Image shows a needle felted gnome in bright orange and turqoise. The body is a needle felted pumpkin

Easy DIY Autumn Crafts To Make Your Home Feel Handmade

FILL YOUR HOME WITH HANDMADE NEEDLE FELTED DECORATIONS

As soon as Autumn arrives I am already full-blown, pumpkin spice latte sweater dresses and jumper mode. It is my absolute favourite time of year as we start to hibernate and get really creative, filling our homes with cosy homemade fall and autumn décor! Without doubt, nothing says it better than pumpkins filling the rooms of your home, especially the ones you have made yourself, and there is no better time than now to grab a cuppa, and start creating with me.

MAKE A NEEDLE FELTED GNUMPKIN WITH ME

Make time: 90 minutes (20 minutes for the pumpkin)

It is full on pumpkin season, or should I say Gnumpkin season. Basically, it is a pumpkin, gnome hybrid but, and I am sure you will agree, they are a match made in heaven. It is my absolute favourite needle felting project at the moment, and I love it more because it can stay up as part of your DIY Christmas décor. This one has a full on Autumnal flavour but I am already making one in cool winter colours.

NO CRAFT OR DRAWING SKILLS NEEDED

This super easy needle felting tutorial will have you creating your own needle felted Gnumpkin in no time at all! Making needle felting easy is what it is all about, and you don’t need any craft or drawing skills. This step by step needle felting tutorial will help build your creative confidence, whilst teaching you all the needle felting basics, and no sewing, I promise! My easy techniques tips and hacks will have you felting in no time!

DO YOU NEED THE WOOL OR FELTING KIT?

Image shows a needle felted gnome. Text reads: New to needle felting? Click to order the kit.

If you have just started needle felting, kits are an especially great way to get started so you can get a real feel for a new craft. In addition to this, you are only spending a small amount to get going. The website is full of inspiring kits and inspiration for every ability.

Find it HERE on the Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts website.

THE NEEDLE FELTED GNOME

The pumpkins alone are really fabulous but let’s take it up a notch and turn it into this super stylish, Gnumpkin. In addition, the full video tutorial is at the bottom of the page – my easy step, by step, felt along with me guide. I had so much fun designing and making these, and I know you are going to love it just as much!

A bright orange needle felted pumpkin sat in the palm of a hand to show a size comparison.

NEEDLE FELTED PUMPKIN

This forms the body of the gnome and is one of the easiest ever needle felting projects; you can make one of these in just 20 minutes, even complete beginners. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the video tutorial.

MAKE THE PUMPKIN BODY FIRST

Image shows what you need to start this needle felting project

LET’S GET STARTED – YOU WILL NEED:

Carded needle felting wool and wool tops – Felting needle – Felting mat – Wooden BBQ skewer or similar; this makes creating shapes so much easier.

Shows how to start needle felting your pumpkin

1 Lay a handful of core wool on your felting mat and create a rough bread roll shape with your hands. With your free hand start to felt with your needle.

2 Continue the process until your wool retains its size and shape.  TIP: It needs to be secure but very soft.

TIME TO ADD THE CARDED WOOL BATTING

3 Sit your shape on top of your piece of wool batting and start to wrap the batting sheet around it, pulling towards the centre of, what will be, the bottom of your pumpkin.

4 Felt the batting into the centre of the wool until it holds. Continue the process until all the core wool is covered and pull away any excess. Tip: White patches are fine as they add contrast

5 Pumpkin ready for shaping, smooth side up.

6 Using your felting needle ‘draw’ a clearly defined line around the entire pumpkin, starting from middle centre and finishing where your line started.

7 Repeat until your pumpkin is divided into eight sections.

8 Take a long, thin piece of contrasting wool top and felt securely into the lines you have just created. Again, work from centre top and finish where you started, leaving any loose strands. TIP: Any loose strands can be trimmed for neatness, but also look good as decoration. Your pumpkin is ready. Time to make a Gnumpkin.

MAKING THE PERFECT GNOME HAT

I tried a few techniques before deciding which one would give me the best result in the most simple way. I found using the trustee wooden skewer allowed me to create the perfect cone shape that didn’t flop around. The needle felted acorn is the perfect finishing touch and only takes minutes to make.

WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIALS BELOW

GNUMPKIN VIDEO TUTORIAL

PUMPKIN VIDEO TUTORIAL

ACORN VIDEO TUTORIAL

Last but not least, learn how to add a super seasonal acorn to your Gnumpkin hat; the cherry on the cake so to speak.

