It’s that time of year again- all things Fall have entered the stores, our coffees, and (hopefully) the cooling air around us. Which means that everything at the thrift store starts looking like pumpkins and leaves, and all sorts of Fall craft ideas begin to take shape. So, if you’ve been looking for some upcycling inspiration with an autumnal spin, you’ve definitely come to the right place.
Stained Glass Pumpkins
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Clear glass pumpkins are easy to find at home/craft stores and even your local thrift stores. But transforming them into stained glass pumpkins is not only fun and easy, but makes them quite magical at night.
Fall Craft Ideas with Flannel
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Fall and flannel go together like peanut butter and jelly- so it’s no surprise to see it on a fall wreath! This abstract take on a leaf wreath can be used with any fabrics you have on hand and is a fabulous scrap buster project, as well.
The tutorial for this flannel leaf wreath can be found in my book, “Crafting with Flannel”, by Sarah Ramberg.
Tweed Acorns
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Plush acorns made from tweed jackets are one of the more unexpected fall craft ideas you didn’t know you needed until now. And their cap? A thrifted salad bowl, believe it or not.
Fall Sign on a Cabinet Door
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
There are a LOT of great Fall quotes out there that are perfect for capturing on festive fall signs like this. This quote says it all, doesn’t it? And I love how the natural wood from this thrifted cabinet door lends a warm and golden glow to everything.
Copper Pan Wreath
Image credit: Dukes and Duchesses.
A cake pan or Jello mold– especially in copper- is a fun and unexpected item to upcycle into a wreath. The color is right on target and the shape lends itself well to filling with all of fall’s finest- pumpkins, leaves, etc.
Pumpkin Trinket Box
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
This perfect little pumpkin is definitely more than meets the eye. Constructed from a pair of salad bowls, it doubles as a trinket box for all your smallest treasures. I love fall craft ideas that are as cute as they are functional.
Fall Craft Ideas with Gold Leaf
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Wooden leaf dishes are pretty enough on their own. But the addition of multi-color gold leaf flakes capture the entire spectrum of autumn colors in one single craft project.
Flannel-Covered Books
Image credit: Organized Clutter.
Metaphorically speaking, thrift store books are a dime a dozen. But bookmark this idea for the cheap hardcovers you have no intention of reading. Don’t they look fabulous when wrapped in flannel and decorated with Fall-themed words?
Fall Pumpkins from Wooden Trays
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Small wooden trays and shallow bowls that have handles are ideal pieces to transform into pumpkins, aren’t they? Those short handles are like built-in stems for a quick makeover that results in something charming AND functional.
Cheese Box Lid Wreath
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Upcycling cheese boxes is certainly nothing new. But the lid alone is ideal for wreath making, isn’t it? Plus, with the right stenciled saying, it doubles as a fall sign.
Pumpkin Pillow
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Adding some Fall-themed throw pillows to your sofas and beds is always a fun way to add touches of autumn to your home. And in this case, a (clean) thrift store pillow was paired up with a (clean) thrift store flannel shirt.
Indian Corn Decorations
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
These Indian corn dishes are so lovely with their autumn color palette, but they actually didn’t start out this way. They started as bright yellow and green corn dishes from the thrift store!
Cake Dome for Fall Parties
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A large wooden bowl from the thrift store is now a pumpkin-shaped cake dome, thanks to some upcycling magic. Not only is it adorable at your fall parties, but it’ll protect your cupcakes from insects (and rogue fingers seeking a taste of frosting).
Fall Craft Ideas for the Front Door
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
This fall wreath is simple, stylish, and quite thrifty- seeing as the wicker paper plate holder came from the thrift store and cost less than a dollar. It’s the perfect size to frame a wood cut-out from a craft store for an understated farmhouse-style autumn wreath.
Fabric Pumpkins
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Fabric pumpkins like these are not only easy to make, but they won’t rot in warm weather if you’re still waiting for Fall temps to arrive. They look adorable in any number of fabrics- flannel, bandanas, velvet, even your old sweaters.
Boho-Inspired Fall Craft Ideas
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Fiber crafts from days gone by, such as weaving, have made a huge comeback in recent years. We can probably thank all the home-based time from the past few years for that! And there are some surprising thrift store finds that can be upcycled into looms like this– for a fresh take on modern fall craft ideas.
Decorative Sign on a Bamboo Tray
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A bamboo tray like this is a fairly common find at thrift stores. Thankfully (pun intended), they are fun and easy to upcycle into decorative signs to use as Thanksgiving decor. It’s really a double-duty DIY, too, because it can still be used as a tray!
Vintage Button Acorn Pillow
Image credit: Salvaged Living/Hunt and Host.
Vintage buttons are a dime a dozen at antiques shops- and you can often find glass jars filled to the brim with an endless variety of buttons. Putting them to work as a decorative acorn cap on a pillow is a fun way to upcycle them in a pumpkin-free way.
Candy Corn Pumpkins
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Ok, ok- this isn’t exactly a fall craft idea, per se. But if you’re lucky enough to thrift a vintage toy truck (or any cute toy truck in general), fill the bed with candy corn pumpkins for the cutest fall decor idea ever. But be forewarned- buy more bags than you think you’ll need because they are WAY TOO EASY to snack on.
Fall Craft Ideas from the Thrift Store
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
I hope you’ve found some delightful inspiration from these Fall craft ideas. And they all started out at the thrift store or at a yard sale. There are so many wonderful symbols of Fall that you can create from upcycled items- pumpkins, leaves, acorns, and more. All you need is the right idea and a chance to go thrifting!
Craft on!
S
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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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