Ah, yes! Fall is finally here. Cue the crisp leaves, cool weather and warm pumpkin flavored beverages! Except fall is looking a little bit different here in Houston. Don’t let the warm weather get you down! You can still get into fall with some tips, tricks and projects at home.
We’re giving you 5 for Fall: DIY projects and recipes inspired by the season. Try them in your own home and bring autumn into your living spaces. Each of these projects and recipes are easy to do and can be done for a fun family activity, on your own, or with friends. Let’s get started!
#1 – DIY Sequin Pumpkin
Bored of the same old pumpkin décor for Halloween? Try creating a sequin pumpkin courtesy of Sugar and Cloth to add a bit of flair to your usual décor. You can use a plastic pumpkin for this project so you can reuse the pumpkin year after year. Once you have your pumpkin, pick out any color of sequins you wish (we personally love the gold) and some crafting glue. It is as simple as gluing the sequins to the pumpkin in big polka dots. But feel free to get creative and arrange the sequins any way you like!
#2 – Pumpkin Pie Kettle Corn
One of our favorite fall inspired snack recipes also comes from Sugar and Cloth and is for Pumpkin Pie Kettle Corn!
Ingredients:
- 3 TABLESPOONS OIL (PREFERABLY COCONUT OR VEGETABLE OIL)
- ½ CUP CORN KERNELS
- 1/3 CUP WHITE SUGAR
- 1 TEASPOON SALT
- 2 TEASPOONS PUMPKIN PIE SPICE
Instructions:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Place the oil into a large pot along with three corn kernels. Cover with lid and place over medium heat. When the kernels start popping, this is your indicator that the oil is hot enough to add the rest of the ingredients.
- Mix the corn kernels together with the sugar, salt and pumpkin pie spice. When you hear the kernels in the pot start to pop, add in the rest of the ingredients. Quickly stir everything together and replace the lid.
- When the popcorn starts to pop, shake the pan and then increase the shaking as the popcorn starts to pop, placing the pot back on the burner every few seconds to maintain the heat. Keep shaking until you hear the popping being to slow, 1 to 2 seconds between pops. If you wait for all the kernels to pop, you will end up burning the popcorn. It’s better for some of the kernels to be unpopped then for the bottom to be burned. Total popping time should take around 2 minutes.
- Immediately pour the popcorn onto the baking sheet and use the back of a spoon to spread the popcorn into an even layer. Let cool for five minutes so the popcorn can clump together and crisp as it cools. Eat immediately or store in an airtight container to keep fresh for 1-2 days.
#3 – Autumn Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holder
Create this easy Autumn Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holder courtesy of Spark and Chemistry to spice up your dining room table, mantle or living room.
What you need:
- Mason Jar
- Sponge Brush
- Decorative Leaves (or real leaves if you have them)
- Mod Podge glue
What you do:
- First, make sure the outside of your jar is clean. Wipe it gently with rubbing alcohol to get any grease and grime off the outside of the jar. (The leaves won’t stick if the jar is oily or dirty)
- Then make sure your leaves are malleable. Bend them a little bit to loosen them up. Stiff leaves won’t stick either. If they are thin, fabric leaves, they should easily form around the jar.
- If they are real leaves, you may want to dampen them slightly (almost the way leaves become after it rains) to unstiffen them.
- To decoupage, dip your brush in the Mod Podge and paint a thin layer on a section of the jar. Once that layer becomes quite sticky (check by dabbing your finger on it), place a leaf on the jar.
- Paint more Mod Podge on top of the leaf in thin layers, making sure to smooth out the edges. Start in the center of the leaf, and push your way out to the edges with your fingers.
- It may take a few layers, but the leaf should stick to the jar. I had to press a few times to get the leaves to stick; but as the Mod Podge dries, it should.
- Don’t be afraid to use your fingers to smooth out the leaf so that it is fully secure. Layer more leaves on top, filling the jar with as many as you desire.
- Once all the leaves are on, it will take a few hours to dry completely.
#4 – Easy Butternut Squash Soup
One recipe we’re loving this fall is an Easy Butternut Squash Soup recipe courtesy of Once Upon a Chef.
Ingredients:
- 2 20-ounce packages (2-1/2 pounds) pre-cut butternut squash (if using fresh squash, you’ll need one large squash or 7-8 cups cubed)
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
- 7 cups water
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar, plus more if necessary
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Combine all of the ingredients except for the heavy cream in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 35 minutes.
- Using a hand-held immersion blender, purée the soup until silky smooth. (Alternatively, cool the soup slightly, then purée in a blender in batches, making sure to leave the hole in the lid open to allow the steam to escape.)
- Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasoning (depending on the sweetness of the vegetables, you may need up to a tablespoon more sugar). Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped thyme or thyme sprigs, if desired.
#5 – Pumpkin Vase
Transform what is already around this fall and make a beautiful Pumpkin Vase courtesy of Martha Stewart. We love this simple project that brings the outdoors, inside and makes for a fresh centerpiece on your dining table.
What you need:
- Oasis floral foam
- Pumpkin
- Paint bucket or any plastic container
- Seasonal flowers, dried leaves, and berries
Instructions:
- Place a cube of Oasis floral foam inside the container, thinning it to fit. Press the foam down to make it level, and drench it with water (enough so that a small pool collects at the bottom of the container).
- Arrange seasonal flowers, dried leaves, and berries as desired — Martha Steward used lady’s mantle, dahlias, maple leaves, and hypericum berries.
- Voila! You have a beautiful pumpkin vase!
There you have it! These are 5 of our favorite projects and recipes for Fall! Let us know what you think and share your favorite fall inspired treats and eats!