Save to your Pinterest board for a daily dose of Pinspiration.

WANT MORE GNOME TUTORIALS?

Want more gnome tutorials, and seasonal inspiration? Just click below to discover all of the amazing Christmas DIY projects you can create with just a felting needle and a handful of wool.

Image shows a needle felted gnome and hare as part of an invitation to join The Felt Club

Join the VIP Felt Club and never miss out on the creativity!

Image shows a cartoon female with a strong arm and an needle felting project being completed. Text reads: learn to needle felt with confidence

DO YOU LOVE A CREATIVE COMMUNITY? JOIN THE FELT HUB ON FACEBOOK

Join me on Facebook. It’s completely free and you will have access to live workshops, free patterns, downloads, and so many more resources, all in one place. A group created inspire, nurture, and develop your needle felting confidence (whatever level you are at), in a more private space.

Image shows a beach style wall hanging in cool blues and mustard colours, hung on a piece of driftwood

How To Make An Easy Boho Wall Hanging

NO FUSS, NO TRICKY KNOTS, NO WEAVING

Ever wondered how to make an easy boho wall hanging, that doesn’t involve tricky knots? Sometimes you really need a simple craft project that doesn’t involve too much thinking, and definitely no tricky patterns. There’s something about no-fuss DIY crafts that are so satisfying. Maybe it’s because they’re usually quick and easy to put together, so you can see the finished result almost immediately. Or maybe it’s because they don’t require any fancy materials or complicated techniques, so anyone can do them. Whatever the reason, no-fuss crafts are the perfect way to spend a few creative hours.

USE UP THOSE SCRAPS OF FELTING WOOL, RIBBON, AND FIBRES

This project is a beautifully calming wall hanging, with a lovely beachy vibe, made from wool top, silk wool blends, yarn, re-cycled cotton rope and ribbons; feel free to add your own beads and embellishments.

MAKE TIME – 3 HOURS

All in all it took around me around three hours. This included gathering of materials plus an hour of faffing, pondering, and trimming time.

COLOURS ARE IMPORTANT

CHOOSING THE COLOUR PALETTE FOR YOUR BOHO WALL HANGING

A colour palette is important for most art and craft projects – it helps to set the mood and tone of your work, and can also be used to create a cohesive look. You can go wild and throw everything at it, but when choosing a colour palette for your boho wall hanging, it’s important to think about what mood you want to convey. Do you want your work to be calm and serene, or bold and vibrant?

Once you’ve decided on the overall feel of your project, you can start choosing specific colours. If you’re unsure where to start, a good place is with a limited palette of just a few colours. This will help you to focus on working with a specific range of hues, and also give your work a more unified look. As you become more comfortable with working with different colours, you can start experimenting with different palettes, adding in new shades and tones as you go. Ultimately, the best way to choose a colour palette is to follow your instincts and go with whatever feels right for you and your work.

GETTING STARTED

Please note: these are my suggestions and are there to act as a guide. Please feel free to add your own interpretation and just enjoy the process.

WALL HANGING KIT

If you want to replicate the colours in this DIY wall hanging then visit the WEBSITE or ETSY. It is a a beautifully simple, complete beginners, wall hanging kit packed with fabulous fibres and a driftwood mount. If you want to change the colours just message me at: info@lincolnshirefenncraft.com

CREATE THE BACKDROP

I have created a simple natural backdrop using re-cycled cotton rope (the type you see on macramé wall hangings), which is the perfect base for this project.

Cut equal-ish lengths (you will trim once your project is complete) and attach to your driftwood using a simple hitch knot (also called a larks head knot). It is the easiest of all knots and an easy way of creating a stylish backdrop to your project. I have kept mine very close together but needed to remove some as the project developed.

HOW TO CREATE A HITCH/LARKS HEAD KNOT

1 Cut to length and loop over your driftwood or pole; this will be the back of your project

2 Pull the tails through the loop and tighten. Continue along the length of wood and then turn it around so the front is now facing you.

Simple cotton rope backdrop mounted on a piece of driftwood

ADD YOUR WOOL, YARN AND RIBBON

Once you have your base material, simply start adding your materials. You can make whatever pattern you like, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. I have tied wool through some of the cotton loops, leaving some loose, others tied at various points, as well as plaiting which gives it a great look.

