Why not get everyone together to do some fun and frugal decorating for fall? You don’t have to spend $100 on pumpkins and hay bales, either!
Hand print turkeys
Nothing is more cute in the fall, I think, then all of those hand print turkeys. I made my first one in school (standard fare), and have since taught this craft to my kids. Basically, you trace a hand on a piece of fall colored construction paper. Make sure to have the fingers splayed out. Then, you turn that hand print into a turkey, using the thumb for the head and neck and the other fingers for the feathers.
Scarecrows
Scarecrows are the epitome of frugal decorating. Just round up some old clothes and stuff them with something. When I was single and just getting by with my expenses, I stuffed my scarecrow with leaves and set him against a tree. You can use an old pillow case for the head. Another idea for stuffing is to use plastic bags. They won’t stain the clothing in case you need it again, and we all have too many plastic bags, right?
Nature crafts
Nature can provide all sorts of materials for crafts. The best part is that these materials are free. Do you have glass plates or tabletops? Scatter some colorful leaves underneath. Even a cheap clear plastic tablecloth or shower curtain will be able to show off the leaves. Dip leaves in wax or iron them between two sheets of waxed paper, if you want your leaves to last longer. Wax dipped leaves can also be hung from ribbon in bunches.
Ribbon to the rescue
Ribbon in fall patterns and colors is on sale now at the local craft, fabric and mart stores. Buy the styles that you like and then go crazy attaching ribbon to things in your home. Wide ribbon can be used for pretty bows on your chairs or at the corners of your windows and curtains. Smaller or medium ribbon can be wrapped around lighting fixtures (safely please), banisters and more.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!