To say that I’m doing backflips of joy would be the understatement of the century.

No other month fills my heart, spirit, mind, and days alike with as much happiness, meaning, and witchy goodness as October.

I have several exciting seasonally-themed posts coming down the pipeline this month to help us all celebrate October together.

We are going to have a festive blast here, so please be sure to follow Witchcrafted Life using your favourite feed reader or signup on the righthand sidebar here to receive new posts delivered right to your email inbox.

To kick off the most hair-raisingly spooky of months, I’ve got a super fun triple window ghost-themed shaker card to share with you that I recently made.

Why a ghost card you may ask? Aside from the longstanding connection between ghosts and Halloween, I went with some cuter-than-cute ghosties because it’s downright scary how much I adore October!

Chicly Spooky Multi-Window Halloween Ghost Shaker Card

Oodles of you feel the same way and (whether you’ve used this hashtag yet or not – and you totally should use it! ) are proud members of team #MakeHalloween365.

It is wonderful that we are able to connect and share in our passion for All Hallows’ Eve, including by posting seasonal craft projects that are not only hair-raisingly fantastic, but which provide a wealth of inspiration to fellow creatives around the globe.

Ghosts are a popular and beloved symbol of both Halloween and Samhain, as well as October in general.

As someone who believes in ghosts, has had multiple spectral sightings/encounters throughout my life, and who works with those on the other side of the veil as an important year-round element of my spiritual practice, I feel a very close connection to the spirit world.

On the paper crafting front, I find that on top of my perpetual favourites, I am drawn to certain colour combinations as each season returns.

This autumn, I am totally feeling a colour scheme comprised of dark, inky blues, jet black, grey, and gold.

Silver and copper, too, are also setting my fall colour adoring heart aflutter.

That isn’t to say that every Halloween project I make this month will star these colours and these colours alone, simply that I can already tell this selection will be in heavy rotation on my craft desk for the next few weeks.

Sooo looking forward to that!

I leaned into this autumnal colour palette big time for my elegant meets adorable “Boo” shaker window card project highlighted here.

I used a basic triple window die for the central panel, turning each of the three windows into its own shaker box (all three windows house the same shaker mix, which I created myself).

This sheet of charming ghost print paper from Carta Bella’s Haunted House line has been beckoning me to use it since the moment it landed in my stash, so with fall finally here, I knew the time had come to cut into it.

The colours of this Halloween patterned paper were my guide for the rest of the card, which includes a mix of cream, grey, dark blue, and metallic gold cardstock.

No other patterned papers were used on this project, so as to let the adorable ghosties take centerstage.

To up the visual interest of this design, I die cut a fun border strip featuring a Halloween hill scene (complete with tombstones, bare-branched trees, and a haunted house) and stamped my sentiment onto a narrow banner strip, which I paired and layered with two additional banner die cuts.

Then, I added a lovely double-layered dark blue seam binding bow, placed gold letter stickers atop each of the three shaker windows to spell out the word “boo”, and a fussy cut a trio of precious little ghosties from the same patterned paper used behind the shaker panel.

I adore how this card came out and am all the more smitten with it because its relative flatness means that it should come in under 2 centimetres when placed in an envelope.

This in turn means that I will be able to pop it in the post and mail it off as letter (not $$$ parcel) mail to a Halloween adoring friend or relative.

If you are keen to try your hand at making a similar looking multi-window Halloween shaker card (or adapting this general design to another holiday, event, etc), read on for a list of supplies and step-by-step instructions on how to do just that.

Products used to make this fun ghost themed Halloween shaker card

-Cream (or ivory), dark or navy blue, and medium grey cardstock

-Gold metallic cardstock

-Ghost print paper – Haunted House Multi-Journaling Cards from Carta Bella (here we are using the backside, not the journaling card side, of this paper)

-Clear acetate sheet

-Rectangular shaped triple window/opening die

-Spooky Halloween hill scene die

-Skinny stitched edge banner die

-Decorative edge scissors – Heartbeat Paper Edgers Scissors from Fiskars

-Golden brown coloured ink pad – Toffee Crunch Dew Drop Ink from Memento

-Dark blue ink pad – Cobalt Letter It Stamping Ink from Ranger

-“Have a Haunted Halloween” sentiment stamp – Graveyard Gate stamp set from Stampin’ Up!

-Metallic gold chipboard (or other type of) letter stickers

-Large-sized gold and orange glitter – Halloween Jumbo Glitter from Creatology (sold at Michael’s)

-Assorted shades of medium and dark blue sequins – Rhythms n’ Blues Cup Sequins from Craft Medley (sold at various dollar stores, including Dollarama here in Canada)

-Medium, dark, or navy blue coloured seam binding or ribbon (I used “Texas Teal” coloured seam binding from Hug Snug on this Halloween card)

-(Optional) Glue gun and glue sticks (used to adhere the seam binding bow)

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

How to Make a “Boo” triple window Halloween shaker card

Begin by making a card base from cream cardstock. If you do not have cream cardstock, white, ivory, or pale grey would each work really nicely here as well.

Next, cut a piece of medium grey cardstock that’s a little bit smaller than your card base. Adhere that piece to the card base.

Cut a piece of dark blue cardstock slightly smaller than the grey piece and use decorative edge scissors (or a suitable border punch) on all four sides.

Ink all sides of the blue cardstock with Ranger Cobalt ink, then adhere that piece of cardstock to your first two layers.

Cut a piece of gold metallic cardstock (you could swap in grey, silver, or mustard yellow cardstock, if you didn’t have – or don’t want to use – gold cardstock) and adhere it to the other layers.

Cut a piece of Carta Bella ghost print paper, ink all of the edges with Memento Toffee Crunch ink, and adhere it to the gold metallic cardstock.

Next, create your shaker panel by die cutting a triple window panel from dark blue cardstock (if you don’t have a triple window die, you could use one or more small square-shaped dies on a panel of cardstock to create the same sort of multi-window look). Ink the edges of this cardstock panel with Ranger Cobalt ink.

Adhere a piece of clear acetate to the back of the blue cardstock panel to create the transparent “glass” for your shaker windows.

Place the blue cardstock on an open frame-shaped piece of the same cream cardstock that you used for your card base. Ink the edges of this cream piece with Toffee Crunch Ink.

(This layer is simply to add a border to the blue cardstock, it does not come into play in terms of the shaker windows themselves.)

For the shaker windows, line the perimeter of each of the three windows with suitable dimensional foam tape, squares, etc, as this is what stops the shaker mix from going anywhere when the card is complete.

Create a shaker mix in shades of blue, orange, and gold and place a roughly equal amount of it into each of the three windows.

Carefully bring the card base layers up to the shaker window panel, ensuring the backing has been removed from all of your foam adhesive first. Sandwich the two card parts together and make sure that no shaker mix is able to escape.

Top each of the three shaker windows with a gold chipboard letter sticker (or make die cut letters from gold metallic cardstock instead and adhere them in the same manner as you would the letter stickers) to spell out the word “boo”.

Die cut a Halloween hill panel from medium grey cardstock, backing the window portions of the haunted house with gold or dark yellow cardstock so that the house looks like it is lit from within.

Adhere this hill piece immediately below the shaker windows on that panel of the card.

Die cut three ghost figures from the Carta Bella paper and adhere one ghost just off to the side of each of the shaker windows.

Next, die cut three matching sized banner strips. One from medium grey cardstock, the other two from gold metallic cardstock.

Using dark blue or navy blue ink (or black, if you don’t have a suitable blue ink to hand), stamp “Have a Haunted Halloween” on the medium grey coloured cardstock banner (I used the same Cobalt ink from Ranger that appears elsewhere in this project).

Layer and adhere the three banners towards the upper right side of the card, as shown.

Create a double layer bow from blue seam binding or another trim/ribbon of your choosing and adhere it to the upper left-hand corner of the card.

And just like that, faster than you can say “boo”, your elegant meets adorable multi-window Halloween shaker card is complete.

Trust me when I say that this card is scarily fun to create and that it is bound to bring a welcome hit of spooky season cheer to anyone you bestow it upon.

31 days of unbridled Halloween awesomeness

That’s what October is to me and many others across the globe, too – and for good measure.

The enchantment, thrills, mystery, happiness, fun, and creativity inherent to the year’s 10^th month are unlike any other.

Halloween and Samhain are integral parts of not only October, but the whole year for me (a point which, again, I am far from alone in).

However, I am the first to acknowledge that not everyone observes or is OTT obsessed with these spookily wonderful events.

October is greatly influenced by Halloween in many parts of the world. Yet there is more to this month as well and each element – be they autumnal north of the equator or filled with springtime goodness for those in the Southern Hemisphere – deserves to be celebrated as well.

Crunchy leaves, vast fields and produce stands full of beautiful pumpkins, cozy attire, pumpkin spice everything, various holidays (including Canadian Thanksgiving), walks taken on crisp autumn days and nights, a stunning colour palette that is in a league all its own, and so much more combine to make October an unforgettable, easy to love month.

As touched on above, I will be bringing you a slew of seasonal content this month.

This selection will house additional fall/Halloween craft project shares and various other posts as well – including one pertaining to taphophilia that I am especially excited about.

Whether October is a 744-hour long, non-stop celebration of Halloween (that being the number of hours in this month), you prefer to keep Halloween contained to the 31^st, or you do not personally engage with either All Hallows’ Eve or the Pagan sabbat of Samhain, I hope that you will be able to enjoy and find inspiration in the posts that I share here this month.

Personally, my inspiration cup runneth over right now care of the creative, festive, sweet, spooky, beautiful, and spiritually focused content that many of you are posting this season as well.

I extend the most spirited (pun intended, sentiment fully meant) of thanks out to everyone whose October content informs, entertains, inspires, or influences me in any way.

You are awesomely creative individuals and it is an honour to learn from and be inspired by each of you.

In whatever ways you embrace and live your best October, sweet souls, may it be a fa-boo-lously safe, happy, and memorably enjoyable month for all of us!

