Tag Archives: Easy Fall Crafts

As Autumn Winds Down

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Depending on where you live, if you don’t have a lot of wind in autumn, you may still have some leaves on your trees. In Northern California where I am, there are still trees laden with golden leaves. However, if your leaves are all gone but you’re still in a fall mood, why not make some fall leaves and decorate with them? I designed this fun fall-themed photo holder as a way to bring all the color of fall inside where it is warm and cozy.

This is an easy fall craft project to make. I used unfinished wooden photo holders and AMACO Cloud Clay for the leaves. Cloud Clay is an air-dry clay so it’s easy to use for kids and adults and it can take quite a bit of detail as you can see in my Gingko leaves. If you don’t have a leaf mold in your stash, you can cut leaf shapes from Cloud Clay using regular scissors once it has dried a bit or you can use a cookie cutter. Cloud Clay colors can be mixed so you can get the colors of your choice – it’s a great medium to use for a range of fun crafts.

Here’s how to make this Fall photo stand :

materials

  • DecoArt Finish It Jumbo Paper Clip Photo Holders
  • AMACO Cloud Clay: Orange, White

tools

  • Acrylic roller (optional)
  • Leaf mold or leaf shape cookie cutter (optional)
  • Gesso
  • Acrylic paint: terra cotta, white
  • Glaze medium
  • White craft glue

basic supplies

scissors, paper towel, paintbrush

directions

Step 1

Paint the photo holders with a coat of gesso and set aside till dry.

Step 2

Paint the photo holders with two coats of terra cotta paint and set aside to dry.

Step 3

Make the leaves by mixing some Orange and White clay to get the color you want. I went for a golden color which matches the colors of the Gingko leaves. Knead the clay until it is soft and pliable. Pinch off enough Cloud Clay to fill your mold and then press the Cloud Clay into the mold to fill it. Release the Cloud Clay from the mold and set it aside to dry. You will need one leaf for each side of each photo holder.If you’re not using a mold, roll the clay to make a 3/8″ sheet and cut your leaf shapes from it using a cookie cutter. Alternately, wait until the clay is dry to the touch and cut leaf shapes from it using sharp scissors.

Step 4

Mix the white paint into some glaze medium and paint the photo holder with the white glaze. Immediately wipe the paint off with a paper towel.

Step 5

When the glaze layer is dry and your Gingko leaves are dry, adhere to the photo holders using Elmer’s white glue.

Step 6

Print some favorite fall photos and place in the photo holders. Sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy your personalized photo holder, perhaps contemplating other fun crafts to make this holiday season.

Check back over the next few days as we share more fun crafts for you to make and enjoy.

by Helen Bradley (www.craftinggoodness.com)

Vintage Button Wire Napkin Rings

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The cool, crisp touches of autumn have begun creeping into the air over the last few weeks and I realize it’s that time of year where I need to start making plans for my annual Thanksgiving crafts and ideas. It’s time to start thinking about which fall crafts I will do for my home, which I will do with my children, which I will do with a group of friends. Is this the year I will finally plan some actual Thanksgiving Day crafts…and if so, which easy Thanksgiving craft can I come up with to keep the kids busy while I baste the turkey, brown the bread, and bake the pies?

Well, this year I thought I was well ahead of schedule because I had decided to make some beautiful wire napkin rings as part of my holiday table décor. Sometimes just taking the time to make ONE new item to grace the holiday table is more important that cramming too much into this already busy holiday time. Today, I would like to share with you my idea that could easily be included in your handmade holiday Thanksgiving ideas list. With just the basic jewelry tools and a few great supplies, you too can add a touch of the unique to your holiday décor with this quick and easy Thanksgiving craft!

Vintage Button Wire Napkin Ring

size: approx. 1-1/2” diameter

Whether using true vintage buttons with family memories attached or fabulous replicas like those shown here, these gorgeous napkin rings will lend a touch of nostalgia and charm to any tablescape.

Materials

  • Pure copper wire, 14-gauge,  12” length (for each ring)
  • Beadalon Gunmetal Artistic Wire, 20-gauge
  • Buttons Galore & More Gold Vintage Button with Shank Back
  • Connie Crystal Round Bead, 6mm, two (for each ring)

Tools

  • Heavy-duty wire cutters
  • Beadalon: Wire Snips, Round-Nose Pliers, Chain-Nose Pliers
  • Midas Black/Brown Patina
  • Wooden dowel, 1-1/2” diameter (or mandrel)
  • Hot glue gun and sticks

Basic Supplies

ruler

Directions

1. Cut 12” length of copper wire. Wrap around around wooden dowel three times. Remove from dowel and dip wire into diluted Black/Brown Patina following manufacturer’s instructions. Let dry.

2. Once wire ring is fully dried, thread gold vintage button onto center of middle wrap. Use hot glue to attach button to ring.

