Embrace the beauty of fall and bring the season into your home with these 20 DIY autumn craft ideas for creative home decor! Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just looking for some fun seasonal projects, these ideas will inspire you to create warm, rustic accents that celebrate the essence of autumn. From handmade wreaths and pumpkin centerpieces to leaf garlands and cozy candle holders, each craft offers an easy and creative way to transform your space into a cozy autumn retreat. Grab your supplies and let the crafting begin!
All photos provided are original and can be used as a reference for your own artworks.
Table of Contents
Wax paper Leaf Garland

This isn’t a drawing – it’s a beautiful photograph of handcrafted autumn leaf decorations. The artist has created delicate, translucent leaf shapes using what looks like tissue paper or a similar thin material. They’ve captured the intricate vein patterns of real leaves, giving each one a lifelike quality.
The color palette is stunning. Warm yellows, oranges, and reds dominate, with pops of green mixed in. The way light filters through the leaves creates a gorgeous glow, enhancing their autumn feel. Whoever made these clearly has an eye for color blending and light interaction.
As for technique, the way these are strung together is clever. Thin strings or wires suspend the leaves in front of a window, allowing them to catch the light. This creates depth and movement in the overall piece. It’s a great example of how 3D elements can elevate a relatively simple concept into something truly eye-catching.
Toilet Paper Fox

The bokeh effect in the background could be tricky for a beginner to capture. Those soft, glowing circles of light require a delicate touch and understanding of how to manipulate depth of field. You’d need to nail the focus on the fox while keeping the background pleasantly blurred.
Rendering the paper fox’s texture and form might also pose a challenge. Getting the crisp edges and subtle shading right takes practice. The way light plays across the curved paper surfaces creates subtle gradients that are easy to overdo or understate. And don’t forget those tiny details – the winking eye and stitching pattern need a steady hand.
Composition is another hurdle here. Placing the fox amid the scattered leaves while maintaining visual balance isn’t as simple as it looks. You’ve got to consider how to lead the viewer’s eye and create depth in a relatively flat scene. It’s all about suggesting a forest setting without overcrowding the frame.
Pumpkin Spice Playdough

Let’s focus on those adorable leaf-shaped cookies scattered across the marble surface. They’re a perfect subject for a simple yet effective drawing exercise. Try sketching just the outlines of these cookies, paying attention to their varied shapes and sizes. This will help you practice capturing organic forms and subtle variations.
For a bit more challenge, add some basic shading to give the cookies dimension. Notice how the light hits them from different angles. Don’t worry about perfection – the goal is to train your eye to see shapes and shadows. Once you’ve got the hang of the leaves, move on to that mason jar of what looks like peanut butter. Its cylindrical form and the texture of its contents offer great practice for rendering curved surfaces and creamy textures.
Paper Plate Pumpkin Patch

Oh, this isn’t a drawing – it’s a beautiful photograph of handcrafted paper pumpkins! The artist has done an incredible job with the textures and lighting here.
The way they’ve captured the crinkled texture of the orange tissue paper is just stunning. You can almost feel the delicate folds and creases. And those curled green stems add such a lovely organic touch. The contrast between the vivid orange and deep teal background really makes the pumpkins pop.
Lighting is key in still life photography like this. Notice how it creates gentle shadows and highlights the dimensionality of each pumpkin. If you were sketching this scene, I’d suggest focusing on those subtle variations in tone to convey depth and form. Start with light, loose lines to map out the basic shapes before diving into the intricate details.
Pumpkin Patch Diorama

This scene is bursting with Halloween spirit! Those little orange pumpkins with their carved faces really pop against the earthy background. The twisting vines and fall foliage create a wonderful sense of depth.
To enhance this piece, I’d suggest adding a subtle light source. Maybe a small lantern or glowing jack-o’-lantern tucked among the pumpkins. It would cast some warm, flickering light and shadows, really bringing the scene to life. Plus, it’d create an interesting focal point and add another layer of intrigue to the composition. What do you think about that idea?
Pinecone Animals

When tackling this vibrant pine cone craft scene, one common pitfall to avoid is getting overwhelmed by all the intricate details. It’s tempting to dive right into meticulously rendering every scale and fiber, but that can lead to a stiff, overworked drawing. Instead, start with loose, gestural shapes to capture the overall forms and energy.
Focus on the playful contrast between the natural textures of the pine cones and the bright, artificial elements like googly eyes and colorful tufts. Pay attention to how light interacts with different surfaces – the way it catches the edges of the pine cone scales versus how it illuminates the fuzzy pom-poms. And don’t forget about the mood! The dark background and warm wood tones create a cozy autumn feel that’s just as important as the crafty characters themselves.
Paper Plate Owl

Texture is crucial here. Look at how the artist built up layers of autumn leaves to create the owl’s body and surrounding wreath. As a beginner, practice cutting and layering paper to achieve that feathered, overlapping effect. It takes patience, but the depth it adds is worth it.
The eyes really make this piece pop. Those yellow paper plates with bold circles create an owl face that’s both stylized and expressive. When you’re starting out, don’t underestimate the impact of simple geometric shapes. Sometimes a few well-placed circles can convey more personality than intricate details. Play around with basic shapes to capture the essence of your subject.
Pumpkin Paper Lanterns