The post Chicly Spooky Multi-Window Halloween Ghost Shaker Card appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings; now for October eves! – Humbert Wolfe

As last year drew to a close, the internet was rife with memes pertaining to how 2020 was “one heck of a decade” (language softened as I generally strive to keep things family-friendly around here).

Zero arguments about that on this end.

In much the same vein, the season that just wrapped up, summer 2021, felt like a whole year crammed into just three months.

However, even with a plethora of different challenges and stresses, this summer held a certain unmistakable charm.

Yes, we experienced heatwaves (our town hit at least 47C in early July, with the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada occurring in a tiny community called Lytton, which is about a three-hour drive from our house; heartbreaking, a wildfire would utterly decimate Lytton mere days later), drought conditions, serious medical issues, the sudden passing of a family member on my paternal side, an ongoing surge in Covid-19 numbers in our region, and multiple forest fire evacuation alerts, but summer was still summer.

Sizzlingly hot, thrillingly gorgeous, and highly unforgettable.

Amidst the challenging elements of this summer, there was hope, positivity, and abundant loveliness (to say nothing of inspiration) as well.

My Summerween birthday back in July stands out as my favourite experience + memory from the season that just was.

What was your favourite part of summer (or winter, if you’re south of the equator) 2021?

As much as I love autumn with every fibre of my being, I do not generally wish summer a speedy demise (especially since I am not exactly in a mad rush to experience another 6 – 7 months of snowy weather again ).

This time around, however, pragmatism held that fall’s return would greatly benefit the brutal provincewide wildfire situation.

Thus, as August took its final breath and September arrived, I found myself grateful to start parting ways with summer.

And here we are, a few brief days in this exquisitely lovely chapter of the year. When leaves sunburned from summer’s pulsating heat drift like autumnal fairies to the ground, pumpkins grin from porches near and far, and the season of the witch is upon us.

I am ready. So incredibly, appreciatively, excitedly ready for October and all of autumn.

No matter what transpires in each of our lives, the annual cycle of the seasons is fundamentally unchanging.

Seasons come and go, painting our lives with new memories and the gift of treasured traditions alike. They are a rare constant in a world that has quite the penchant for changing on a dime.

In one final nod to the latest season to conclude, I present to you, sweet friends, the Summer 2021 Edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me.

A link love post featuring online content that caught my eye during the past three months, coupled with a peek into what has been transpiring in my own life lately.

Magick, Witchcraft, Paganism, and Spirituality

–DIY Crescent Moon Wreath: The sky is the limit when it comes to the creative ways in which one can make a wreath.

To my mind, few versions are as enchantingly gorgeous as this breathtaking DIY crescent moon wreath.

Naturally, one need not be of a witchy or Pagan persuasion to whip up a beautiful crescent moon wreath of their own. This is a craft project that can easily be enjoyed by one and all, and which would make for a phenomenal gift to bestow upon someone special in your life.

(And speaking of wreaths, I am really digging the same blogger’s (Debbie’s) creative Dollar Tree Placemat Wreath project idea as well.)

–How to Use the Tarot to Get Through Hard Times: Whether you are new to card slinging, have been working with tarot for years or decades now, or have yet to do a single spread, this handy, thoughtful list of dos and don’ts is a great way to help use your cards during life’s rougher patches.

–How to Use Witchcraft to Help Your Loved Ones: While it is natural for many of us to focus some (or even all) of our witchy workings and energy on our own needs/desires/purposes, it can be hugely beneficial to extend our practice to helping others in our lives as well.

This post lays out a handful of practical, useful ways to do just that. And it may, in the process, inspire you to come up with other approaches that would suit both your own witchery and the needs of your loved ones.

(From the same blog, as we embrace autumn’s return, I highly recommend their recipe for the Witchiest Pumpkin Spice (Blend) Ever.)

–Pagan Music: Our Top 25 Pagan and Witchy Songs for Rituals, Spells, and More: Like many of us, I adore a wide range of music and am always keen to discover new-to-me artists and groups whose tunes jive with my musical tastes.

I am also continually on the lookout for excellent Pagan and witchery-related music, so was tickled pink to see a terrific roundup of 25 songs that fall under that header appear on Other Worldly Oracle this summer.

If witchy/Pagan tunes are your cup of tea, swing on by and savour the beautiful, inspiring music on this instant playlist.

(Another post on the same site that stood out for me as of late is their wonderful Beginner’s Guide to Using Oracle Cards.)

–Spellcasting Series: Basics of Spellcrafting: In-depth, informative, and immensely helpful for new witches/Wiccans or those looking to further/expand their spellcrafting skills, this stellar post from Willow at The Flying Hedge is a must-read for anyone who involves spellwork in their witchery practices.

–The Ultimate Guide To Self Care (From a Witch): One of many lessons/reminders that the pandemic has driven home all the more for a lot of us is just how vitally important self care is.

I am a huge advocate of self-care and while, admittedly, I don’t always excel at practicing what I preach, I have gotten somewhat better at prioritizing self-care in recent years.

The insight and advice on self-care laid out in this in-depth exploration of the topic by none other than the Penniless Pagan is a must-read for witches, Wiccans, and Pagans everywhere.

And, objectively, a good degree of what the author covers in this helpful post is applicable to non-witchy/Pagan folks as well (as self-care is 100% for everyone on earth!).

–Why “Good Vibes Only” Culture is Toxic: While I tend to naturally lean on the optimistic side of things, I am also a stark realist who has been through her fair share of tough times and knows all too well that life is not always a bed of roses.

As a result, I have long seen the concept of “good vibes only” as being one that (sincerely well-intentioned as it may be at times) misses the mark. And which, in some instances, invalidates the broader spectrum of experiences/emotions/pain/trauma/healing inherent to being a multifaceted human being.

Thus, I was especially happy to see one of my all-time favourite websites, Loner Wolf, explore some of the reasons why focusing solely on good vibes is not actually as beneficial or helpful (to ourselves or others) as it may seem at first glance.

Card making, Scrapbooking, Paper Crafting, and Other Crafts

–Crafts to Use Up Leftover Yarn: Even those crafters who do not knit or crochet often find that yarn makes it way into some of their projects. If you have leftover yarn that you would like to use up hanging around your crafty space, why not bring it to life all the more with one of these delightful project ideas?

–15 Tips and Tricks that Will Help You Creatively Organize Your Craft Supplies: Useful, implementable ideas abound in this example-filled post that is here to aid you in organizing your craft space + supplies all the more.

In doing so, you can spend less time shifting piles or hunting for what you need and more time creating awesome new works of art.

–50+ Fall Saying for Crafters and DIY Projects: Whether you are looking for card sentiments, scrapbook layout titles, messages to stitch, prints to design, home decoration projects, captions for your social media shares, or myriad other creative purposes, this handy list of 50+ charming fall sayings is well worth bookmarking and returning to autumn after autumn.

–How to Make Shooting Star Favour Pouches: Ideal for birthdays, graduation, Halloween, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s, St. Patrick’s Day, baby showers, weddings, anniversary, the Pagan sabbats, stargazing or meteorite shower watching parties, and many other occasions, these eye-catchingly fantastic favour pouches are sure to delight those lucky folks who receive one.

–Loaded Envelope Tutorial (from Graphic 45): Loaded envelopes are an awesome way to expand your paper crafting routine, creating in the process a gorgeous work of art to display in your home or give as a gift (including for holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas).

The sky is the limit in terms of themes, embellishments, uses, etc for loaded envelopes (and the similar type of project known as loaded pockets).

If you would like to try your hand a making one (or are simply looking for some fab inspiration for your next loaded envelope) this lovely tutorial from the Graphic 45 blog has you covered.

–Ten Ways to Use Washi Tape: The uses for washi tape are just about limitless! With so many gorgeous, fun, and unique designs out there, it is easy to see why over the past several years washi has both grow in global popularity and become a common part of many crafter’s stashes.

If you are hunting for some cool ways to use washi that goes beyond “just” including it on cards, layouts, tags and the like, this post from Bottle Branch delivers ten clever ideas that are apt to appeal to crafters and non-crafters alike (as anyone can, of course, use and enjoy washi tape).

–30 Fall-Inspired Embroidery Patterns and Kits to Get You into the Autumnal Spirit: Earlier this month I shared a selection of 50 Awesome Mabon Crafts, DIY Projects, and Décor Ideas for the Fall Equinox and have been delighting in seeing other peoples’ seasonal craft project roundup posts as well.

One in particular that recently nabbed my attention is Sara’s list of swoon-worthy fall embroidery patterns and kits that you can currently purchase from various online sellers.

If you are an autumn adoring needleworker, then this post is sure to set your heart aflutter and may just lead to your next stitchery project.

What’s Shaking in My Life and On My Radar

Alrighty, we have covered some of the less-than-ideal elements of summer 2021 earlier in this post, so let’s take a gander now at a few of the more positive things that transpired this time around on my end between Litha and Mabon.

Firstly, I just have to say how much I enjoyed the topics that I blogged about here this summer.

Even though some weeks I honestly did not think that my health would accommodate creating a new post, somehow, even if it meant writing until nearly midnight on Sunday evening (our weeks start on Monday here in Canada).

It was an act of love, self-care, and defiance (of my body) all rolled into one.

In exactly the same way that the handful of days when crafting was possible for me were as well.

With fall looming, I upped my usual autumn/harvest season sabbats/Thanksgiving/Halloween crafting levels and revelled in every cardstock, ink, and hot glue-filled moment of it!

This is, after all, the ultimate season for #MakeHalloween365 and I can scarcely wait to share even more of my latest seasonal makes here with all of you.

The nanosecond I began eligible to do so, I received my second Covid-19 vaccine.

This transpired in August and while I did feel a touch rougher than with my first shot (think a mild two-day-long flu with a low-grade fever), that was an infinitesimally small price to pay for the blessing of being as vaccinated as one can be at present here in this country.

And moreover, to do what I personally believe is the socially and ethically responsible thing in terms of helping to try and stamp out Covid-19.

Even though Tony and I are both fully vaccinated now, we continue to enact every possible safety measure in the face of the ongoing global pandemic and will keep doing so for as long as this devastating illness persists.

