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By Erin Pittman
As the crisp fall air drifts in this month, bringing its string of seasonal holidays, gather together, get creative, and deck your home with warm, welcoming touches. Family crafting provides fun time for creative expression, a sense of pride for each family member in contributing to your home’s decor, and opportunities for fun family conversation as you create together. And bonus: these craft ideas are fueled with easy, affordable items from your local dollar store. Influencers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are buzzing with ideas—from stacking pumpkins to decoupaging to festive DIY platters. Here are five ideas to get you started.
1. Stackable Pumpkin Towers: Simple Creations with High Impact
Affordable and adorable, Dollar Tree’s stackable pumpkins are everywhere online. These cool displays can
be painted, decoupaged, or adorned with ribbons and fall florals for impressive porch decor throughout the fall season.
Family fun idea:
1. Start with a stackable pumpkin set. Let each family member choose a theme. You could end up with
stunning pumpkin stacks for Halloween, Thanksgiving and fall in general.
2. Assemble the pumpkins into their towers, and secure using a glue gun or strong adhesive like E6000.
3. Provide paints for striped or polka dotted pumpkin stacks; fall napkins printed papers, and Mod Podge
for festive decoupaging; glue and glitter, googly eyes, and stickers for some whimsy; and ribbon and fall
springs for simple seasonal touches.
4. Proudly display these impressive creations on your porch, in a flower bed, by your mailbox, or in any
corner of your home.
2. Decoupage Pumpkins (and More) for Personalized Flair
One simple yet beautiful idea gaining attention: decoupaging Dollar Tree pumpkins. Whether you’re working on foam pumpkins, wooden cutouts, the stackable pumpkins mentioned above, or a candy toting
pumpkin, Mod Podge plus patterned paper or napkins can transform anything.
Family fun idea:
1. Provide pumpkins (foam, plastic, or wooden), seasonal napkins or scrapbook paper, Mod Podge, and
brushes.
2. Give each family member a section of a larger item to decoupage—or provide individual items that can be grouped together for a festive display.
3. For extra flair, provide ribbon, faux flowers or string lights to jazz up completed creations.
3. Thanksgiving Platters with a Twist: Drawer-Pull Fall Shapes
Here’s a fun one we’ve seen from multiple creators online. Grab platters in fall shapes, rub-on transfers, and a set of drawer pulls. Imagine a wooden tray, painted in harvest tones, with pumpkin or leaf‑shaped designs and gold pulls glued on as either decorative handles on top or to create an elevated stand on the bottom.
Family fun idea:
1. Repurpose a plain wooden or plastic tray found at the dollar store.
2. Paint it in warm tones or seal natural wooden platters with clear coat, then glue on decorative pulls or small wooden shapes (leaves, acorns).
3. Use as a serving platter for snacks or a decorative centerpiece holding mini pumpkins, leaves or flowers,
on holiday tables.
4. Garlands & Carvable Pumpkins for Halloween Cheer
You can find inspiration online to create your own garlands and pumpkins with dollar store supplies. Gather
seasonal paper cut outs, unfinished wooden Halloween door decor, foam pumpkins and more without breaking the bank.
Crafting idea:
1. Thread clips or foam pumpkins onto twine or fishing line to craft a garland. Hang across windows,
doorways, or above a mantel to get the house “Halloween‑ready.”
2. Let each family member personalize a pumpkin—paint, glitter, markers, even mini stickers. Decorate
your porch or hearth with your creations.
5. Thanksgiving Table Accents with Faux Leather Pumpkin Clips
Dollar Tree’s faux leather pumpkin clips, sold in packs of three for around $1.25, are super popular as an
elegant, budget-friendly decor find. Shoppers use them to enhance place settings, create garlands, or dress up napkin rings .
Family fun idea:
1. Let kids decorate simple cardstock or wooden place cards. Attach a faux leather pumpkin clip to each.
2. Cluster multiple clips together to add flair to napkin rings, wreaths, or table runners. They’re classy,
effortless, and instantly festive.
Fall is more than a season—it’s a celebration of warmth, creativity, and togetherness. With just a few dollars and a few ideas from expert DIYers, any family can transform their home for fall. So gather the kids, the glue, and your creativity and let the magic—and memories—begin.
Erin Pittman is Editor in Chief of Prince William Living and a lover of affordable DIY projects. She can be reached at epittman@princewilliamliving.com
