplies: Mason jars, paper strips or my free printable, markers, ribbon Why we love it: It’s a sweet way to reflect on the season—and sneak in some emotional check-ins with your tween. Bonus twist: Use fall-colored paper and save them for November to have a weekly “gratitude reveal” tradition.
Craft #3: Reverse Canvas Pumpkin
Supplies: Small canvas, paint, Styrofoam pumpkin, glue, x-acto knife or box cutter, twine, faux leaves, mini wood stems (or cinnamon sticks if you’re feeling spicy) Why we love it: It’s the perfect mix of rustic charm and DIY satisfaction. Bonus twist: Make a whole patch! Instead of just one canvas, create a series of mini pumpkins and hang them together as a seasonal gallery wall.
Craft #4: Glass Pumpkin Decor
Supplies: Jute twine, glass bubble bowl, hot glue, faux leaves Why we love it: It is effortlessly rustic, deceptively simple, and gives off serious “I spent hours crafting this” energy—even though you whipped it up in minutes. Bonus twist: Turn it into a seasonal centerpiece by adding a battery-operated tea light or fairy lights inside the bowl—instant autumn glow!
Craft #5: Fall Lanterns
Supplies: Mason jars, fall napkins, Mod Podge, battery tea lights Why we love it: Instant ambiance for fall movie nights or tween bedroom decor. Bonus twist: Add cinnamon sticks or dried orange slices for a scented version.
Craft #6: Yarn Pumpkins
Supplies: Chunky yarn (orange, cream, mustard—anything autumnal), paper towel roll, scissors, small twigs or cinnamon sticks (for stems), hot glue gun Why we love it: It’s simple, hands-on, and irresistibly cute. Bonus twist: Turn them into personalized place cards by tying name tags around the stems with twine or make a garland by stringing several together for a festive mantelpiece moment.
Craft #7: Cinnamon Stick Candles
Supplies: Pillar candle, cinnamon sticks, hot glue gun, twine or ribbon, optional embellishments like faux leaves or mini pinecones Why we love it: It’s rustic, smells amazing, and looks like something straight out of a cozy fall Pinterest board—without the stress or mess. Bonus twist: Wrap the candle in a strip of burlap or tuck in a handwritten tag for a personalized gift.
Craft #8: Beaded Harvest Corn
Supplies: Tan pipe cleaners, assorted beads Why we love it: It’s tactile, colorful, and totally kid-friendly—like jewelry-making meets harvest décor. Bonus twist: Twist multiple pipe cleaners together for jumbo corn or add green felt husks for a realistic touch. You can even string several together for a festive harvest garland!
Craft #9: Paint Pumpkins
Supplies: faux or real pumpkin, paint, sharpie, your thumb, (yes, really) Why we love it: It’s spooky-sweet and ridiculously easy. Just paint your pumpkin, press your thumb in white paint, and drag down and lift to create ghost shapes. Add little faces with a marker and boom—your pumpkin is haunted in the cutest way possible. Bonus Twist: Use different family members’ thumbprints to make a “Ghost Family Pumpkin.” Add names underneath each ghost and display it on the porch like your own spooky little guest list.
Craft #10: Pinecone Owl
Supplies: Pinecone, orange paper or felt, googly eyes, leaves, glue, sticks Why we love it: It’s woodland-chic, super cute, and easy to make with minimal mess. Tweens love adding funky eyes, wild wings, or glittery bellies for a personal touch. Bonus twist: Turn your pinecone owl into a fall ornament by adding a loop of twine at the top. Or glue it to a mini wood slice and add a name tag to make it a place card for Thanksgiving dinner. Whooo wouldn’t love that?
Final Thoughts
If your dining table looks like a craft store exploded and your dog is still wearing a leaf garland, congratulations—you’ve officially embraced fall the way it was meant to be: messy, magical, and full of heart. These 10 simple DIY crafts aren’t just projects; they’re memory-makers, boredom-busters, and the perfect excuse to slow down and create something together.
So whether you’re crafting with your tween, your coffee, or just your own two hands, remember: perfection isn’t the goal—connection is. And if your pumpkin ends up looking more like a lopsided potato, just call it “abstract autumn” and move on.
Now go forth, glue fearlessly, and celebrate the season with glitter, giggles, and gratitude. And if you try any of these projects, tag me—I’d love to see your fall masterpieces (and your leaf-decorated pets). Here’s mine:
From our love-filled, slightly glue-stained home to yours—happy fall, friends.
With coffee in one hand and gratitude in the other,
💛 Bethany