These lanterns are stunning, but I can see how they’d be daunting for a beginner. Let’s break it down into something more manageable.
Focus on capturing the essence rather than every detail. Start with basic shapes – these lanterns are essentially overlapping ovals. Sketch a few ovals in a loose cluster, some larger in the foreground, others smaller in the background. Don’t worry about perfect symmetry. For the internal structure, try simple curved lines to suggest the petal-like segments.
Lighting is key here, but we can simplify it. Instead of intricate shading, block out some basic areas of light and shadow. The centers should be brightest, fading to darker edges. A few strategic highlights will give the impression of that warm glow without overwhelming you. Remember, suggestion is often more powerful than meticulous rendering when you’re starting out.
Painted Rock Pumpkins

Let’s talk about those swirls and curls on the pumpkins. See how they’re not just painted on, but seem to have a slight raised texture? That subtle dimensionality makes the designs pop, giving them a handcrafted feel. It’s a small touch, but it really elevates the whole piece.
The stem on the central pumpkin is another standout detail. It’s got this wonderfully gnarled, organic look that contrasts beautifully with the smooth, stylized patterns. That little bit of realism anchors the fantastical elements, making the whole composition more believable.
As for the background pumpkins, notice how they’re slightly out of focus? That’s a clever use of depth of field. It draws your eye to the main subject while still providing context and a sense of abundance. It’s a photographic technique, but you could achieve a similar effect in painting by softening edges and reducing detail in the background elements.
Autumn Inspired Mandala

Wow, what a stunning autumn arrangement! For someone attempting to draw this for the first time, I’d suggest starting with the central circular pattern. It’s the focal point and provides a great structure to build the rest of the composition around.
Pay close attention to the varying textures and shapes of the natural elements. The smooth acorns contrast beautifully with the rough pine cones and delicate leaves. Try using different pencil strokes or shading techniques to capture those distinct textures. And don’t forget the pops of color from those vibrant fall leaves – they really bring the whole scene to life against the earthy brown tones.
Nature Crown

I appreciate your question, but I need to clarify that this isn’t a drawing – it’s a photograph. As a fellow artist though, I’d be happy to discuss the compositional and stylistic choices that make this image striking.
The focal point is clearly that beautifully crafted twig nest resting among vibrant fall leaves. The photographer’s use of shallow depth of field really makes the intricate twigs and berries pop against the soft blur of autumn colors in the background. It creates this lovely sense of dimensionality.
The rich, warm color palette is quintessentially autumnal. Those pops of orange and red leaves against the earthy brown tones of the twigs and acorns – it’s like the essence of fall distilled into a single frame. If you were painting this scene, you’d want to capture that interplay of warm and cool tones to really bring out the seasonal mood.
Mason Jar Autumn Candle Holder

The depth in this image comes alive through clever use of focus and lighting. That glowing jar in the foreground really pops against the softer background. See how the leaves inside are sharp and detailed, while the window behind gets all fuzzy? That’s selective focus at work, drawing your eye right where the artist wants it.
Now look at those warm orange tones. They’re not just pretty – they’re creating layers. The bright glow inside the jar contrasts with the cooler blues outside, making the jar feel closer to us. And those leaf shadows on the glass? They add another dimension, like you could reach out and touch them. It’s a great example of using light to sculpt space in a 2D image.
Handprint Turkeys

Wow, these colorful hand turkeys are a riot! To capture their proportions accurately, I’d suggest starting with basic geometric shapes. The palm forms a rough circle or oval, while the “fingers” are essentially tapered rectangles radiating outward. Sketch these simple forms lightly first to nail down the overall structure.
Getting the size relationships right between the palm and fingers is crucial. Try using your pencil as a measuring tool – hold it at arm’s length and compare the length of the palm to a finger. You might be surprised how short the palm actually is compared to those exaggerated digits! Don’t forget to leave room for those goofy googly eyes and beaks. They really make these creations pop.
For practice, you could cut out some paper hand shapes and play around with different finger arrangements. It’ll help you internalize the proportions while being a fun, hands-on exercise. Just let loose and embrace the wacky, imperfect nature of these crafty critters. Precision isn’t the goal here – capturing their joyful energy is what matters most.
Glittered Acorns

Looking at this image, the first thing that grabs your attention is the glittering, golden acorn-like shapes. Their shimmering surfaces catch the light beautifully, creating an almost magical quality. The way they’re arranged in rows leads your eye through the composition, with the larger, more prominent ones in the foreground drawing you in immediately.
The texture contrast between the sparkly tops and the intricate, latticed bases adds depth and interest. It’s a clever use of different materials and techniques. The warm, amber tones against the neutral background really make these little creations pop. As an artist, I’d suggest studying how the lighting interacts with the glitter to create those eye-catching highlights – it’s a great example of how to bring life and dimension to a still life piece.
Felt Leaf Necklace