Please note: If your views about C-19 vaccinations differ from mine, I respect that point and ask that you please do the same with my views and not come at me in the comments. We each have to approach and handle these incredibly challenging times in the ways that align most with our beliefs, health, and personal values. For me, getting fully vaccinated does that. For you, it may not. We are all different.

As my mom is fully vaccinated as well, we were able to share a number of fantastic visits with her this summer.

Indeed, she remains the only relative so far that I have been able to interact with in person since prior to when the pandemic took hold in a major way (aka, March 2020) here in Canada.

She was the sole guest at our house on both mine and Tony’s birthdays this summer, and was able to provide immense help to us during the long, uncertain weeks when the very real threat of a wildfire reaching our neighbourhood loomed over our heads.

Mercifully, that did not happen.

I will not soon forget, however, the sizzling hot days my mom and I spent hosing down the house and yard, as falling wildfire ash tumbled down from the sky to the point that it looked like a heavy snowfall.

Setting our sights now on the autumn months, we hope to spend lots more time with my mom and the three of us are counting down the seconds until Halloween returns (we plan to celebrate it together, as per usual ).

This summer was not easy, but it could, of course, have been a lot harder or more heartbreaking.

I thank every star in the universe that such was not the case and remain realistically optimistic that certain areas of our lives will improve over the course of the final months of this year.

After all, hope is free and limitless. So why not, I figure, throw it around like confetti?

And now, on with a handful of assorted links from across the good, ol’ interwebz that stood out for me this summer.

–Apparently the Brontës All Died So Early Because They Spent Their Lives Drinking Graveyard Water: Talk about an attention-grabbing headline – especially if you’re a fellow taphophile or fan of these immensely talented ladies.

This article details a potential cause (or at least a notable contributing factor) in the deaths not only of the Brontë sisters, but of their brother, Patrick, as well.

The explanation of contaminated water from a local graveyard (and possibly from privies in the area, too) is wholly plausible. And is nothing if not in keeping with the death-centred sentiments of the Brontës and the era they briefly called their own.

–Can the Garden Save Us? How the Power of Nature Can Change Life As We Know It: While not, for all intents, a gardener myself (a point, I find, that often surprises people to learn), I am a keen student and ceaseless lover + respecter of nature.

As such, the points put forth in this insightful article from Veranda really resonated with me. For they tap into the collective connection to cultivating green life that is inherent to our survival as a species – and as a planet.

–Free Hocus Pocus Printable Quote Prints: No other Halloween movie – and, if we’re being frank, few movies in general – holds such a special or beloved spot in my heart as Hocus Pocus.

I watch Hocus Pocus multiple times and year and always keep an eye open (subtle nod to “Book” intended) for Hocus Pocus-related items. Most, naturally, have a price tag attached to them, but a handful are available for free online.

I just about started jumping around alla Sarah Sanderson upon recently discovering this post that houses a fantastic series of free Hocus Pocus quote prints that you can download and display all October (or, if you’re HP obsessed like me, all year) long.

–How to Cook Corn on the Cob in the Oven: For many of us, few vegetables are more intertwined with late summer and early fall than freshly harvested corn on the cob.

Whether you pick ears of sweetcorn yourself or snap them up from a local produce stand, farmer’s market, or grocery store, if you adore this versatile yellow veggie, you are definitely going to want to give oven roasting your corn on the cob a try. The end results are spectacularly tasty!

–How to Make Dandelion Lotion Bars with Dandelion Oil: Though dandelion season has come to close in many areas, for those who are still experiencing the presence of this lovely sunshine hued plant and are keen to utilize them in a fresh, practical way, homemade dandelion lotion bars may just be the answer.

(Note: While not an overly common allergy, some people are indeed allergic to dandelions. Therefore, you will want to proceed with caution and do a small skin exposure test on an area such as the inside of your wrist if you are unsure how your skin will react to dandelions.)

–Mary Simon Named as Canada’s First Indigenous Governor General: This summer witnessed a historic milestone here in Canada when Mary Simon was appointed as our country’s first Indigenous Governor General.

Simon is Canada’s 30^th Governor General to date, stepping into the position after many years in politics, including an appointment in the 1990s as Canada’s first Inuk ambassador (she was ambassador to Denmark) and being involved with the creation of Nunavut during the same decade.

I am thrilled that a First Nations person is currently holding this important position in our country and hope that Mary will be the first of many others who follow in her trailblazing footsteps.

–Oldest Living Ranger in the National Parks Service Celebrates Her 100^th Birthday: Relatively few of us are blessed to make it to our 100^th year and fewer still have yet to retire by that age.

Not so for the venerable Betty Reid Soskin, who joined the US National Parks Service just fifteen years ago, at the age of 85.

An inspiration to all of us the world over for many reasons (including her work with the Civil Rights Movement), Betty is proof that for some lucky individuals, age may indeed be just a number!  

It’s fall, y’all!

Admittedly, not too many Canadians tend to say the classic Southern contraction of “y’all”. I hope you will permit me the use of it here, however, given how well “y’all” partners with the word “fall” and how fun they are to say together.

On this side of the equator, fall is here and I am as giddy as a kitty in a field of catnip over that fact.

Both online and off, I will be immersing myself in my favourite season with limitless gusto and glee.

I hope that if you are a fan of autumn time as well, you will join me in doing the same. And that, even if this chapter of the year isn’t your personal fave, it will still house plenty of enjoyable, terrific times for you as well.

Little more than a month now stands between us and Halloween + Samhain. I will be blogging up a storm throughout October, most of which will relate to those two events (and/or fall in general).

It is such a special, meaningful joy to savour the year’s third act with all of you.

Thank you so much for being here and on social media (Instagram very much included) with me.

I cherish each of you and as Canadian Thanksgiving returns on the second Monday in October, you will be amongst the blessings I count with unending gratitude.

Have an awesome tail end of September, everyone – and be sure to tune in here on October 1^st, as I will be sharing a delightful ghost-themed Halloween project to help kick off the spookiest and most enchantingly wonderful month of the year.

Which of the links highlighted above leapt out at you? What elements of October’s return are filling your own heart with happiness?

The post Summer 2021 Edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Thus far in this ongoing post series – which will total eight entries when complete – we have explored the Winter Solstice/Yule and Spring Equinox/Ostara. Now it is time to let Mabon have its well-deserved moment in the crafting spotlight.

My heart is warmed by knowing that a lot of you really dig this series. This fact helps to keep my spirits and energy levels buoyed during the multiple days that it takes to create each entry it houses.

This time around, I am thrilled to present you with a sizable slew of DIY project ideas, craft ideas, and fall décor inspiration for both the Fall Equinox and the Pagan sabbat of Mabon.

The latter of which is sometimes referred to as the “Witches’ Thanksgiving”. An apt, beautiful odd to the earth’s many blessings and reasons to be grateful that fill our days as summer drifts into autumn.

In addition, the Autumn Equinox ushers in the return of Libra season.

Which while not the sign I was born under (that would be cancer), it is the sign during which my husband and I tied the knot almost seventeen years ago now. That, coupled with the fact that multiple close family members are Libras, ensures this astrological sign an extra special spot in my heart.

If you are new to Mabon and/or would like to learn more about it, please check out my post 15 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate Mabon for more information about this harvest season Pagan sabbat.

When is the Fall Equinox 2021?

This year, in the Northern Hemisphere, the Fall Equinox occurs on Wednesday, September 22, 2021.

The name “equinox” stems from the Latin words “aequas”, which means equal, and “nox”, which is night.

We apply the word equinox to the dates that begin both autumn and spring, respectively, as each of these days house roughly equal amounts of daylight and darkness.

In the case of spring, the weather is beginning to warm up and the days are growing gradually longer until they peak on that front come the Summer Solstice.

With the return of fall time, cooler weather generally begins to fill our days and the nights grow longer.

They will continue to do so straight on until the Winter Solstice. At which point, though it can be hard to tell as much in the dark, icy heart of December, a few more minutes will appear daily straight on until the Summer Solstice returns in the third week of June.

Another point that denotes the Autumn Equinox is the fact that on this date, the sun crosses over the equator from north to south. Hence why, when it is spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it is fall in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.

What are some common themes and meanings of the Fall Equinox?

Whether one approaches the Autumn Equinox from a spiritual or more secular/non-belief-based perspective, fall’s return is a time that we can all celebrate, embrace, and find personal meaning in as the days grow shorter and the year begins to wind down.

Broadly speaking, the Fall Equinox (much like Mabon – a Pagan sabbat that is observed by many either on the Autumn Equinox itself or within a few days of this beautiful annual event) serves as a poignant symbol of balance and equality in our lives.

It embraces elements of both life and death, particularly in terms of the harvest season. By the second half of September, a lot of crops have been harvested, though some still remain to be brought in and transformed into food for countless folks the world over.

Traditionally, as the harvest (including butchering domestic animals and/or hunting, where applicable) could quite literally make the difference between survival and perishing, it’s safe to assume that death was rarely far from the minds of our ancestors as they prepared and braced for the icy winter months ahead.

While modern farming, greenhouses, and food production techniques can play god, so to speak, to a degree in terms of our ability to produce and harvest various crops, meat and dairy sources throughout the year, the world is still highly reliant on the annual harvest season to help keep the 21^st century food chain running smoothly.

This is neither the time nor the place, however, to debate the merits and shortcomings of the modern food industry, so I shalln’t venture down that path – fear not.

Beyond the literal harvest season, fall’s return can be a superb time to take stock of those areas of our own lives in which we can reap the rewards of our hard work and dedication, as well as to reflect on others that are ongoing and may require our focus in the coming autumn and winter months.

Fall is a time of merriment and thanksgiving, of lingering warmth and light mingling with the mysteries and beauty of darkness.

The Autumn Equinox encourages both hard work and perseverance, as well as the opportunity to rest, relax, and savour some gorgeous seasonal tranquillity.

If you had an especially gruelling, stressful, or otherwise eventful summer, this point can be of particular importance – as can making sure you take time to focus on self-care throughout the crunchy leaf-filled season.