3. Use round-nose pliers to turn ends of wire into small curls at each end.

4. Use wire snips to cut  two 3” lengths of Gunmetal wire. Thread one round crystal onto center of wire. Wrap one end of wire just below top curl at end of wire ring. Wrap three times above and three times below crystal; use wire snips to trim ends. Use chain-nose pliers to press ends of wire against wire ring. Repeat with second length of wire on opposite end of napkin ring.

5. Repeat Steps 1-4 for each additional napkin ring needed.

Keri Lee Sereika (www.pinklemonade.typepad.com)

 

Simple Autumn Napkin Rings

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Just like that, the shorter days of autumn are on us. Cooler, crisper days often kick up our creativity, but the demands of life such as school and work leave us with little time to create. If you have been searching for simple fall crafts to make, consider creating these miniature wreaths to adorn your fall table.

With just a few supplies, you will be creating these fall crafts that are as simple as they are fun. You might want to make one for the fall celebration hostess or even your neighbors and friends. They will be delighted to receive these fun fall crafts perfect for autumn decorating.

Gather some unfinished wood pieces such as wood rings, beveled napkin rings, and small ovals. Paint them brown, adding a coat of white to the small ovals when they are dry.

Choose a die cut that is leaf shaped or contains leaf-shaped elements such as this flower layer die by Sizzix. Cut several leaves from various fall colors of wool felt.

Adhere them around the wood ring to resemble a tiny wreath.

 

To add a fun touch to this simple fall craft, apply a rub-on sentiment on the white oval.

Adhere the oval to the center of the wreath.

Adhere the napkin ring to the wood ring to complete this colorful, festive craft!

Melony Bradley (www.mel-designs.typepad.com)

 

Fall Fleece Pumpkin

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Decorate your home with this quick-and-easy pumpkin – make in various sizes and shades to create your own unique pumpkin patch!

Materials

  • Orange fleece, 12” x 24”
  • Polyester fiberfill
  • Jute twine, 2-ply
  • Natural raffia
  • Brown paper lunch bag

Tools

  • Sewing needle with orange thread
  • Glue gun and sticks

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler

Directions

Note

Adult supervision for kids is needed when using a glue gun.

Pumpkin

1. With right sides together, use a running stitch to sew short ends of fleece together in a 1/2” seam. Use long running stitches to sew along one long edge, pull up threads to gather, knot and clip threads. Turn fleece right side out. Stuff with fiberfill. Gather stitch at top of pumpkin; knot and clip threads.

2. To make the grooved sections, cut a 22” length from twine. Center twine at bottom of pumpkin, and pull up ends to make slight indent; tie ends together in a knot at top. Repeat two more times so grooved sections are approximately 4” apart. Trim twine ends.

3. For stem, measure 5” from top of bag and cut; discard bottom. Leaving bottom of stem flared out, twist remaining portion of bag forming a stem. Adhere stem to top of pumpkin. Tie several strands of raffia in a bow around stem.

Tip

For larger or smaller pumpkins, follow above instructions, cutting different size pieces of fleece. Use various shades of orange if desired.

by Sharon Cindrich

Leafy Inspiration

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Hello, crafters! My name is Suzanne Czosek and I’m excited to be part of the new Crafts ‘n things Blog Team. I live in northern Illinois with my husband, three kids, and two dogs. I will be sharing my creative ideas with you here twice each month.

Fall breezes are blowing here in Illinois. The leaves on the trees are painted in beautiful hues of yellow, orange and red. I decided to go out and pick up a few leaves from outside to use on an autumnal card.

I started with my leaves, STAEDTLER Aquarell Watercolor Crayons, and a STAEDTLER drawing paper to create this leaf inspired card:

To create my background, I laid the leaves vein side up onto my work surface. I placed the drawing paper over the leaves. Next, I peeled away the watercolor crayon wrapper to expose the crayon and rubbed the crayon lengthwise over the leaves under the paper. This creates the outline of the leaves on the paper.

Helpful Tip: The drawing paper was a lighter weight of cardstock and allowed the technique to capture texture from the paper and the veins. The heavier the cardstock, the more pressure you need to apply to make the veins appear.

To allow the watercolor crayon to soften and to add a splash of fall colors, the surface was spritzed with yellow, orange and red Glimmer Mists. The red was squirted a few times to get splotches of red. Let dry.

To add a little more definition to the leaves, I colored in the leaves using STAEDTLER Aquarell watercolor pencils and a waterbrush.

To finish off the card, mount the leafy background onto ivory cardstock.

Stamp Artistic Outpost Old Grist Mill leaf onto white cardstock using yellow, orange, red and brown dye inks. Cut out leaves with detail scissors.

Add Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint over leaves; let dry.

Stamp Memory Box Happy Fall stamp onto ivory cardstock using brown ink. Cut into tag shape and punch hole at end.

Tie twine several times around leafy background and attach tag and leaves. Mount onto brown card base.

Hope this inspires you to head out and look for some beautiful autumn leaves. Happy fall!

Suzanne Czosek from Suzz’s Stamping Spot (www.suzzstampingspot.blogspot.com)