Add your ribbon and yarn to create more texture and contrast and any extra embellishments you may want to add. I found some old glass beads and jewellery that really complimented this project.

TOP TIP! Add more interest by cutting your wool, yarn and ribbon to different lengths.

LESS IS MORE…OR MAYBE NOT?

I have gone for the ‘less is more’ approach, as my temptation is to behave like a toddler decorating the Christmas tree. That said, if that’s your preference then you go for it! The key is to have fun and be creative. Just let your imagination run wild, and before you know it you will have created a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

TRIMMING

TOP TIP: Don’t rush this part and use sharp scissors

Trim your piece however you wish. I have gone with a gentle curve which is slightly longer at the centre, but you may want to go for a sharp V shape or a simple straight edge.

ET VOILA!

I hope you are thrilled with the finished result and now have a fabulous, no-stress wall hanging that makes you feel good every time I look at it. I also hope that it has inspired you make even more and keep crafting.

WANT MORE CREATIVITY? HOW ABOUT NEEDLE FELTING A BEACH SCENE?

Create your own stunning 2D needle felted Cornish seascape, bursting with colour and character. This beautiful NEEDLE FELTING KIT is suitable for beginners, and experienced needle felters, taking around eight hours to complete. I have carefully selected all the materials, wool, and fibres to give you the best possible outcome for your project.

Available on the WEBSITE and ETSY or download the pattern HERE and get started today!

If you haven’t tried needle felted pictures before, I know you are going to love this design. It was a joy to create and the bold colours, and design, really sing. The addition of the cheeky three dimensional Seagulls really bring it to life, as do the rolling waves with the gorgeous silk strands. The result is a mix of Cornish impressionism meets Balamory, and my love of the sea.

NO DRAWING SKILLS NECESSARY

I have made it really easy and done that bit for you. Your kit will include a printed copy of the picture (see photographs), with re-usable carbon paper, so you can quickly and easily trace the drawing onto your linen, which is the base for your project. Also, the slightly abstract nature of this project means that it is impossible to get wrong.

The full range of needle felting kits, and craft kits can be found HERE

image shows linen, carbon paper and a pre-printed picture that will be used to create the needle felted picture.

How To Make A DIY Boho Wall Hanging

DIY Boho Style Wall Hanging

Make this gorgeous DIY boho style wall hanging, and give your mental health a huge boost whilst doing it! Some days you feel a bit ‘meh’ but you know that making something will shake you out of it. However, you really need a simple craft project that doesn’t involve too much thinking, and definitely no tricky patterns. Feeling this way the other day I decided I wanted to make a wool wall hanging that I could put together in just a few hours but would still look amazing. So, I raided my wool stash and craft box and set to work.

JUST STARTED CRAFTING? CLICK BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE KIT!

YOU CAN BUY THE COMPLETE WALL HANGING KIT HERE

Create beautiful, sustainable modern décor for the home!

There’s something about no-fuss DIY crafts that are so satisfying. Maybe it’s because they’re usually quick and easy to put together, so you can see the finished result almost immediately. Or maybe it’s because they don’t require any fancy materials or complicated techniques, so anyone can do them. Whatever the reason, no-fuss crafts are the perfect way to shake off a case of the “meh’s.

What resulted was a beautifully calming wall hanging, with a lovely beachy vibe, made from bits of wool, old jewellery, beads and ribbons, and I wanted to share how easy it was to make and also let me take a break from myself for a few, no stress, hours.

Find all of my video tutorials at: THE FELT HUB ON YOUTUBE

This ridiculously simple craft project can be completed, and displayed on your wall, in less than 3 hours! How amazing is that!

CHOOSING YOUR COLOUR COMBINATIONS FOR WINNING RESULTS

A colour palette is important for most art and craft projects – it helps to set the mood and tone of your work, and can also be used to create a cohesive look. When you are choosing a colour palette, it’s important to think about what mood you want to convey. Do you want your work to be calm and serene, or bold and vibrant? Once you’ve decided on the overall feel of your project, you can start choosing specific colours. If you’re unsure where to start, a good place is with a limited palette of just a few colours. This will help you to focus on working with a specific range of hues, and also give your work a more unified look. As you become more comfortable with working with different colours, you can start experimenting with different palettes, adding in new shades and tones as you go. Ultimately, the best way to choose a colour palette is to follow your instincts and go with whatever feels right for you and your work.