Just as flowers, plants, trees, and many types of crops (as well as plenty of wild critters, too) often start to slow down or go into hibernation during the autumn months, so too can fall be a brilliant time to slow your proverbial roll.

Take time this fall to genuinely focus on what you need, what you want, what makes you happy, what you can ditch from your life, and where you hope to be not only come winter, but at this point next year.

Fall abounds with the sights, sounds, tastes, and festive happenings of the summer’s departure, the harvest season, and plenty of spooky goodness as well.

We associate this season with elements that warm us in body, mind, and spirit alike. From the coziest of knits to the most scrumptious of warm drinks (be they pumpkin spice or otherwise), snugly blankets to glowing bonfires, we find ways to extend the rapidly vanishing warmth of summer in ways that honour the soul of autumn at the same time.

For many of us, fall sets our tastebuds alight as well. We gleefully reach for freshly picked apples, pears, grapes, plums, cranberries, squash, carrots, pumpkins, and numerous other seasonal delights from August to December.

Whether enjoyed straight-up or whipped into a wide array of both sweet and savour dishes, fall’s culinary offerings convey comfort, fortification, and nourishment.

Outdoors, the leaves are changing, the breeze is getting nippier, squirrels and other critters both large and small are gathering food for the coming winter, and the sun is setting earlier each evening.

This is a gorgeous, highly meaningful chapter of the year that ranks as many peoples’ favourite season. Though that need not be the case in order to enjoy and get the most that you realistically can out of fall.

Many of us love to bring autumn indoors, be it with actual pieces of nature or human-made products that represent the resplendent natural beauty inherent to this chapter of the year.

It is precisely that ability to fill our homes with elements of the autumn season that is at the heart of this post.

Whether you opt to follow any of the tutorials shared here or not, it is my steadfast hope that these fifty creative, charmingly fun fall craft, DIY, and décor project ideas provide you with oodles of seasonal inspiration to utilize in whatever ways currently work best for your home and daily life alike.

Note: As tempting as it was to pepper this post with Halloween and Samhain-themed projects, I have refrained – for the most part – from doing so, as those will appear here in a future entry all their own.

That said, depending on your decor style, personal beliefs, and so forth, most of the project ideas highlighted below can easily work for Halloween and Samhain, too.

Just as many of them suit Thanksgiving (be it Canadian or US) excellently as well. Some may also be appropriate for other autumn time holidays, too, such as Dia de los Muertos and Rosh Hashanah, respectively.

50 Awesome Mabon Crafts, DIY Projects, and Décor Ideas for the Fall Equinox

1. How to Make an Autumn Fairy from Natural Materials: Whether one believes in fairies or simply delights in stories, images, and craft projects pertaining to the fae, this enchantingly sweet craft – which is ideal to involve little ones with – is sure to add a welcome dose of whimsical charm to your fall altar, Halloween/Samhain tree, or elsewhere in your home decor.

These precious fairies would also make for marvellous gifts throughout the fall, including for events such as Grandparent’s Day and Thanksgiving.

2. Mabon Dried Apple Garland: We often tend to associate slices, pieces, and rounds of dried fruit with Yule and wintertime in general, but this beautiful way of preserving and celebrating some of nature’s finest sweet treats lends itself superbly to autumn as well.

In this photo filled step-by-step tutorial, we are guided on not only how to make a gorgeous garland like the one shown here, but also on how to prepare and dry the fruit slices required for it.

This is a useful l skill to master and create with for many a year to come – much as how this festive garland can also be enjoyed harvest season after magickal harvest season.

3. Cinnamon Salt Dough Leaf Ornaments: Similar to dried fruit, salt dough ornaments are another project that we tend to associate with winter. Happily, they can be a year-round joy and one that lends itself to autumn – that most cinnamon scented of seasons – excellently.

This lovely DIY post shows you how to make cinnamon salt dough leaf ornaments, which can then be used and/or displayed in many different ways (think tree decorations, place setting decor, dangling from a suitable lighting fixture, and so on).

And if (like me) you or someone in your household needs to keep things strictly GF at all times, be sure to use a gluten-free salt dough recipe instead of one that contains gluten.

4. DIY Wine Cork Grape Ornaments: Whether you opt to go the glittery route or die the cork ends with wine (both versions are detailed in this lovely project post), this super cute bunch of handmade grapes is sure to put a smile on the faces of wine lovers and fall produce fans everywhere.

On the Pagan, front, many different deities from pantheons around the world are closely linked to grapes, wine, and vineyards, including – but not limited to – Dionysus/Bacchus, Silenus, Du Kang, Oenotropae, Sucellus, and Liber Pater.

If you work with any deities of this nature in your practice, this DIY grape project would be a fantastic way to honour that/those gods or goddesses not only during the fall, but all year through.

5. How to Make Fabric Pumpkins: As Lora, the talented creator of this project touches on in her accompanying blog post, fall decor is often all about the pumpkins. While I realize this doesn’t ring true for everyone, of course, for plenty of us, there is no such thing as too many pumpkins and we eagerly enjoy finding new takes on a perennial classic.

This easy-to-make pumpkin project utilizes scraps of knit material, twine, and a few other common items to create handmade plush pumpkins that are all but bursting at their seems with festive fall sweetness and heartfelt DIY charm.

I adore the versatility of these lovely pumpkins and how (with suitable supplies) one could whip them up in just about any colour palette and/or size imaginable.

6. DIY Candy Corn Pine Cones: I really like candy corn and madly adore pine cones, so as you might imagine, a craft project that marries these two things was bound to be an instant hit with me. Just as I know it will be with many of you as well.

Spray paint, (optional) Mod Podge + glitter, and some suitable dried pinecones are all it takes to whip up this eye-catchingly wonderful fall DIY project that – unlike a bowl of real candy corn deal – can be reused autumn after autumn for many a year to come.

(You could also easily attach strings, ribbon loops, or hooks to these darling candy corn pine cones and use them as seasonal tree decor – or turn a batch of them into the foundations of an awesome autumn time wreath.)

7. How to Make Waxed Fall Leaves: Ever wanted to preserve and continue to enjoy the vibrancy of autumn leaves long after they have tumbled to ground? Or, have you longed for durable real autumn leaves that you could use in a variety of craft and DIY projects?

If so, then this clever, versatile approach to preserving fall foliage is apt to tickle your fancy and have you stocking up on paraffin wax in no time.

8. DIY Pumpkin Terracotta Pots: Aren’t these terracotta pumpkin pots too cute for words? Not only are these fun to make and decorate your home with, but they’re also a great way to stash all manner of small items, from candy to craft supplies.

While orange is a natural fit for pumpkins, you could also whip up some terracotta containers in whatever colour works best for your own seasonal decor. From black to burgundy, green to gold, the options are endless and sure to make for dazzling end products in any hue.

9. DIY Fall Apple Candles: If pumpkins are the vegetable that many of us associate most closely with autumn time, then surely apples must be the fruit that takes top billing in that respect.

Long linked with the start of the school year (and teaching in general), femininity, the archetypal Goddess figure (and various other deities, including the Norse goddess, Idunn, and the Greek goddess, Pomona), the fall harvest, divination, magick, wisdom, the soul, love, fertility, beauty, the afterlife, fidelity, vanity, immortality, health and healing (amongst other things), apples are a stellar fruit to work with all autumn long.

This beautiful DIY project leads you through how to make your own apple candles, which are just as at home at Mabon as there are in a few week’s time when Samhain graces the world once again with its powerful presence.

10. Dried Corn Centerpiece: Corn is another beloved, timeless vegetable that is closely intertwined with fall and which can be a visually captivating way to enliven any room.

A few ears of dried corn in the colour(s) of your choosing, dried corn husks, hot glue, ribbon (or burlap, twine, etc), and a suitable vase are all you need to make this elegant centrepiece that would be as at home on a Mabon altar as it would a Thanksgiving table.

11. Fall Acorn Wreath: If you’re a fellow die-hard fan of acorns and craft projects that utilize these classic fall time offerings, then you’re bound to adore this stunning acorn-filled wreath.

It is so enjoyably evocative of nature that you might find yourself leaving it out the whole year through.

12. Dryer Vent Pumpkins: File this one under the “ingenious idea” heading, as that is precisely what these darling dryer vent pumpkins are.

A fun, unexpected material to work with in a crafting capacity, dryer vent hosing/tubing does an impressive job of resembling a pumpkin – especially thanks to its corrugated texture, which instantly telegraphs the look of the grooves on the real deal.

13. DIY Cone-ucopias for Thanksgiving: These fabulous fall time paper cones are a natural fit for Thanksgiving, but there’s no stopping you from making some of your own and enjoying them all autumn long.

Fun, inexpensive, and embued with a sense of yesteryear charm, these paper cornucopias can dressed up or down as desired, and would be a thoughtful gift to give if you are invited to Thanksgiving dinner or any other meal at someone house this fall.

14. DIY Leaf Stamped Napkins: This lovely tutorial is apt to make you want to whip up a whole bundle of sophisticated fall napkins using little more than paint and actual leaves. I know that as a (paper crafting) stamper, it has more than piqued my interest and is a project I hope to try my hand at one day.

This same approach to stamping with real leaves can also be expanded to other textiles (as well as materials such as paper and cardstock). Leaf stamping would be a beautiful way to jazz up and add greater meaning to everything from altar cloths to pillowcases (ensuring the paint was safe for use on bedding), table runners to decorative bunting.

15. DIY Pumpkin Hand Soap: Darling to look at and, naturally, a great way to keep your hands clean (something, that as we all know, has become more important than ever since the pandemic began), these super cute DIY bars of pumpkin-shaped soap are fun, festive, and fab to give as gifts all spooky season long.

16. How to Make Fabric Apples (with Free Apple Sewing Pattern): These charming handmade apples are every bit as festive as the real deal – with the added bonus that they can be reused season after season for years to come.

Whether you opt for red, green, yellow, burgundy, or any other colour (to say nothing of the plethora of patterns you could utilize here), these cute apples are a snap to sew up and display throughout the autumn months.