This isn’t actually a drawing – it’s a beautiful photograph of felt autumn leaves strung together as a garland. The warm, rich colors and soft textures really capture the cozy feeling of fall.
To create an interesting variation, you could try reimagining this as an underwater scene. Replace the leaves with colorful tropical fish or sea creatures made from felt, strung together with seaweed or coral-like elements. Keep that same soft, handmade quality, but shift the color palette to cool ocean blues and greens with pops of bright tropical hues. The white background could become a sandy seafloor.
Another option would be to go in a completely different direction and create a cosmic garland. Use dark felt as the backdrop and craft stars, planets, and nebulae from shimmery fabrics and embroidery. You could even incorporate tiny LED lights to make it glow. The string could become a subtle representation of orbits or celestial paths. This would maintain the crafted feel while exploring a totally new theme.
Fall Sun Catcher

This isn’t actually a drawing – it’s a photograph of delicate paper or plastic leaf-shaped ornaments hanging on strings. The translucent quality of the materials creates a gorgeous interplay of light and color. To apply a similar aesthetic to a different subject, you might consider exploring translucent layering techniques.
For instance, you could experiment with watercolor washes or tissue paper collage to capture that ethereal, luminous quality. Imagine painting jellyfish or soap bubbles using thin, overlapping layers of color. The key would be building up subtle gradients and allowing light to seemingly pass through your subject. Don’t be afraid to incorporate unconventional materials too – wax paper or vellum could add interesting textures.
Focus on subjects that interact with light in intriguing ways. Glass marbles, dewdrops, or even citrus slices held up to the sun could be fascinating studies. Pay attention to how edges soften and colors blend where translucent elements overlap. And remember, sometimes less is more – leaving some areas of white paper untouched can really make the luminous parts pop.
Corn Husk Doll

This isn’t actually a drawing, but a beautifully crafted doll made from corn husks. The mood it evokes is one of rustic warmth and nostalgia. There’s a sense of simplicity and innocence that comes through in the doll’s gentle smile and basic form.
The artist has achieved this atmosphere through their choice of materials and attention to detail. The golden hues of the dried corn husks create a soft, natural palette that feels earthy and comforting. The way the husks are layered to form the doll’s dress gives it a delicate, ethereal quality – almost like the wings of a corn husk angel. Those pigtails are a particularly nice touch, adding character and a bit of playfulness to the piece.
What really strikes me is how expressive the face is, despite being so minimally rendered. Just a few simple lines create eyes and a smile that somehow manage to convey real personality. As an artist, it’s a great reminder that sometimes less truly is more when it comes to capturing emotion in your work.
Cinnamon Stick Bundle

The rich textures and warm autumn palette in this image offer some intriguing possibilities for unconventional techniques. You might consider using actual cinnamon sticks and dried leaves as stamps or stencils to recreate those elements. Dip them in paint and press them onto your canvas – it could capture that organic, grainy texture beautifully.
For those vibrant red berries, try experimenting with wax resist. Apply dots of melted wax where you want the berries, then wash over with watercolors. The wax will repel the paint, leaving bright spots that pop against the background. And don’t overlook the power of negative space – you could achieve that soft focus effect in the background by carefully painting around the main elements rather than trying to recreate the blur directly.
Autumn Wreath

This isn’t actually a drawing – it’s a photograph of a beautiful autumn wreath made from colorful paper leaves. But the use of negative space is still really striking here. The wreath’s circular shape creates a clear focal point against the rustic wooden background, drawing the eye inward.
The contrast between the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the leaves and the muted gray tones of the wood planks makes the wreath pop. Notice how the empty space in the center and around the edges of the wreath allows the textures of the wood grain to show through. This interplay between the intricate leaf details and the simple background adds depth to the overall composition.
If you were to sketch this, I’d suggest emphasizing those contrasts – really define the outline of the wreath and go bold with the autumn colors, while keeping the background looser and less detailed. The negative space is doing a lot of work here to create balance and highlight the main subject.
Apple Stamp Art

The texture on these apple shapes is really striking. You can see the subtle crackles and ridges in the paint, especially on the white and pale orange sections. That kind of surface detail adds so much depth and interest – it makes the apples feel almost touchable.
I’m also impressed by how the artist captured the stems and leaves. Those tiny dark accents provide just the right contrast and realism. The way the stems curve slightly differently on each apple is a nice touch too. It’s those little variations that bring life to a composition like this.
The color blending is beautifully done as well. The way the reds, oranges, and yellows flow into each other creates this gorgeous autumnal palette. You can almost imagine these apples were painted with the changing colors of fall leaves in mind. Overall, it’s a really appealing and skillfully executed piece.
With these 20 DIY autumn craft ideas, you’ll have everything you need to infuse your home with the warm and inviting vibes of fall. Each project brings a touch of seasonal beauty and personal creativity to your decor, making your space feel cozy and festive. Whether you’re crafting solo or enjoying a DIY day with friends and family, these autumn-inspired creations are sure to make your home a welcoming place to celebrate the season. Happy crafting!