From Thanksgiving to Halloween: Canadian Autumn History & Easy DIY Craft Ideas

From Thanksgiving to Halloween: Canadian Autumn History & Easy DIY Craft Ideas

There is something special about autumn in Canada. – From Thanksgiving to Halloween!

The leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange and gold, pumpkins begin appearing on doorsteps, the air gets a little cooler, and we start thinking about cozy gatherings with family and friends.

It is also the perfect time of year to get creative!

“Thanksgiving and Halloween” both offer wonderful opportunities for easy DIY crafts. Whether you’re making something with the kids, creating decorations for your home, preparing a seasonal craft night with friends, or looking for personalised gifts, you don’t need complicated tools or expensive supplies to make something special.

Simple “wooden discs, wood slices, plaques, acrylic blanks, keychains, jewellery bezels, mason jars and T-shirts” can all be transformed into beautiful seasonal creations.

Let’s start with Thanksgiving!

Canadian Thanksgiving: A Time to Give Thanks

Thanksgiving in Canada is a celebration of “gratitude, family, friendship and the autumn harvest“.

Long before European settlers arrived, Indigenous peoples across what is now Canada had their own traditions of giving thanks and celebrating the gifts of the land, including harvests and seasonal changes. There is no single Indigenous Thanksgiving tradition, as different First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities have their own histories, customs and practices.

European settlers also brought harvest and thanksgiving traditions with them. One early European thanksgiving ceremony in what is now “Canada” is associated with “Martin Frobisher”, who held a ceremony in Newfoundland in 1578 after surviving his expedition across the Atlantic.

Over the following centuries, various harvest celebrations and days of thanksgiving took place in different parts of Canada.

Thanksgiving eventually became a national Canadian holiday. In 1879, Parliament officially established a national Thanksgiving Day, although the date changed several times over the years.

Since 1957, “Canadian Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the second Monday of October”.

Unlike the American Thanksgiving celebrated in November, Canadian Thanksgiving arrives right in the middle of our spectacular autumn season. The timing makes pumpkins, colourful leaves, harvest vegetables, woodland animals and rustic décor especially appropriate for Canadian Thanksgiving crafting.

And what better way to celebrate gratitude than by making something yourself?

Easy Canadian Thanksgiving DIY Craft Ideas

Thanksgiving crafting doesn’t have to mean complicated projects.

Sometimes the simplest blank is the most versatile.

****A small wooden disc can become a magnet, keychain or ornament. An acrylic blank can become a personalised keyring. A bezel can become a pumpkin pendant. A larger wooden plaque can become a beautiful piece of seasonal home décor.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Thanksgiving Acrylic Keychains & Keyrings

• Acrylic blanks are ideal for small, colourful Thanksgiving projects.
• Try decorating them with:
  • 🍁 Maple leaves
  • Pumpkins
  • Turkeys
  • Acorns
  • Sunflowers
  • Woodland animals
  • Cornucopias
  • Autumn leaves
  • “Give Thanks”
  • “Thankful”
  • “Grateful”
  • Family names
• Use stickers, vinyl, printed designs or other suitable decorative materials to create your design.
• Personalised acrylic keychains also make lovely little gifts for family members, teachers, friends or Thanksgiving dinner guests.

Wooden Keychains

• For a more rustic Canadian autumn look, try wooden keychains.
  • A small round wooden blank can become a pumpkin, maple leaf, turkey, acorn or even a tiny woodland animal.
• Kids can decorate their own with paint pens, markers and stickers.
• Adults might prefer more sophisticated designs featuring autumn foliage, family names, initials or simple words such as:
  • THANKFUL
  • GRATEFUL
  • GATHER
  • GIVE THANKS
• Add a keyring and you’ve created a useful little keepsake rather than something that simply sits on a shelf.

Thanksgiving Jewellery

Why not wear a little autumn?