And I cannot help but think that some of my fellow witchy souls would enjoy utilizing these lovely fabric apples as a form of harvest season (non-figural) poppets, sealed spell bags, or fill them with dried herbs/flowers/grasses/etc for a wide range of magickal applications.

17. Pumpkin Pie Felt Garland: Oh my gourd, this is a seriously adorable fall time felt project!

This easy-to-make garland features one of the most beloved fall desserts (and pies, point-blank) of time. It is oodles of fun to make and enjoy throughout autumn, and will surely be a conversation piece with all those who have the pleasure of seeing it in your home.

18. Pinecone and Cranberry Rustic Garland: While both cranberries and pinecones are commonly linked to wintertime and Christmas, each of these natural treasures is equally at home during the autumn months as well.

Think, for example, of cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving and the slew of pinecones that often tumble to the ground during the fall.

This endearingly pretty rustic garland combines pinecones and cranberries to great effect, and has a sweet yesteryear charm to it that I cannot get enough of.

19. Laced Leaf Suncatcher: Preserve a favourite fall leaf (or a selection of leaves) with this creative, splendidly pretty suncatcher that celebrates nature, the seasons, and the weather all in one delightful go.

20. How to Make Painted Gourds: Ever looked at the curvaceous, versatile canvass that is the humble gourd and yearned to add a painterly touch to it?

If so, follow along with Patti as she expertly guides you through the process of painting hollowed-out gourds to create a unique, long-lasting handmade treasure that is so attractive, you may find yourself painting an array of different gourds for all four seasons.

(On the fall DIY front, I also really like Patti’s recent entry How To Make Primitive Fabric Pumpkins.)

21. Fabulous Fall Crocheted Leaf Wreath: Autumn adoring crocheters rejoice, this absolutely beautiful wreath is for you!

A rich fall colour palette, many a seasonal element, and a cheerful design add up to an autumn wreath that is worth learning how to crochet for, if you don’t currently possess this crafty skill – and utilizing your existing needle skills for if you do.

22. Painted Candy Corn Mason Jars: A true staple in recent years on the home decor and seasonal decoration fronts, mason jars are a versatile item to keep on hand for when inspiration strikes or is delivered your way via the web.

I am especially taken with this cuter-than-cute DIY project that transforms classic mason jars into generously sized pieces of decorative candy corn.

Awesome as standalone items or great as seasonal vases or storage containers, these painted mason jars will add the sweetest of touches (pun intented) to your fall decor.

23. How to Recycle Lightbulbs into Twine-Wrapped Pears: Apples might get top billing on the fall fruit front, but pears can – and do – hold their ground every bit as much and are a beloved staple for many of us come the return of autumn weather.

If you’re looking for a speedy and very pretty project that celebrates fall time pears, then this clever use for used lightbulbs may just be the ticket.

24. Floating Acorn Candles: These fun little DIY floating acorn candles are as cute as can be!

They are sure to delight both you and your houseguests (or coven mates) with their itty-bitty size that translates into an immense amount of seasonal charm.

25. Pumpkin Patch Pincushions: Give a wonderful seasonal spin to a sewing supply standard with this sweet, easy-to-make pumpkin patch pincushion project that’s perfect for using up some of those too-pretty-to-part-with fabric scraps many sewers have to hand.

26. Fall Bucket List Painted Popsicle Stick Craft: This is a fantastic idea that produces a literal bucket list of seasonal activities/traditions that you hope to experience to this autumn.

Add in whatever entries suit you and your family, take things in a witchy/Pagan direction, if so desired; or put together a selection of classic fall time happenings and give this darling bucket as a gift.

27. DIY Leaf Mod Podge Bowl: Combine artificial fall leaves with Mod Podge and you get one seriously beautiful bowl that is a work of handmade art unto itself.

Fill your eye-catching autumn leaf bowl with whatever seasonal or day-to-day items – spanning Halloween candy to your housekeys – you wish.

This DIY fall leaf bowl would also make for an excellent offering vessel on your Mabon altar or another sacred space around your home.

28. Acorn Earrings: If fall themed jewelry making is your jam, then this beautiful beading project from Martha Stewart Living is bound to have you prizing your finished acorn earrings with as much gusto as an autumn time squirrel and their cache of nuts.

29. DIY Concrete Pumpkins: If you live in a home with a yard (or balcony) that can be adorned for fall, why not try your hand at making a seasonal project that is apt to last for many years (if not decades) to come?

These DIY concrete pumpkins have a refined elegance coupled with a sense of joyful whimsy and are perfect for gardens, lawns, outdoor altars, decks, and just about anywhere else nature resides.

30. Dollar Tree Pizza Pan Fall Welcome Sign: If, like me, you’re a fan of including cute vintage farm trucks in your seasonal decor (I have a black Halloween farm truck decoration that is one of my very favourite spooky season pieces), then this delightful project starring dollar store supplies is likely to pique your interest and make for a great addition to your DIY fall decoration collection.

31. DIY Leaf Trinket Dish: Chic, sophisticated, and wildly pretty, this fantastic fall craft creates a versatile trinket dish that is ideal for autumn, but no less at home throughout the other three seasons.

Make one (or more) for yourself and extras to give out as gifts, because chances are various people in your life would be elated to receive a gorgeous handmade leaf dish of their own.

32. How to Make Decorative Caramel Apples for Fall Decor: The boundless creativity that exists in the world never fails to inspire and enchant me. Case in point, these wonderfully realistic-looking decorative caramel apples, which are easier to create a batch of your own than you might imagine at first sight.

These toffee apples (as caramel apples are called in some parts of the world) are so lifelike, you might find yourself tempted to take a bite. Naturally, that is not a good idea, but displaying these sweet treat inspired beauties throughout the fall months definitely is!

33. DIY Pumpkin Spice Soy Candle: It’s safe to say that candles and fall go together like winter and pine trees. If you’re in the mood to DIY some gorgeously scented autumn time candles of your own, this terrific tutorial is for you!

I would suggest making extras as, if you’re anything like me, you will quite literally burn through a bevy of autumnal candles between now and December.

(And, on the fall scent front, be sure to check out this tutorial on the same blog that shows you how to make wonderfully appealing Apple Scented Candles with Sprinkles.)

34. How to Make a DIY Fall Wreath from a Picture Frame: Have a picture frame that lost its glass or a dated frame you’re not using anymore? What about a plain, versatile frame you thrifted or picked up for a song on sale?

Wherever your frame hails from, if you’re looking to breathe new life into it this autumn, then Aubree’s wonderful fall foliage wreath may just be the DIY project you need. The end result is a stunning seasonal wreath that is, very fittingly, every bit as pretty as a picture.

35. Autumn Harvest Knit Pillow: A splendid palette of rich, earthy fall tones combine with timeless seasonal imagery in this knit pillow project that cozies up autumn all the more and which is sure to become one of your favourite cushions.

36. Falling Leaves Sensory Jar: Perfect for youngsters, but no less applicable to grownups, sensory jars and bottles are akin to snowglobes, but are aimed at helping to provide a sense of calm and comfort to anyone in need of such.

This particular sensory bottle celebrates the entrancing beauty of fall and is a great tool to help manage things such as stress and anxiety, again both in kids and adults alike.

Plus, when they’re teeming with autumn elements like this charmer, sensory bottles and jars make for wonderful seasonal decor as well.

37. Candy Corn Button Art: If, like many a crafter around the world, you love to horde collect buttons and are looking to use more of them up this year, why not try your hand at making a splendidly sweet autumn button art project like this no-sew version that creates a darling candy corn image?

38. Rustic Fall Cinnamon Broom Wreath: While relatively common in America, cinnamon brooms are surprisingly hard to come by up here in Western Canada (much to my witchy, fall adoring heart’s chagrin).

Nevertheless, I enjoy knowing that I could take inspiration from this project and simply use a different type of broom in place the cinnamon version, if they continue to remain elusive north of the 49th (that said, some years, I have spied them at stores such as Michael’s and Canadian Tire, and hope to grab at least one or two should I ever see them at either spot again).

This project creates a fall decor piece that is bursting with seasonal charm, elegance, and – if you’re fortunate to have access to cinnamon brooms – the timelessly appealing aroma of one of fall’s most iconic spices.

(If you are using an unscented broom, you could always try anointing it with cinnamon essential oil or nestling a few richly scented cinnamon sticks amongst the bristles of the broom.)

39. Wise owl crocheted ornament: Ultra adorable and ever-so-ready for autumn, this scarf clad crocheted owl ornament is perfect for fall time now and just as at home, in a few week’s time, tucked amongst the branches of your winter holiday season tree.

40. Rustic Glitter Woodland Pumpkins: If your decor tastes run on the glam side, this chic take on classic fall pumpkins may set your heart aflutter!

Little more than suitable craft paint and glitter are needed to transform everyday plastic pumpkins into unforgettable stylish autumn adornments that add shimmer and pizzazz to any setting.

41. Easy Mason Jar Scarecrows: It is nearly impossible to gaze at these adorable mason jar pumpkins with their button eyes, burlap hats, and straw hair and not smile from ear-to-ear.

Sweet, fun, and much easier to recreate than you may imagine, these mason jar scarecrows look like they might have cost you a pretty penny if purchased from a store or craft fair, but can in fact be made at home with everyday craft supplies that need not break the bank.

42. Knit Apple Dishcloth: No corner of your home has to go untouched by the enchanting loveliness of autumn – not even that kitchen workhorse, the humble dishcloth.

Add seasonal flair to washing up care of this super cute apple-shaped knit dishcloth which is so charming, you may find yourself whipping up a whole bushel of them!

43. DIY Owl Fall Door Hanger: There’s just something about an unadorned door that makes me want to instantly place a wreath or door hanger on it. Never is that more true for me personally than during my beloved autumn.

This super charming DIY owl door hanger would be an especially apt choice, as we’re sometimes blessed to have owls reside in the lofty evergreen trees of our backyard. Plus owls are amongst my all-time favourite animals, as well as being a wild critter that I have shared a close spiritual bond with throughout my life.

