DIY Fall Art Projects

The leaves are changing color, the air is crisp, and there’s inspiration all around! Fall is the perfect time to pull out your old craft smock and get started on a few fun DIY art projects. Let’s take a look at several creative ideas from our BumbleBar crew.

How To Make: Hannah’s Cozy Coasters

Hannah Pierce, Coasters, BumbleBar Hannah Pierce, Coasters, BumbleBar

 

 

 

 

 

The brisk autumn weather makes this season the perfect time to walk outside. I find myself staring at the ground a lot as I’m walking around, observing the golden leaves and broken branches that have already fallen to the ground. It was on one of these walks last autumn with my mom that we were inspired to make coasters from the larger tree branches that were strewn across the road. Here is how you can make your own:

  • Collect a few large sticks that have already fallen from a tree. They should be about 2.5 – 5 inches in diameter.
  • Use a saw to cut the branch into small circles, about 1-2 inches apart. Follow these safety guidelines when cutting the tree branch.
  • Now, take sandpaper and sand the edges of the circles, so that the coaster is nice and smooth.
  • Last, paint the coasters with a clear, non-toxic gloss paint to keep them from absorbing any liquid that may be spilled on them.
  • When they’re dry, you’re all done! Ta-da!

How To Make: Aimee’s Splendid Scarf

Aimee Savey, BumbleBar, Knitted Scarf, Handmade Scarf

Fall is my favorite time to start and maybe finish a knitting project. I say maybe because it often takes me years to finish a project because I’ll get bored, or my hands will start to ache and I put it down and won’t pick it up again for another six months. That’s ok though, knitting is rarely a race to the finish line, since I already have many, many sweaters to keep me warm this winter. It’s not like I’ll freeze to death without the sweater I’m working on. I’ve finished more than six sweaters and tons of scarves and cowls that way. One of the best parts of knitting is getting to fantasize about all of the cool stuff you’ll make with the beautiful yarns that are available at the local yarn shop, or LYS as we knitters call them. My favorite LYS is Paradise Fibers. They are based in Spokane but ship worldwide and they have a wonderful selection of brands and colors as well as a helpful and experienced staff if I get stuck. Yarn, of course, is available at your local craft store like Michaels, but they almost never sell natural fibers, which I prefer. Synthetic fiber yarn absolutely has its place, though. It is inexpensive and often much easier to wash than animal fiber yarn, so it’s great for beginners who aren’t sure they want to commit to expensive yarn and for baby blankets and clothes, which will need to be washed fairly often.

The sweater pictured probably took me a year to finish. It is made with wonderful Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk yarn that is soft and very warm. I found a relatively simple pattern on Patternfish by Knitting Pure and Simple. I’m not sure where I got the pattern for the cowl pictured. It’s just the same yarn doubled and knitted in a wide cable pattern. Knitty is another great place to look for knitting patterns and they’re all free! If you’re looking to start knitting, I’d pick out a simple pattern at Lion Brand Yarn and take that down to your LYS where they can help you pick out yarn and a needle to start out with. You can also take lessons or watch YouTube videos to learn the basic knit and purl moves. Even experienced pros like me refer to YouTube to get unstuck sometimes. My advice is to start knitting and figure out the rest on your feet, as you do it.

Good luck and happy knitting!

How To Make: Liz’s Fabulous Fruit Mandalas

Fruit Mandalas, BumbleBar, Liz Ward Fruit Mandalas, Fruit Mandala Coloring Book, Coloring Book, BumbleBar, Liz Ward

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