Do you struggle with the time between summer and Christmas? I do! We’ve said goodbye to the sunny days and it’s not quite time to get the Christmas decorations out yet without people thinking you’ve lost the plot .. (even if the shops will have you believe you have to start in August/September). BUT, even if you’re not an “autumn” person, there can be something magical about rainy October weekends to get your crafting on.
I’m by no means a fan of the rain, but sometimes it gives me the perfect excuse to not have to go anywhere, or do anything I don’t want to do. And, if you’re like me, you probably have a stash of forgotten craft supplies tucked away in a drawer gathering dust.
It’s been a while since I did some crafting, but last weekend I had one of those creative whims! I was hunting around for my winter clothes in the loft. (I still haven’t found them, but you know, first things first, .. ) when I stumbled across a small Christmas tree. And of course I just couldn’t resist taking it down from the loft with the intention of having a look to see if I can create a little DIY autumn tree. And I’ve got to say, it turned out SO much better than I thought!
But that’s not even the best part! Guess what? I didn’t have to spend a single penny! – I used leftover craft supplies I already had.

Here’s how you can create your own autumn tree using simple materials, perfect for bringing a cozy vibe into your home.
What you’ll need
- Small artificial Christmas tree (dust off the one from last year’s decorations)
- Autumn-colored ribbons. (I used some orange and neutral coloured ones and ALWAYS use my go to shop USA to UK Wreaths on Etsy )
- Faux leaves (or you can use real dried ones if you’ve managed to collect some of the fallen leaves already)
- Twine or burlap strips for a rustic touch. I used some raffia for the bow on the basket to give it some texture
- Small pinecones, acorns, mini pumpkins and berries– I used some left over picks from last year but check out The Range for supplies, or use anything you find in your craft stash!
- Fairy lights (optional, but adds a cozy glow)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks (for attaching decorations) – I didn’t actually use any hot glue for any of the decorations – I just tucked them in, but have hot glue on standby just in case.
- Any other fall-themed decorations you can find in your craft box
Step by step guide to crafting your own autumn tree
1. Prepare your tree
The first step is simple: grab your small artificial Christmas tree and fluff the branches. This will help your tree look fuller and ready to display all your autumn-inspired decorations. I will leave it up to your imagination to decide whether this photo was pre or post fluffing. It’s not the greatest of tree specimens, but just you wait to see what you can achieve!

Add a Cozy Glow with fairy lights
Next, if you have some spare fairy lights from last year’s decorations, drape them across the tree to add a warm, twinkling glow. Mine were still attached to the tree, so after a quick test to see if they were still working, I was good to go!
Lights make everything feel extra cozy, especially as the autumn evenings start getting darker. Personally I prefer the warm white lights but work with what you’ve got! You can use some of the leaves to mute some of the brighter lights if you want.
To give it a bit more of a “natural” vibe I placed the tree in a basket. Which was also perfect for hiding the surplus wire in.

Decorate with pumpkins, leaves, berries .. or whatever you’ve got your hands on!
I started by using two different ribbons to create a “waterfall” effect. You can check out my blog post here to find out how super-simple it is to get this effect!

I used ribbons instead of tinsel, but if the tree does have some tinsel or glitter from Christmas, that’s totally fine – it can add a bit of shimmer to your autumnal creation!
Next, I tucked some pumpkins into the tree to fill out some of the gaps. I used some pumpkins that came off some autumn pics I bought in The Range in previous years, as well as some faux leaves tucked in at random. Golds, oranges, reds, and yellows are perfect to create that autumn feel.

One of the absolute best parts about this project is that there are no strict rules. Look through your leftover craft supplies for anything that could fit the fall theme. Maybe a small scarecrow, cinnamon sticks, or even tiny faux apples (I found two mini apples that I tucked into the branches). Let your creativity run wild and make this autumn tree uniquely yours.

Using texture with ribbon and twine
I toyed with the idea of adding some raffia and twine in the tree, but it was a bit too messy for my liking. However, I did want to use some raffia for a bit of texture somewhere. So in the end I opted for adding a bit messy bow to the front of the basket using some left over ribbons and some raffia. I used a paperclip to tuck it in between the basket but you can use hot glue if you want to. Tuck in some berries in the middle of the bow and voila , .. perfect!

Stand back and admire your Autumn tree
Once your tree is complete, find the perfect spot to display it. It could make a lovely centerpiece on your dining room table or a cozy corner in the living room. Or in my case, I opted to have it in the kitchen as it’s the room that’s used the most in our home. The beauty of an autumn tree is that it brings the cozy indoors without having to decorate the whole house.

I did bring down a box of Halloween items from the loft also. Maybe I’ll have a go a replacing the pumpkins for bats and the ribbons for webbing as another cross over until it’s socially acceptable to put the Christmas tree up (or in my case early November!) The possibilities are endless!
Try it yourself!
This fun little DIY project was SO quick to do! And not only did it brighten up my home, it also allowed me to use some of my leftover craft supplies that were desperate for some attention! It’s a wonderful way to repurpose that small Christmas tree you’re not quite ready to put up. Plus, it’s a quick, affordable project perfect for an impromptu rainy day.

I just love walking into the kitchen to be greeted by the orange glow of the lights and the decorations.
I hope I’ve persuaded you to dig out your (mini) Christmas tree!. Now grab your craft supplies, make a cuppa and have a go yourself. Don’t forget to tag me on social media!
Happy crafting!
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Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to use my link to purchase something (at absolutely no extra cost to you!) This will allow me to continue to share great ideas and projects with you.
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