If you’re likewise keen on owls and are looking to enhance any door in your home, why not give this rustic, elegant, and very cute door hanger a go?

44. DIY Wire Wrapped Pumpkin Earrings: Whereas some types of wire wrapping projects can require a fair bit of experience and expertise to master, these chic meets adorable pumpkin earrings are quite approachable for new and less advanced makers of wire wrapped jewelry.

These fall time perfect handmade wire wrapped earrings are lightweight, sophisticated, and sure to garner no shortage of compliments (not to mention questions regarding where you got them from!).

45. Fall Wood Bead Garland: Be they for autumn or any other season/occasion, garlands are a versatile, fantastic way to add instant charm to any room in your house. They can adorn mantles and shelves, be part of tiered tray displays, snake across dresser and vanity tops, help a centrepiece shine all the more, and myriad other great uses.

This very sweet version utilizes yarn, wooden beads, and a wood pumpkin die cut piece to create a timeless fall garland that is so pretty, you might just be tempted to wear it as a necklace!

46. Handmade Felt Pears: Perfect grouped together as a centrepiece, tucked between fall foliage on a mantle or shelf, or interspersed in fun spots around your house, these elegant, easy to sew up felt pears are a terrific celebration of one of the season’s most appealing and beloved fruits.

47. Crocheted Falling Leaves Throw: Autumn time and cooler temps go hand-in-hand for those in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere and as such, we often associated fall with coziness of all kinds.

Stay warm and celebrate the natural beauty of autumn leaves care of this gorgeous crocheted throw blanket, which is so attractive you may just find yourself leaving it out all year long.

48. Easy No-Sew Ribbon Acorns: Equal part cute, sophisticated, and pretty, these darling no-sew ribbon acorns are just as lovely as the real deal and make for a marvellous fall time decoration that looks like it would be a blast to whip up a whole basket’s worth of!

49. Easy DIY Yarn Pumpkins: I love a great, inexpensive, easy-to-make fall craft and this fun take on pumpkins nails it big time on each of those fronts.

Whether you opt for orange, cream, pink, green or any other colour of yarn that your heart desires, these sweet little handmade pumpkins are bound to bring a smile your way all throughout the autumn months.

50. Mabon Corn Dolly Tutorial: This excellent guest post entry (from Ruthie Hayes) on the blog Nitty Gritty Life is chocked full of information about the history and meaning of both corn and corn dollies/figures as they apply to Mabon and the fall harvest season.

It caps off with step-by-step instructions to help you create your own beautiful corn dolly, which can then be enjoyed and/or worked with in a magickal capacity this fall and for many an autumn to come (thanks to the long-lasting properties of dried cornhusks).

Note: All 50 images used above are copyright of their respective creators. Please follow the coordinating link in each list entry to be taken to the craft project shown and described therein.

And should you be looking for more seasonal craft ideas this autumn, pop on by my posts 45 Special Occasions and Fun Reasons to Make Cards (and Other Paper Crafting Projects) For This Fall and 5 Ways to Make Cute and Easy Mini Brooms.

Harvest a bumper crop of fall time inspiration

There’s just something about cooler nights, leaves hued like Bartlett pears and Red Delicious apples fluttering in the wind, and the promise of Halloween/Samhain’s return that stokes the fires of my creativity something fierce. (See: #MakeHalloween365 – which can 100% be used for fall crafts and other creative projects in general, too.)

I am by no means alone here. Fall DIYs project ideas abound online and are a firm favourite of many crafters, for autumn often stirs inspiration, artistry, creativity, and joy in a good many of us.

Whether you grin over jack-o-lanterns, are sweet on candy corn, hoot joyfully about owls, fall for tumbling leaves, or adore apples a bushel and a peck, there is something for nearly everyone to be inspired and delighted by during the fall months.

Lean into that sense and use it to make seasonal craft projects or something else entirely. Creativity and inspiration can be abundant, but one’s muse isn’t always in the most giving of moods and you will be glad that you struck, so to speak, when the proverbial iron was hot.

And if you’re looking for oodles more awesome fall inspiration and ideas, check out my Pinterest account, particularly my boards pertaining to the following:

–Fall time in general

–Lammas

–Mabon

–Samhain

–Thanksgiving recipes

–Vintage Thanksgiving

–Fall and Thanksgiving cards

–Halloween

–Halloween costumes

–Halloween recipes

–Halloween cards

–Vintage Halloween

As well, please don’t hesitate to follow me on Instagram, where I celebrate and post (grid + Stories) about autumn all throughout the year.

And should you be on the hunt for books about Mabon, be sure to check out my recent blog post, Your Ultimate Guide to Books on The Pagan Sabbats, which includes multiple entries pertaining to Mabon/the Fall Equinox.

Mabon is a merry, ancient, blessed, and extremely beautiful point on the calendar.

Yes, we are parting ways with summer and that can certainly be rough for some of us, but we are stepping into a breathtaking chapter of the year that is rich with seasonal messages, meanings, and joy.

Embrace the sense of balance inherent to the Fall Equinox, revel in the pleasures of pumpkin season, and allow yourself some time to craft (or decorate) to your heart’s content.

Autumn comes but once a year and deserves to be celebrated in ways both big and small, from the first to the very last moment.

I sincerely hope that the Fall Equinox and Mabon DIY ideas highlighted in this post will assist you in doing just that.

Which of these 50 fall craft projects is your favourite? What are you hoping to make (crafts, recipes, seasonal décor, etc) this autumn?

The post 50 Awesome Mabon Crafts, DIY Projects, and Décor Ideas for the Fall Equinox appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

For many of us, however, autumn’s unofficial start took place earlier this week on September 1^st.

And for others still, fall commenced even earlier, at some point (such as Lammas) in August.

No matter when you opt to officially roll out the red (or would that be orange and black? ) carpet for fall, it’s a safe bet to say that many of us jump at the chance to celebrate and make the most of this gorgeous chapter of the year.

For my fellow paper crafters – and indeed, crafty and creative souls of all kinds – fall provides boundless inspiration for our projects.

I am the first person to not just jump, but pole vault when it comes to creating craft projects for special autumn events and holidays such as Thanksgiving (both Canadian and American, respectively), Mabon, Halloween, Samhain, Día de los Muertos, and Remembrance Day (November 11^th).

However, sometimes one wants to shake things up and make cards or other paper crafting projects that are fall-related, but not strictly for the major holidays.

You can, of course, bestow a fall theme onto nearly any type of paper crafting project – from birthday to get well cards, mini albums to tags. Goodness knows I do so with gusto!

It can be a lot of fun though to have a cool launching pad for your creativity that you might not have drawn inspiration from often, if ever before.

To that end, I have compiled a list of some of my favourite classic, unique, poignant, and just plain charming happenings and beloved events that can deliver big time on the fall paper crafting inspiration front.

Each entry is accompanied by a paper crafting item that corresponds to the topic at hand. Naturally, in many instances there are others on the theme to be had as well, so don’t be shy when it comes to Googling for what you’re after.

Whether you are making cards, scrapbook pages, mini albums, canvasses, art journal pages, traveller’s notebooks, pocket letters, MemoryDex cards, home décor item, or any other type of paper crafting project, I hope that the following list helps to stoke the (bon)fires of your creativity all the more this autumn – and for many more to come.

45 Special Occasions and Fun Reasons to Make Cards (and Other Paper Crafting Projects) For This Fall

1. The harvest season: A boundless treasure trove of inspiration lies in the autumn harvest season and the scrumptious bounty that it produces.

Apples, pears, grapes, figs, cranberries, corn, squash, parsnips, cabbage, beets, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, brussels sprouts, pumpkins, wheat, barley, and honey are just some of the many delicious fall harvest foods that can serve as a fantastic source of inspiration not only for your meals and seasonal décor, but also for your paper crafting projects.

2. Spirit Day (October 15^th): This annual event draws attention to, and strives to provide support for victims of, the continued widespread abuse and bullying faced by many LGBTQ+ youth around the world.

Use Spirit Day (which is represented by the colour purple) as an ideal time to send cards of support or good cheer to the young LGBTQ+ people in your life.

3. Native American Day (USA; 4^th Friday in September in some states, 2^nd Monday of October in South Dakota and Wisconsin): The roots of this important celebration of Native American culture stretch back to 1939.

Native American Day deserves widespread recognition and observance. It serves as the perfect time of the year (though doing so should be an ongoing lifelong happening, especially for those who live in North America) to further educate oneself about, and celebrate, Native American history and culture both past and present.

(Note: For those in Canada, a similar observation, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, occurs annually on June 21^st.

4. Oktoberfest: Though the ongoing global pandemic has caused the cancellation of Oktoberfest again this year, the spirit that it embodies can still be celebrated all the same.

Whether one enjoys a hearty pint of lager or simply wishes to pay tribute to their German heritage (where applicable), Oktoberfest – which is a sixteen to eighteen-day event that begins in mid and runs until the first Sunday in October) is a time of merriment, hearty food, and plenty of beer.

One need not drink, however, to celebrate Oktoberfest, be it in real life or in paper crafting form. I myself do not drink (or more specifically, have been unable to drink alcohol of any kind for two decades now due to medical reasons), yet as someone with a hefty slice of German ancestry, I use Oktoberfest as a time to reflect on and honour this part of my family tree.

5. International Mountain Day (December 11^th): The world as we know it would be a radically different place if it was devoid of mountains and the ecosystems that these vital natural structures house.

Hailing from a part of Canada (the province of British Columbia) that is all but overflowing with mountains, I have quite the soft spot in my heart for these majestic marvels of nature and have frequently used them as a source of inspiration in my paper crafting.

Whether you live in the Rockies, Swiss Alps, or the flattest part of the globe, it can be a blast to incorporate mountains into our paper crafting both on International Mountain Day and all throughout the rest of the year.

6. Monthly birthstones: While, naturally, often thought of in the context of jewelry, birthstones can also be a marvellous source of creative inspiration (think birthstone colours, rhinestones, and sentiments such as “You’re a gem”) and a memorable way to help celebrate someone special’s birthday.

