Simple DIY Crafts & Fall Decorating Ideas

Are you ready for a two simple DIY Crafts today? I love simple and inexpensive fall decorating ideas. They are perfect for my budget and my time. How about your budget and time?

Simple DIY crafts and fall decorating ideas to make a pretty and inexpensive fall garland from realcoake.com

Today, I’m going to show you how to make pretty glittery leaves and pumpkins and how to turn those into a garland you can use in many different places around your home. I’ve got the tutorials for you along with some tips to make your crafting time go just a little more smoothly.

Supplies:

Wood cut outs

Paint (optional)

Mod Podge

Glitter

Paintbrush

Yarn

Tape or Hot glue gun or Mini clothespins

In my project, I started by painting my wood pumpkins and leaves with Mod Podge. I would recommend that you start by painting your cut outs a base color. If you are using a darker color glitter, you may not need this step, but I used a light orange color glitter. The end result was pretty and also washed out. It would have looked better, brighter and more noticeable with a coat of orange paint first.

Make sure if you paint your cut outs, that you let the paint dry completely before you add the Mod Podge and glitter.

After your coat of paint is fully dry, apply the Mod Podge. While the Mod Podge is still wet, sprinkle your glitter. I always do this process on an old cookie sheet. It keeps the glitter contained and easy to clean up.

If you want to make some fall looking leaves, use multiple colors of glitter. I used three colors, red, orange, and dark brown.

Start with your red glitter and make a base coat. Add some of the orange you used on your pumpkins. Finally fill in the remaining space with your dark color. My dark color was so dark it almost looked black. I had to use it very sparingly. If your dark color is really dark like that, just go easy or your leaf will look burnt…which is totally not a great look, trust me!

Easy peasy, cute fall craft. Now what to do with the craft you just had fun making…hmmm…I’m not going to leave you hanging. I have another easy idea for you.

It is really easy to use the glitter wood cut outs and make a cute fall garland that you can use in different places around your home. I started with crocheting a long single crochet strand on which to place my leaves and pumpkins.

I recently re-learned how to crochet with this Online Crochet Class at Craftsy.com. I’m enjoying remembering what I knew how to do as a kid. You can also use a single or double strand of yarn if you don’t know how to crochet {or you can take that class and learn how ;-)}.

Once you lay your pattern out, just tape or hot glue your pumpkins and leaves to your yarn. It is that easy to create a cute garland.

For this garland, I crocheted a long double crochet strand. This stitch was also taught in the same class on Craftsy.com. I wanted this strand to be more sturdy so I could attach my glitter pumpkins and leaf with mini clothespins. I used this smaller garland to add a little fall to the stairway/ entry hallway.

Above you can see the picture of the garland I put on my mantel. It didn’t photograph very well because of the light colors. It does actually look cute in person and adds a definite fall touch to my mantel. It was also a quick and easy craft and way fall decorating idea.

What kinds of fall crafts have you made this year? Any cute fall decorating ideas you want to share?