Fall is a fun and exciting time for the entire family. Changing leaves and crisp autumn weather are the perfect backdrop for fantastic adventures and fun-filled activities. From trips to the pumpkin patch to backyard football games on Sunday afternoons, it seems like there is always something to do. And with the kids back in school, those fall days can seem even busier. 

Still, there will be times when rain keeps you stuck indoors, or you just decide to focus on making memories at home rather than going out. On those days, autumn-inspired crafts are a great way to keep everyone entertained. Rather than letting your kiddos spend their downtime glued to electronic devices, engage them in arts and crafts to keep their minds and hands occupied while making special family memories. Keep reading to discover a few crafts for the whole family to do this fall. 

Diamond Painting

If your family hasn’t already tried diamond painting, this fall is a great time to check out this fun activity. Diamond painting kits come in all sorts of autumn-inspired designs, and they are easy and enjoyable for people of all ages. This craft involves placing colorful resin “diamonds” on a self-adhesive canvas. The design is printed on the canvas along with a legend that tells you which color corresponds with each symbol that makes up the design. Think of it as three-dimensional painting by numbers! 

Painting with diamonds is easy to master, and it’s equally fun for kids and adults. And since it doesn’t require any special skills, everyone can do it. It’s a great boredom buster, too, and can help your kids develop patience and improve their focus. 

Autumn Mobile

Fall is a perfect time to get out and explore on a nature hike. Whether you take your kids out in the backyard or visit a park or trail, encourage them to collect small pinecones, vibrant leaves, sticks, acorns and other fall elements. 

When you get home, help your child turn their finds into a fun fall mobile. Attach the items to strings in autumn-inspired colors, like red, orange and yellow. Then, attach those strings to sticks. Add a string to the top for hanging and your child’s mobile is ready to display in their room. 

Fall Foliage Garland

With felt, yarn (or embroidery floss), a needle and scissors, your family can make an adorable garland that will look lovely adorning your front door this fall. Start by cutting leaf shapes out of felt. Use a variety of fall colors and make as many leaves as you would like. Then, carefully stitch the leaves together to form a chain. Be sure to leave yarn or embroidery floss at each end to use for hanging. To see the full tutorial (including photos), check out A Beautiful Mess. 

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

With cooler weather approaching, food sources are less plentiful for your feathered friends. Help them out by making pine cone bird feeders. This project requires just a few supplies and is easy enough for the entire family. 

Start by gathering up some large pine cones. The ones that are open work best. Then, grab the rest of your supplies: peanut butter, bird seed and twine. Cut a 12” to 20” length of string for each pine cone. Make sure they are long enough to tie around the top of the pinecone and around a tree branch for hanging. Tie one end of each piece of twine to the top of every pine cone. Make sure it’s tight! 

Using a butter knife or small spatula, spread peanut butter all over the pine cone. Pour the bird seed into a bowl that is large enough to hold the pine cone. Then, roll each peanut butter-coated pine cone in the bird seed. If you need to, sprinkle some extra seeds on by hand to ensure that each pine cone is fully covered. 

Finally, hang your bird feeders up outside. If possible, hang them in a place where your family can see them from a window. Your kids will love watching the birds enjoy their yummy treat. 

Leaf Crown

Crown your child the king or queen of fall with their very own leaf crown. You’ll need some leaves, cardstock, scissors and some type of adhesive or fastener (glue, tape or staples). First, gather up some leaves. Either help your child pick some real ones out from the backyard, or head to the craft store to buy some fabric leaves. You might even be able to find them at the dollar store. 

Next, tape two pieces of cardstock together on their short sides to form a long rectangle. Draw points to create a crown shape and then cut. This doesn’t need to be perfect. As long as it looks like a crown, you’re good to go. Now, attach the leaves to one side of the cardstock. Hot glue or a stapler is the easiest option. Tape or glue will work, too, but it might take some patience to get the leaves to stick if they are not flat. 

Finally, wrap the crown into a circular shape that fits your child’s head. Secure with staples and you’re ready to crown the members of autumn royalty in your family. 

Melted Crayon Pumpkin

Instead of carving a traditional pumpkin, why not get a bit more creative? With a pumpkin, some crayons, glue and a blow dryer or heat gun, your family can create a colorful, one-of-a-kind fall decoration that is sure to be the talk of the neighborhood. 

To make the colors pop, you will need a white pumpkin. Natural or artificial is fine. If you use a fake pumpkin, you’ll be able to display it for years to come instead of having to throw it away at the end of the season. 

Decide which color of crayons you want to work with and remove the paper. Then, glue the crayons to the top of the pumpkin with the tips facing outward. Let the glue dry completely. Then, use your blow dryer or heat gun to melt the crayons. If your kids are little, be sure to help them with this part to avoid injuries. Point the blow dryer/heat gun in different directions to create random drips. Once you have covered as much as the pumpkin in wax as you desire, let it cool. Once the wax has hardened, your pumpkin is ready to be displayed. 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.