The following are the most common modern-day birthstones for each of the fall months:

-September birthstone: Sapphire

-October birthstones: Tourmaline and opal

-November birthstones: Citrine and topaz

-December birthstones: Turquoise, tanzanite, and blue zircon

7. Grandparents Day: When I was growing up, Grandparents’ Day seemed to be observed more often here in Canada and I fondly remember making cards and gifts for my grandparents throughout my youth. While, rather unjustifiably, if you ask me, not as well known or widely observed as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, respectively, Grandparents’ Day takes place on various dates in different countries around the world.

Here in Canada, as well as in the US, Grandparents’ Day takes place in the first half of September. Interestingly, officially, Canada did away with Grandparents’ Day in 2014. However, it is still observed by many, most of whom simply use the US date to mark this meaningful celebration.

This year, Grandparents’ Day falls on Sunday, September 12^th in the States. You need not wait though for this day to honour and celebrate the grandparents in your life. Why not send a heartfelt greeting to your nana, pawpaw, bubby, or granddad this autumn and let them know they’re in your thoughts all season long?

8. World Card Making Day (1^st Saturday in October): Really and truly, you could not find a more apt day to day to create cards on, or for, than World Card Making Day itself.

A beloved annual event amongst crafters around the world, this delightful celebration of all things card making related took root at least a decade ago now and continues to grow in popularity each year.

9. National Taco Day (USA; October 4^th): I don’t know about you, but personally I haven’t met too many people thus far who didn’t enjoy at least one or two types of tacos

If you flip your shell for a great taco or know someone else who does, use National Taco Day as a charming reason to serve up a taco themed card, tag, or other paper crafting project. It’s bound to house all of the fun of the real deal, with none of the risk of your taco shell breaking!

10. The Fall Equinox (September 22^nd): For many an autumn lover the world over, the Fall Equinox alone can power our creative engines all season long – and for good measure!

Fall is an exquisitely beautiful and highly meaningful chapter of the year that offers us a welcome respite between the extremes of summer and winter, and which can be translated in countless ways through our craft projects, be they be paper-based or otherwise.

11. World Post Day (October 9^th): Much as with World Card Making Day, World Post Day is ideally suited to paper crafters.

This annual fall time event was established in 1969 and aims to bring awareness of, and recognition to, the many important roles that the postal system plays in the lives of billions of people around the globe.

As a paper crafter, I see this as the epitome of a great reason to send out some “happy mail” to fellow crafters and plenty of “thinking of you” mail to friends and family around the globe.

12. Bonfire Night (UK and Ireland; November 5^th): Also commonly known, when observed on the 5^th of November, as Guy Fawkes Night, this post-Halloween celebration is a mainstay in parts of Europe, though less so elsewhere in the world.

If you live outside of a country that officially takes part in Bonfire Night, why not use the crisp, chilly days of early November as a wonderful time to celebrate bonfires (and heart fires, too) in general?

For example, in order to do so via paper crafting, you could make a card or tag for someone featuring an image of a fire, fireplace, or glowing candle with a sentiment such as, “You warm my heart” or “You light up my life”.

13. National Cat Day (USA; October 29^th): This meaningful day aims to raise awareness about the many thousands of cats that need rescuing across America. Though this issue is, of course, is a widespread global one as well.

Cats are closely associated with fall (in particular with Halloween and Samhain), so why not use this autumn as an excellent time to spread awareness about rescuing cats via your paper crafting (and/or by adopting a precious new fur baby yourself)?

14. A sense of balance: This one pertains to the Fall Equinox/Mabon in particular, but is also applicable to autumn as a whole.

As one of just two days of the year (the other being the Spring Equinox/Ostara) in which the hours of light and dark are roughly equal, the Autumn Equinox helps to remind us of the importance of seeking, creating, fostering, and celebrating various forms of balance and harmony in our lives.

Use the serenity of fall and the blessing of balance as a meaningful springboard for various creative projects this season. In addition, you may wish to utilize fall’s sense of balance in your self-care and wellness-focused activities, too.

15. International Bacon Day: If bacon is your jam (or if bacon jam is your jam ) then why not take a hearty bite of inspiration from one of the world’s most beloved pork products and celebrate International Bacon Day on September 4^th with a project that incorporated a crafting version this very moreish meat?

(Naturally, those who prefer non-pork bacon, such as beef, turkey, or chicken, as well as vegetarian and vegan bacon options can just as easily raise a fork to International Bacon Day, too.)

16. Canadian and American Labour Day (September 6^th): While not necessarily the first holiday that may spring to mind as an occasion to make cards for, Labour Day can in fact provide a wealth of paper crafting inspiration.

Use this annual event to create a scrapbook layout, mini album, card or other type of project that honours either your own career path or the profession of someone special in your life.

17. International Volunteer Day (December 5^th): This important annual event celebrates and raises awareness of the work that volunteers around the world contribute to society.

Utilize International Volunteer Day as an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and thank the hard working volunteers in your own life and/or community.

18. Fall leaves: I know that autumn flowers and foliage appear as an entry elsewhere on this list, but much as with pumpkins and the broader harvest season, so too do fall leaves deserve their own entry.

Synonymous with autumn in much of the Western Hemisphere, crispy, crunchy earth and jewel-toned leaves are a gorgeous element of fall and a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature both of the seasons and of life in general.

Awesomely, no shortage of leaf-themed products (from stamps to metal dies, stickers to stencils) exist in the paper crafting world, many of which suit the splendours of fall time foliage to an absolute tee.

19. World Kindness Day (November 13^th): On the list of things that there can never be too much of on this planet, kindness ranks extremely high up there in my books.

If you’re equally keen on kindness, I encourage you to use the middle of November as a fantastic time to acknowledge and thank some of the people in your life whose kindness and care have made a lasting impact on your days.

20. National Ampersand Day (USA; September 8^th): If you’ve ever looked at the humble, elegant, and very hardworking ampersand (aka, the “and symbol”) and thought that it deserved its own special day of recognition, then National Ampersand Day is for you!

Plenty of paper crafting products (particularly stamps and dies) feature ampersands, which means that should have no trouble coming up with lots & lots of charming craft project ideas that feature or include this beloved symbol.

21. Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October): As one of the most common cancers in the modern world, rare is the family that has not been touched in some way breast cancer.

If you have a cancer patient or survivor in your family, friend group, or elsewhere in your life, October can be an excellent time to let that person know you’re thinking of them as they’re battling this extremely challenging disease or that you are super proud of all they’ve accomplished in their fight with breast cancer.

As well, you may wish to look into if any of the oncology departments or clinics in your area accept handmade cards, and, if they do, create some supportive greetings for strangers who are battling not only breast cancer, but cancers of all types.

(On the cancer awareness front autumn is also home to both prostate cancer and ovarian cancer awareness in September, and stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer awareness in November.)

22. National Pumpkin Day (USA; October 26^th): I know, I know, pumpkins definitely fall under the first entry on this list, but as one of the most iconic and universally beloved symbols of fall, there’s no way I could deprive National Pumpkin Day of its own entry here.

Be they classic or cute, silly or spooky, pumpkins and the grinning jack-o-lanterns we carve from them are one of the best and most enjoyable ways to instantly convey fall time fun in your paper crafting projects.

23. World Tourism Day (September 27^th): In this time of serious ongoing global challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, most of us are not doing a great deal of international (or even national) travelling. That doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t still celebrate our passion for adventure via our paper crafting.

Whether you make a project pertaining to your own travels or a card for a wanderlust-filled loved one, this fall is a terrific time to acknowledge highly meaningful role travel plays not only in our own lives, but in those of countless others across the globe.

24. Fall time flowers and foliage: It is natural to associate spring and summer with lush, gorgeous gardens teeming with blooms as far as the eye can see. However, fall is not without its own wonderful crop of flowers and greenery as well – any and all of which can provide a host of inspiration to crafters everywhere.

Amongst the star players when it comes to autumn flowers you’ll find such beautiful offerings as chrysanthemums, sunflowers, flowering kale, dianthus, shrub roses, cosmos, autumn sedum, heuchera, goldenrod, croton, black-eyed Susan, hydrangeas, snapdragons, purple fountain grass, amaranthus, marigolds, beautyberry, helenium, cornflowers, pansies, violas, and plenty of hearty varieties of roses.

25. International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19^th): Ahoy, maties! If it’s the pirate’s life for you, then your timbers are apt to be shivered and your creativity fuelled by this thoroughly fun annual event, which provides no shortage of paper crafting inspiration.

26. The Northern Lights: While the Northern Lights (aka, the Aurora Borealis) can be seen throughout the year in various parts of the world, according to NASA, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you are twice as likely to spot this breathtaking natural event during the spring and fall months than you in the winter and summer.

Though many people do not live in areas that are northerly enough to witness the Aurora Borealis in person, happily, we can whip up our own dazzling Northern Lights displays via our paper crafting, particularly via ink blended and/or stamped skies.

27. National Beer Lover’s Day (USA; September 7^th): Raise a pint to one of the world’s most beloved and frequently consumed beverages by brewing up a card or other paper crafting project that pays homage to the sudsy tipple that is beer.

28. Fall fashion: Cozy sweaters, chunky knit scarves, fleece shirts, warm coats, opaque tights, and cute gloves are but a few of the fabulous fashion elements that call autumn home.

If, like me, you tend to (vastly) prefer dressing for the cooler half of the year or if you know someone who does, then fall is the ideal time to celebrate your passion for autumnal fashion via not only your wardrobe, but also your paper crafting.

Think cable knit patterned embossing folders and papers, adorable sweater-themed stamp sets, and super cute stickers depicting scarves, to name but a few creative possibilities on this fun and festive front.

29. World Teacher’s Day (October 5^th): Fall and the start of the school year have, in many parts of the world, gone hand in hand for centuries. Autumn is a wonderful and very fitting time to celebrate and honour the teachers in our lives and families, as well as to reflect back (such as in scrapbooking form) on those educators whose impact remains with us to this day.