• Small jewellery “bezels” are perfect for seasonal pendants and earrings.
• Ideas include:
  • Maple leaf pendants
  • Pumpkin earrings
  • Acorn earrings
  • Autumn floral pendants
  • Turkey charms
  • Tiny woodland animal designs
  • “Thankful” pendants
  • Autumn-coloured jewellery
• You can use a small printed image or suitable decorative material cut to fit the bezel.

****A fun idea for families is to have everyone create a small pendant or charm to wear during Thanksgiving dinner.

2″ x 2″ Wooden Discs, Squares & Rectangles

Small wooden blanks are some of the most useful pieces in a craft collection.

• A 2″ x 2″ round wooden disc could become:
  • A Thanksgiving magnet
  • A keychain
  • A mini ornament
  • A gift tag
  • A table decoration
• A 2″ x 2″ square or rectangular piece could feature a small autumn design with words such as:
  • Give Thanks
  • Thankful & Grateful
  • Gather Together
  • Happy Thanksgiving
• You can paint the design, use stickers or apply a printed image cut to the appropriate size.

****The possibilities are almost endless!

DIY Wood-Slice Thanksgiving Magnets

Small natural wood slices are perfect for rustic autumn décor.

• Paint a pumpkin, maple leaf or turkey directly onto the wood, or add a suitable printed design or sticker.
• Other ideas include:
  • Acorns
  • Sunflowers
  • Mushrooms
  • Woodland animals
  • Maple leaves
  • Pumpkins
  • Autumn wreaths
  • “Give Thanks”
• Attach a magnet to the back and you’ve created a charming little piece of Canadian autumn décor for the refrigerator, locker or magnetic board.

****For children, these can also become wonderful keepsakes featuring their own artwork.

Thanksgiving T-Shirts for Kids & Adults

Seasonal T-shirts are another fun way to get the whole family involved.

• For kids, try cheerful designs such as:
  • Little Turkey
  • Pumpkin Patch Kid
  • Thankful & Cute
  • Gobble Gobble
• For adults, consider:
  • Gather & Give Thanks
  • Thankful • Grateful
  • Hello, Pumpkin Season
• or a simple maple leaf or autumn design.

****You could even create matching family shirts for Thanksgiving photographs.

Larger Wooden Slices & Plaques

Larger round wood slices and square or rectangular plaques are perfect for Thanksgiving home décor.

Try:

“GIVE THANKS”

• surrounded by pumpkins, maple leaves and autumn flowers.

Or:

“GATHER HERE WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS”

• with a simple rustic autumn border.

You can also make “double-sided or reversible plaques” so one piece of décor lasts throughout the season.

For example:

• Side One:
  • WELCOME FALL
• Side Two:
  • HAPPY THANKSGIVING
• Or make one side autumn-themed and the other Halloween-themed.

****It’s a great way to get more than one season out of a single craft!

A Family Thanksgiving Craft: The Gratitude Tree

Here’s a simple project that can involve everyone around the table.

• You’ll Need
  •  A wooden plaque or piece of cardboard
  •  Small wooden or paper leaves
  •  Markers or paint pens
  •  Glue or another suitable adhesive
• How to Make It
  • Draw or paint a simple tree trunk and branches onto your plaque.
  • Cut out or decorate small leaves.
  • Have each person write something they are thankful for on a leaf.
  • Attach the leaves to the tree.

By Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll have a personalised “Gratitude Tree” filled with everyone’s thoughts and memories.

****It’s a decoration – but it can also become a family keepsake to bring out year after year.

Then Comes Halloween!

****From Thanksgiving to Halloween!

Just when the autumn leaves are at their most colourful, Halloween arrives.

Halloween has a long and fascinating history, with traditions influenced by ancient Celtic seasonal celebrations, Christian observances and European customs associated with the transition from autumn into winter.

One tradition often connected with Halloween is “Samhain”, an ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.

