It always starts with my favorite tree.

I feel like it isn’t officially spring until it explodes into blossoms, making a sneezy mess everywhere, and it DEFINITELY is not fall until it blushes, turns beet red and drops its leaves on the ground for me to scoop up and treasure.

Every year my family goes on a big fall walk. It has to be timed juuuust right to get the most from the trip. Our neighborhood is full of gorgeous trees, shrubs, berries, acorns, you name it. We walk into the park with our bags and gather lovely natural elements that have fallen to the ground. THEN comes the fun part.

We get back and have a fall DIY decor party! I forgot to mention, the day before our fall walk every year we go to Thrift Town and stock up on frames, glassware, dishes, and anything else that might be handy for DIY-ing.

So in honor of my annual fall walk, today’s thrifty DIY post is themed around LEAVES. Enjoy!

______________________________________________________________________

Leaves that you gather will inevitably dry up and crumble… but if you trace them onto the pages of a $0.99 novel, you can have fall decor to use again and again. Personalize it with watercolors and the date, and add to your collection every year!

This DIY leaf bowl is so fun and simple, you can have your little ones help you. Go to the seasonal section and Thrift Town and grab a bag of fake leaves (they might be on a vine/branch still). Then modge-podge onto the top of a balloon, overlapping and coating each leaf. Let it dry and POP! Insta-fall.

This image is 3 DIY’s in one. First: find frames at Thrift Town and paint to match; then press/frame a few of the findings from your own fall walk. Next paint a thrifted vase a complimentary color and fill with found berries or thrift some. Lastly, little figurines: painted gold they are so much more classic and fall-centric. What a lovely mantle display for around $10!

These may just be the cutest leaves we found. Super easy DIY: add a cut out felt tree to a $0.99 white kid’s shirt, and sew assorted buttons on as the leaves. Have fun with your little ones: have them pick the buttons and where each one will go.

To me the biggest part of decorating or doing projects isn’t to have a fancy house, but to make memories while you do it. Find a way to include your family, make it special, laugh, and let them be hands-on with the making. If it’s not perfectly perfect, even better. Made with love is always the way to go. Happy Thrifting, friends!

______________________________________________

Kari Shipman is thrifty, eco-conscious, and knows the importance of supporting local charities. She has been our featured blogger since we started the blog in 2010, and has a serious passion for fashion. In addition to owning her own Fashion Consulting Business, Juniper James, Kari is the Co-Owner of Flywheel, a non-profit, all-local designer retail shop/art studio.

Kari lives out her passions in Northern California with her wonderful husband Charles, and their black lab, Gracie.