November has a sneaky way of feeling like the forgotten middle child of fall. Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, and suddenly you’re staring at a pile of leftover craft supplies wondering what to do with yourself. Sound familiar? These 14 creative November arts and crafts will fill your month with color, texture, and seriously good energy. Whether you’re crafting solo, with kids, or turning it into a whole family afternoon, this list has something for everyone.
1. Pressed leaf wall art
November hands you the most beautiful art supplies for free: fallen leaves in every shade of amber, crimson, and gold. Pressing and framing them creates wall art that looks far more expensive than it is. Grab some leaves, press them between heavy books for a week, then arrange them in a shadow box or frame. It’s the kind of decor that makes guests think you have your life completely together.
What you’ll need
- Freshly fallen leaves (dry ones work best)
- Heavy books or a flower press
- A shadow box or picture frame
- Mod Podge to seal and protect
2. Pinecone turkey centerpiece
If you’ve never made a pinecone turkey, you’re genuinely missing out on one of November’s finest traditions. Pinecone turkeys are adorable, easy to make, and they double as Thanksgiving table centerpieces that kids absolutely love. Glue on some colorful feathers, add googly eyes, and use a pipe cleaner for the wattle. Low effort, high reward.
3. Gratitude jar with decorative fall labels
November is a good month to slow down and think about what you’re grateful for, and turning that into a craft makes it stick. Gratitude jars work like this: family members write things they’re thankful for on small paper strips and drop them into a decorated mason jar. Dress the jar up with twine, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and hand-lettered fall labels. By Thanksgiving Day, you’ve got a jar full of notes to read aloud at the table.
4. Acorn cap candle holders
Those acorn caps scattered across your yard? Don’t sweep them away just yet. Acorn cap candle holders look impossibly charming and take about 20 minutes to put together. Hot glue the caps in clusters, nestle a small tea light in the center, and you’ve got instant fall tablescape magic. According to HGTV’s fall decorating experts, natural elements like acorns and pinecones rank among the top home decor choices for autumn.
5. Handprint thankful tree
This one’s a classic for a reason. A handprint thankful tree uses each family member’s handprint as the leaves of a bare tree, and it turns into a keepsake people actually want to keep. Paint a brown trunk on canvas or a large piece of cardstock, stamp handprints in fall colors along the branches, and write what each person is grateful for on their leaf. It’s probably the most meaningful November wall art you’ll ever make. If you want more ideas like this, check out these 15 Creative November Handprint Art Projects for Toddlers That Make Adorable Fall Keepsakes.
6. DIY beeswax pillar candles
There’s something deeply satisfying about hand-rolled beeswax candles, and they smell incredible without any added fragrance. You roll sheets of natural beeswax around a wick, press the edges to seal, and you’re done. No melting, no mess, no drama. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, beeswax candles burn cleaner and longer than paraffin alternatives, which makes them a practical and cozy November craft choice.
7. Watercolor pumpkin cards
November is a good time to send handmade cards before the holiday rush hits. Watercolor pumpkin cards are beginner-friendly, genuinely pretty, and take less than 30 minutes. Use watercolor paints to create loose, soft pumpkin shapes on thick cardstock, add a heartfelt message inside, and you’ve got something no store-bought card can compete with. These also work beautifully as gift tags for Thanksgiving host presents.
8. Leaf stenciled tea towels
Want a craft that’s actually useful? Leaf stenciled tea towels are functional, good-looking, and make fantastic handmade gifts. Grab plain cotton tea towels, fabric paint, and real leaves to use as natural stencils. Press a leaf firmly onto the towel, dab paint over it with a sponge, lift carefully, and a clean botanical print appears underneath. Make a set and gift them. People will assume you bought them from a boutique shop.
Tips for perfect prints
- Use flat, smooth leaves for the cleanest edges
- Go light on the paint: less is more
- Let each print dry completely before moving on
- Heat-set with an iron to make the design washable
9. Corn husk dolls
Corn husk dolls are one of the oldest crafts in American history, with roots tracing back to Indigenous peoples of North America. Making them in November connects you to a long cultural tradition while producing something genuinely beautiful. Soak dried corn husks in water until pliable, fold and tie them into a doll shape using natural twine, and let them dry completely. It’s a craft that sparks real conversations about history and heritage, which makes it especially meaningful during Thanksgiving month.
10. Twig photo frame
Nature drops free craft supplies at your feet every November, and twig photo frames put them to good use. Collect straight twigs of similar thickness, cut them to size, and hot glue them around a basic dollar store frame. The result is a rustic, woodsy frame that looks like something you’d pay real money for. Pair it with a cozy fall photo and you’ve got an easy decor upgrade for your mantel or gallery wall. For more fall decor ideas, browse these 18 Cozy Fall Decor DIY Crafts to Transform Your Space.
11. Felt acorn garland
Garlands are one of the easiest ways to add seasonal warmth to any room, and felt acorn garlands are particularly charming for November. Cut acorn shapes from brown and tan felt, hot glue them in pairs around a long strand of twine or jute, and hang the finished piece across a fireplace mantel or window. Add small felt leaves in autumn shades for extra flair. These take about an hour to make and last for years.
12. Nature suncatchers
Nature suncatchers catch light and throw gorgeous patterns across your walls when the November sun hits them at the right angle. You need clear contact paper, a collection of leaves, petals, seeds, and small twigs, and that’s basically it. Stick your natural finds between two sheets of contact paper, cut into a shape, punch a hole at the top, and hang in a sunny window. Family Fun magazine consistently ranks nature suncatchers among the top kid-friendly crafts for fall, and adults tend to enjoy making them just as much.
13. Turkey handprint tote bags
Plain canvas tote bags make a perfect blank surface for a November project. Turkey handprint tote bags use fabric paint and your hand to create a festive turkey: your palm forms the body, your fingers become the tail feathers. Add a beak, eyes, and wattle with a paintbrush, and you’ve got a unique Thanksgiving grocery bag or gift wrap alternative. Kids love this one, and it makes an adorable keepsake gift for grandparents. For even more Thanksgiving creativity, check out these 29 Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids That Will Keep Them Entertained All November.
14. Dried orange slice wreath
A dried orange slice wreath is arguably the most striking November craft on this list, and it smells like a warm hug. Slice oranges thinly, bake them at around 200 degrees F for several hours until dried, then wire or hot glue them onto a grapevine or foam wreath base. Add sprigs of rosemary, cinnamon sticks, and dried cranberries for a festive finish. According to Better Homes and Gardens, citrus wreaths have become a popular front door statement piece that works beautifully from November straight through the holiday season.
Wrapping it all up
November doesn’t have to be a creative dead zone between Halloween excitement and holiday chaos. These 14 creative November arts and crafts prove that this month is one of the richest times of year for making beautiful things, especially when nature is literally dropping free supplies in shades of gold and crimson at your feet.
Whether you’re making pressed leaf wall art, rolling beeswax candles, or crafting a dried orange wreath that fills your whole house with the smell of fall, each project adds warmth and a little handmade personality to the season. The best crafts aren’t just things you make. They’re moments you actually remember.
Grab your glue gun, gather your supplies, and make November the most creative month of your year. You’ve got everything you need to get started.