Over the centuries, different customs became intertwined. Costumes, bonfires, storytelling and traditions surrounding spirits and remembrance all became part of the broader history of Halloween.

The name itself developed from “All Hallows’ Eve”, the evening before All Saints’ Day.

As European traditions travelled to North America, Halloween continued to evolve. In Canada today, Halloween is a favourite autumn celebration, particularly for children, with costumes, trick-or-treating, pumpkins, parties and increasingly creative home decorations.

For crafters, it is practically irresistible!

Easy Halloween DIY Craft Ideas

Halloween gives you permission to be spooky, silly, cute, creepy – or all four at once.

And many of the same craft blanks used for Thanksgiving can be transformed into Halloween projects simply by changing the design.

Halloween Acrylic Keychains

Acrylic keychains are perfect for Halloween.

Try:

• 🎃 Pumpkins
• 👻 Ghosts
• 🦇 Bats
• 🐈‍⬛ Black cats
• Spiders
• Witches
• Haunted houses
• Skeletons
• Friendly monsters
• Candy
• “BOO!”
• “TRICK OR TREAT”
• “SPOOKY SEASON”

For younger children, use friendly smiling ghosts and pumpkins.

Adults might enjoy vintage Halloween artwork, spooky typography, moons, stars and more sophisticated black-and-orange designs.

Add a name or initial to make the keychain personal.

Halloween Wooden Keychains

• Wooden keychains give Halloween crafts a warm, rustic appearance.
• Paint a small wooden disc as a pumpkin, ghost or black cat.
• Or apply a Halloween sticker or printed design.
• Add a keyring and you’ve got a fun seasonal accessory.
• You can even create a collection:
  • “Pumpkin • Ghost • Bat • Black Cat • Witch Hat”

A whole set could make a fun Halloween craft project or gift.

Halloween Jewellery

• Those small jewellery bezels are useful once again!
• Turn them into:
  • Pumpkin earrings
  • Bat earrings
  • Ghost pendants
  • Spider pendants
  • Witch-hat charms
  • Moon-and-star necklaces
  • Black-cat jewellery
  • Halloween-themed bracelets or charms

****For kids, keep the designs colourful and friendly.

****For adults, try elegant Halloween designs in black, silver, orange, purple or autumn tones.

Halloween 2″ Wooden Discs & Squares

• A small wooden disc can become a miniature Halloween decoration.
• Paint or decorate it with:
  • BOO!
  • EEK!
  • HAPPY HALLOWEEN
  • SPOOKY SEASON
  • TRICK OR TREAT
• Add a magnet to the back.
• Or drill a small hole and turn it into a hanging ornament or keychain.

****Small wooden squares and rectangles are also perfect for little signs.

Halloween Wood-Slice Magnets

• Natural wood slices and Halloween make a great combination.
• Paint a traditional jack-o’-lantern face directly onto the wood.
• Or add a ghost, bat, spider, black cat or haunted-house design.
• Try making several and displaying them together as a Halloween magnet collection.

Because every natural wood slice has its own shape and grain, each finished piece can be slightly different.

That’s part of the charm!

Halloween T-Shirts

Halloween T-shirts are fun for both kids and adults.

Kids might like:

• BOO CREW
• LITTLE PUMPKIN
• TRICK OR TREAT
• CUTEST PUMPKIN IN THE PATCH

Adults could choose:

• SPOOKY SEASON
• HAPPY HAUNTING
• PUMPKIN EVERYTHING

or a stylish pumpkin, moon or autumn design.

Why not create matching shirts for the whole family?

Mason Jar Halloween Lanterns

This is one of our favourite Halloween DIY projects because it works for both children and adults.

You’ll Need

• A clean mason jar
• Halloween stickers, vinyl or suitable cut-out designs
• Ribbon, twine or other decoration
• A battery-operated LED tea light

Instructions

1. Wash and dry the mason jar thoroughly.
2. Add your Halloween design – pumpkins, ghosts, bats, cats or a haunted house all work beautifully.
3. Decorate the top with ribbon or twine.
4. Place a battery-operated LED tea light inside.
5. Turn down the lights and enjoy your spooky little lantern!