30. Pumpkin spice everything: Though I’m the first to acknowledge that not everyone flips their lid for pumpkin spice flavoured foods and beverages (be they coffee-based or otherwise), for those of us who do, we’d gladly consume little else from the first day of September right on until the Winter Solstice.

If pumpkin spice makes your heart skip a beat, try whipping up some fun, festive fall themed paper crafting projects that embrace your – or a friend’s – passion for this thoroughly beautiful flavour melange.

31. National Women’s Friendship Day (USA; third Sunday in September): Yaaasss!!! As someone who is a massive proponent of women supporting women and the importance of friendship amongst women, I am 110% in favour of National Women’s Friendship Day.

I’ve quickly some to adore using this annual event as inspiration to make and send cards out to some of my cherished female friends around the globe.

You can easily do the same, too, and do not need any special supplies to create cards or other paper crafting projects for the gal pals in your own life.  

32. Fall time farmer’s markets and produce stands: Growing up, my family had a treasured annual tradition of visiting some of the beautiful and abundantly stocked farmer’s market produce stands in a tiny community less than an hour’s drive south of us. Later on, when as an adult I returned to the same town I spent much of my youth in, I continued this tradition with my husband.

Though we now live considerably further north in the same region and don’t make it that far south most falls, we continue to seek out, celebrate, and support local produce stands and farmer’s markets throughout the autumn months. And rare is the year that some, if not all, of the pumpkins, gourds, squashes, ears of corn, apples, and pears we purchase for Halloween/Samhain don’t hail from such sources.

Whether you are fortunate to have your own local sources for autumnal produce or not, you can easily celebrate this fall time mainstay via the plethora of seasonal paper crafting products that tap into autumn farmer’s markets and create projects that are no less invitingly gorgeous than the real deal.

33. International Rabbit Day (the 4^th Saturday in September): Did you know that, following cats and dogs, rabbits are the third most common pets in numerous countries?

And for good measure! These cute, clever, and charming long-eared animal friends are beautiful creatures that deserve our respect and love, whether we opt to keep one (or more) in our house or not.

The paper crafting world houses, rather fittingly, a proliferation of cotton tail related products, meaning that you can just as easily create rabbit-themed projects in the fall as you can come springtime (the season many of us associate most closely with bunnies).

34. Fall time weather: Just as rain showers can symbolize spring and sunshine is the epitome of a natural fit for summer, so too can we look to the weather for autumn paper crafting inspiration.

Blustery wind, golden rays of sun, vivid autumn sunsets, and even the first frost can all lend a helping hand on the creativity front when looking for themes this season.

35. National Pasta Day (USA; October 17^th): Much as with tacos, rare is the person who doesn’t like at least a few varieties of pasta!

Be it made with wheat, gluten-free alternatives (such as corn, rice, quinoa, buckwheat, or chickpeas), almond flour, shirataki, or other types of ingredients, pasta is a beloved staple in many cuisines and households around the world.

Let this versatile and thoroughly tasty food make for a delightful source of inspiration when dishing up a fall time paper crafting project.

36. The full moons of fall: Perhaps no other full moon is more famous than the breathtaking harvest moon of early autumn (technically the harvest moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the Fall Equinox). Yet each of autumn’s full moons is a gorgeous sight and occurrence that is worthy of being celebrated in paper form.

The year’s monthly full moons are all known by various names across the world. In English speaking countries, some of the most common names for the fall time full moons include:

-September: Harvest Moon, Autumn Moon, Corn Moon, Full Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Falling Leaves Moon (also used at times for October’s full moon), Rutting Moon, Child Moon, and Leaves Turning Moon

-October: Harvest Moon (if the full moon closest to the Fall Equinox transpires in October), Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Frost Moon, Migrating Moon, and Dying Grass Moon

-November: Beaver Moon, Frosty Moon, Mourning Moon (this name is most commonly applied when November’s full moon is the last full moon before the Winter Solstice), Digging Moon, Freezing Moon, and the Oak Moon, though the latter is also given at times to December’s full moon.

-December (some years – including this one – the full moon falls during the fall time portion of December): Cold Moon, Oak Moon, Moon Before Yule, Long Night Moon, Snow Moon, Drift Clearing Moon, Midwinter Moon, and Hoar Frost Moon.

There are oodles of moon-related paper crafting products out there that can make celebrating the full moons of autumn all the more possible, though one can certainly do the same with some basic paper crafting supplies, such as circle punches, ink blended skies that include a moon, or moon themed stickers.

37. International Day of Sign Languages (September 23^rd): Globally, more than 300 different sign languages are spoken.

The meaningful annual observance of International Day of Sign Languages (the date of which was selected to coincide with the founding in 1951 of the World Federation of the Deaf) honours and celebrates sign language, and is an excellent motivator to learn more about this diverse, incredibly important form of communication.

38. Dictionary Day (October 16^th): And speaking of language-related entries, how about celebrating Dictionary Day via your paper crafting this fall?

This odd to lexicology takes place on October 16^th (the birth date of Noah Webster, the founder of Webster’s Dictionary) and is the ideal time to bust out your favourite dictionary related scrapbooking and card making supplies, or simply celebrate the important role that words play in our paper crafting projects the whole year through.

39. Candy Corn Day (October 30^th): In my experience, much as with raisins, people tend to either love or loath candy corn. Personally, I adore it – not just eating the real deal, but creating with craft versions of this sweet, adorable fall time staple as well.

Thankfully, one need not enjoy consuming candy to do the same. Plenty of paper crafting brands offer candy corn-themed goodies that are just the ticket for making some of the sweetest fall time cards, scrapbook pages, and other projects around.

40. International Daughter’s Day (September 26^th): This observance strives to acknowledge daughters around the world and, in doing so, to help raise awareness of the challenges, struggles, and plights experienced by many female children and adults globally.

It can also be an excellent time to honour one’s own daughters and/or, if applicable, the fact that you are a daughter yourself.

41. Vintage fall and Halloween: From campy, fabulous movies (see: Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, for example) to highly collectable yesteryear Halloween décor, looking to the past as inspiration for present-day autumn craft projects can be an awesome way to imbue a strong sense of nostalgia into one’s fall time creative makes.

42. National Cookie Day (USA; December 4^th): It’s only fitting, if you ask me, that National Cookie Day transpires in the same month as many of the best known and most beloved winter holidays (for which cookies are often an integral sweet treat for a lot of folks).

Falling on December 4^th, however, National Cookie Day is still squarely in the realm of autumn and can be a fantastic time to whip up some delectable cookies (aka, biscuits for those in various parts of the world, such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand) – be they the real deal or those rendered in equally welcome paper crafting form.

43. Fall zodiac signs: This autumn begins on the last day of Virgo and spans, as each fall does, the signs of Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. If you or someone in your life has a birthday during the autumn months, why not look to the stars for some celestially guided paper crafting inspiration?

44. Button Day (November 16^th): Rare is the textile or paper crafter who hasn’t worked with buttons at least a time or two. For many of us creative folks, buttons are a beloved mainstay in our craft supply arsenal.

This November, embrace your love of this charming fastener by whipping up a project or two (or ten!) that includes buttons – be they the real, die cut versions, button themed stickers, stamped button images, or anything else your creative, button adoring heart can dream up!

45. International Coffee Day (October 1st): Feeling a bit knackered from all the exciting paper crafting you’ve been doing this fall? Then why not brew up a hefty cup of your favourite java and use this delightful event to celebrate your – or a fellow joe adoring friend’s – passion for the beloved pep-inducing drink that is coffee?

*Bonus 46^th reason* #MakeHalloween365: The super fun hashtag #MakeHalloween365 that I created and launched earlier this year.

I am all for using hashtags as inspiration for our crafting, as the projects we share with them can, in turn, help to delight and inspire others.

If you’re not doing so already, I welcome and encourage you to use the hashtag #MakeHalloween365 anytime you share any sort of creative project, blog post, or photo online that pertains to Halloween.

I check this hashtag regularly and love to feature posts that use it on my Instagram stories.

Let’s band together and help #MakeHalloween365 grow and become all the more of a thriving hub of spooky season creative inspiration for fellow All Hallows’ Eve fans around the globe.

Note: The dates listed here for national and international observances are for the year of 2021. Dates may differ in future years but are apt to still fall around the same general points on the calendar.

Please also note that images used in the above list are copyright of their respective sources. To learn more about a particular image and/or the product that it features, please click on the link in the caption directly below a given image.

Welcome September, welcome autumn!

Personally, my mind, spirituality, and heart begin attuning with fall come Lammas, at the beginning of August.

However, there is just something about the first day (and week) of September that instantly makes it feel like fall has begun, regardless of whether the temperature outside is still hot enough to fry pancakes on the sidewalk or chilly enough to make ice cubes out back once the sun has set.

Like many of us, I am elated that September has returned and am embracing fall’s resplendence with the most open of arms. Not only for its own marvellous merits, but also because this summer has been quite the doozy on multiple fronts and I am eager to soon file the current season away and move onward both with the year and with my/our life as well.

I will save going into further detail there for the next edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me (which should be appearing here shortly before the Fall Equinox). Suffice it to say though, that for a multitude of reasons, this will be a summer that I won’t soon forget!

I’m hoping that when all is said and done, I can make the same statement about fall 2021 – however, ideally, for considerably more positive reasons than those that made this summer quite the standout!

As many of you know, I am absolutely, hands down, no two ways about it madly obsessed with autumn!!!

This point is reflected in both my online and offline life all throughout the year, but I try to let it shine even more powerfully come the enchanting days of fall time itself.

With any luck, autumn 2021 will be no exception there. I’m all but bouncing off the (festively decorated) walls with excitement to share a slew of seasonally related blog content with all of you. Just as I am tremendously excited to see and be inspired by your own awesome fall shares.

Here’s to the hope for a safe, happy, relaxing, beautiful, and thoroughly inspiring autumn, dear friends – may it be amongst the loveliest that we have ever experienced!

Which of the fun and unique fall happenings mentioned above jumped out at you the most? What additional autumn time entries would you add to this list?

The post 45 Special Occasions and Fun Reasons to Make Cards (and Other Paper Crafting Projects) For This Fall appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.