For this no fuss, DIY boho wall hanging, I picked out lovely muted colours – wool, ribbon and beads – with a calming feel but soon realised that a pop of colour was needed to give the project a lift. A bright mustard colour turned out to be perfect for the job and really brings the piece to life! It’s amazing how such a small change can make such a big difference. If you’re ever feeling stuck with a project, add a pop of colour and see how it transforms your work!

GATHER YOUR WOOL AND FIBRE STASH TOGETHER

I have used a selection of wool tops, wool yarn, silk ribbon, beads, glass, cotton rope, and driftwood; although any old branch from the garden or walk will do.

SUSTAINABLE CRAFTS – REUSE AND RECYCLE

I love finding new ways to reuse and recycle materials that I already have on hand for my DIY craft projects. Not only is it budget friendly, but it also reduces the amount of waste I produce. For this wall hanging, I used wool tops and yarn that were left over from other projects, as well as beads and glass that I found in charity shops and my old costume jewellery that I used to wear a million years ago, well it seems that way… I love how this easy wall hanging came together with materials that might otherwise have been discarded. It’s a great reminder that even everyday items can be turned into something beautiful if we just use a little creativity.

CLICK FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE WOOL CRAFTS

TAKE THE CREATIVITY OUTSIDE

Crafting outside is a surefire way to lift your mood and what could be better than crafting outdoors on a beautiful spring day? The sunshine and fresh air are sure to lift your mood, and the relaxed atmosphere will help you to get in touch with your creative side. So, as it was a sunny Spring day here in blighty I thought I would make the most of it and take the creativity into the garden. The craft project I was working on was a simple one, but it was so satisfying to be able to complete it while surrounded by nature. I felt so much happier and more relaxed after spending some time crafting outside, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a mood boost.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

GETTING STARTED IS OFTEN THE HARDEST PART

Starting your project is often the hardest part, and I spent quite a lot of time pondering about design when really I just needed to get stuck in! I decided to stop pontificating (I love that word!) and start with a simple base of cotton rope, the kind you would use in macramé. However, any yarn, or even fabric strips would look just as good. The trick is to just start. After that it is a breeze! Once you have your base material, simply start adding your materials. You can make whatever pattern you like, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. I went for the ‘less is more’ approach as my temptation is to behave like a toddler decorating the Christmas tree. That said, if that’s your preference then you go for it! The key is to have fun and be creative. Just let your imagination run wild, and before you know it you will have created a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Simple cotton rope backdrop mounted on a piece of driftwood

ET VOILA!

I love the finished result which, combined with the driftwood and soft tropical colours, is giving me summer vibes; something we can only hope for here in blighty. All in all it took around three hours. This included gathering of materials plus an hour of faffing, pondering, and trimming time. I am thrilled with the finished result and I love the boho, chilled, beachy look. The cotton rope backdrop is perfect and plaiting some of the lovely wool tops adds more interest and texture. I hope you enjoyed reading about the process and it has inspired you to try this project for yourself. This project was so much fun to do and I love how it turned out. The contrast of the white cotton against the colorful wool tops is beautiful, and the texture of the rope adds an interesting dimension. It’s exactly the look I was going for and I can’t wait to hang this up in my home and enjoy the relaxed, beachy vibe it creates. SEE MORE TUTORIALS IN THE FELT HUB ON YOUTUBE!

NO MORE ‘MEH’

We all know how good it feels to escape into a creative project every now and again. It’s a wonderful way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax into a slower pace for a few hours. And, best of all, when you’re finished you have a beautiful piece to show for your efforts. The result was exactly what I hoped for: a beautiful, no-stress wall hanging that makes me feel good every time I look at it. If you’re feeling in need of a creative escape, why not give this project a try? You might just find that it’s exactly what you needed.

P.S. YOU CAN BUY THE COMPLETE WALL HANGING KIT HERE

HAVE YOU TRIED NEEDLE FELTING?

If you haven’t tried needle felting, you’re in for a treat! This amazing craft is perfect for all skill levels, from beginner to advanced, and I have been teaching this craft since 2014! Needle felting is extremely versatile – you can use it to create all sorts of stunning artwork, from animal sculptures, to jewellery, to home décor. No sewing or tricky patterns plus, needle felting is a great way to relax and de-stress. And there’s no need to worry about being short on ideas, either – this blog is jam-packed with needle felting tutorials, tips, and tricks. So what are you waiting for? Click HERE for the menus on this blog and get started on your needle felting journey today!