Safety tip: Always use a battery-operated LED light rather than an open flame in a decorated craft jar.

Try making several jars with different designs and display them together on a shelf, table or window ledge.

DIY Halloween LED Candle Holders

LED candles can create a wonderful Halloween atmosphere without the worry of an open flame.

Decorate a wooden plaque or suitable craft blank with a Halloween silhouette.

Ideas include:

• A haunted house
• Bats flying across a moon
• A witch on a broom
• A spooky tree
• A graveyard
• Pumpkins

Place an LED candle behind or beside your decorated piece.

The light creates shadows and silhouettes that can make a simple craft look surprisingly dramatic.

Reversible Fall & Halloween Plaques

Here’s another project that makes great use of larger wooden blanks.

Decorate one side for autumn:

WELCOME FALL

with pumpkins, leaves and sunflowers.

Decorate the other:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

with ghosts, bats and pumpkins.

After Halloween, simply turn the sign around and continue enjoying the autumn side.

You could even create a “three-season collection”

“Fall → Halloween → Thanksgiving”

That means one blank can become three different decorations.

A Halloween Craft Party for Kids & Adults

If you’re planning a Halloween get-together, why limit yourself to one project?

Create several little crafting stations and let everyone choose what they want to make.

Craft Station 1

Acrylic Keychains

Craft Station 2

Wooden Magnets

Craft Station 3

Halloween Jewellery

Craft Station 4

Wood-Slice Decorations

Craft Station 5

Mason Jar Lanterns

Craft Station 6

Halloween T-Shirts

Younger children can concentrate on stickers, markers and simple designs, while older children and adults can try jewellery, detailed plaques and more involved projects.

It becomes an activity as well as a finished craft.

One Blank – So Many Possibilities!

That’s what makes seasonal crafting so much fun.

• A simple 2″ wooden disc can become a magnet, keychain, ornament or miniature sign.
• A small wood slice can become a rustic Thanksgiving or Halloween decoration.
• An acrylic blank can become a personalised keyring.
• A jewellery bezel can become a pumpkin pendant or pair of spooky earrings.
• A mason jar can become a glowing Halloween lantern.

And a larger wooden plaque can become a beautiful piece of seasonal home décor.

You don’t need to be an experienced crafter, either.

Sometimes all you need is a blank, a great idea, a few supplies and a little imagination.

Celebrate the Season – Your Way

From the warm, grateful feeling of Canadian Thanksgiving to the playful spookiness of Halloween, autumn gives us plenty of reasons to get creative.

• Make something with your children.
• Create a keepsake for your family.
• Decorate your home.
• Personalise a T-shirt.
• Make a little gift for a friend.

Or simply spend an afternoon at the craft table enjoying the changing season.

Whether your style is “rustic and natural, colourful and playful, elegant and modern, or wonderfully spooky”, there is a DIY project waiting to be made.

So gather your “wooden blanks, acrylic pieces, wood slices, jewellery findings, stickers, paints, T-shirts, mason jars and LED lights – and let your Canadian autumn crafting adventure begin!

“Happy Thanksgiving crafting – and, when the time comes, Happy Halloween!” 🍁🎃

Keep Creating!

Ready to start your next creative project? Visit our Craft Store and discover a variety of unique stencils and fun craft accessories to help bring your ideas to life.

Looking for a little more inspiration? Take a look through our blog, where you’ll find more ideas, projects and creative inspiration to explore.

And if you love the idea of giving something handmade but don’t have the time to make it yourself, don’t worry! Our gifts collection has ready-to-give ideas for a variety of occasions.

Whether you’re in the mood to create something yourself or looking for a special gift, there’s always something fun to discover at The Craft Corner.