11 Fall Projects for the Crafty Witch

As cozy bonfires begin to flare and the first pumpkins appear at the farmer’s market, all the rich, colorful warmth of the autumn season approaches, electrifying even the seasoned witch with anticipation for the coming months.

Use this powerful energy to create, create, create with these sophisticated magical crafting ideas.

Make your own scrying mirror.  

I love projects that make use of odds and ends.  Who doesn’t have an old picture frame? Use it to make your own scrying mirror.  It’s easy. fun and opens up a new “window” to explore divination and fortune-telling. 

As the days grow shorter, the “veil between worlds” thins, making this the perfect time to peer into otherworldly affairs.

Decorate a mask for Samhain. 

Whether you have big plans for a Samhain party or you’re just answering the door to pass out treats, decorating a mask is an easy way to get in the spirit of the season.  Blank masks are available at craft stores and online.  They come in a variety of styles and the creative possibilities are endless!

Make black salt. 

As the days begin to wane, autumn makes the ideal time to make ingredients for protection and binding spells.  Try this recipe for black salt made from your fire pit ashes to store for this type of ritual.

Poppet/”Voodoo Doll”

If you’re a sewing whiz, you can modify a pattern for a regular stuffed doll to make it all creepy. 

Or, just kind of wing it.  That’s what I did with this one, which came together from a mishmash of sewing scraps. 

The best part is that it doesn’t need to be perfect.  Odd, asymmetrical limbs, “sloppy” stitches and mismatched button eyes add to the effect.

(And in case you’re curious, the pin-sticking style “voodoo doll” has nothing to do with Haitian voodoo.  They’re actually a relic of European folk magic).

Use your kitchen scraps and spices to craft the perfect fall incense blend. 

Make creative use of orange peels, fall spices like cinnamon & star anise, or pine needles collected on an autumn walk.  Blend your own fall incense for use during Mabon & Samhain rituals, or to celebrate the harvest moons.

Here’s a recipe for Mabon incense to get you started.

Create a scrapbook for your ancestors. 

Samhain reminds us to remember those who came before us.  Honor them in the coming months by researching their lives, gathering pictures from relatives, and putting together a family history album.  Bonus: 

When you’re done, it makes a great Yule gift.

Adorn a pillar candle with fall leaves for the perfect Mabon altar.   

Choose a white candle of the appropriate size (large for a large altar, tiny for a small one.)  Gently melt a thin layer of wax in the bottom of a frying pan or large pot.  Roll the candle in the wax, then press beautiful leaves into the surface for a gorgeous, natural altarpiece.

Glam out a pumpkin. 

Forget the same, tired pumpkin carving party.  Go glam.  Spray paint your pumpkin gold or black, stencil it, glue rhinestones on it, cover it in glitter, adorn it with old costume jewelry, or do what I did one year, and slip half a pair of lacy stockings over it.

Blend your own Samhain oil. 

If you have a drawer or box full of essential oils you never get around to using, try making your own Samhain oil from earthy, autumn-inspiring oils like cinnamon, nutmeg, orange oil, or patchouli. 

Or, if essential oils aren’t your thing, try steeping orange peels and cinnamon sticks at a low temperature in olive oil until you get something you like.

Be sure to pick out a lovely glass bottle from the thrift store and adorn it with ribbon or charms if you like.

For winter project ideas, take a look at 10 Winter Crafts for Wiccans.

For spring project ideas, check out 10 Spring Craft Projects for Wiccans.

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Sources & References

Claims Based on Documented Sources

• Autumn season characteristics (cozy bonfires, pumpkins): Documented in seasonal tradition
• DIY scrying mirror from old picture frames: Documented in divination craft tutorials
• Veil between worlds thinning during autumn: Documented in contemporary witchcraft tradition (Samhain/autumn correspondence)
• Divination and fortune-telling practices: Documented in contemporary divination methodology
• Autumn ideal for protection and binding spell ingredients: Documented in seasonal witchcraft practice
• Black salt creation from fire pit ashes: Documented in protection spell craft tutorials
• Black salt use in protection/binding spells: Documented in protection magic traditions
• Poppet/”voodoo doll” creation and sewing: Documented in folk magic and contemporary witchcraft
• Pin-sticking voodoo dolls as European folk magic origin: Documented in comparative folklore studies (not Haitian voodoo)
• Fall incense blending with kitchen scraps and spices: Documented in herbal magic and incense craft
• Orange peels, cinnamon, star anise, pine needles in autumn crafting: Documented in kitchen witch traditions
• Mabon and Samhain ritual uses for fall incense: Documented in sabbat correspondence
• Harvest moon celebration timing: Documented in lunar/seasonal traditions
• Samhain ancestor remembrance: Documented in Samhain tradition
• Ancestor scrapbook/family history creation: Documented in Samhain ancestral work
• Yule gift-giving and homemade options: Documented in Yule tradition
• Pillar candle decoration with fall leaves: Documented in altar crafting tutorials
• Wax melting and leaf pressing technique: Documented in candle craft methodology
• Pumpkin decorating alternatives (spray paint, rhinestones, glitter, jewelry): Documented in pumpkin craft tutorials
• Samhain oil blending with essential oils: Documented in oil crafting and aromatherapy
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, orange oil, patchouli correspondence with autumn: Documented in herbal/essential oil correspondence
• Orange peel and cinnamon stick infusion in olive oil: Documented in oil infusion methodology
• Thrift store shopping for witchy items/glass bottles: Documented in contemporary witchcraft resource guides

Claims Based on Personal Practice & Experience

• 20+ years experience with modern pagan community (Lumina Indigo)
• Personal crafting experience with autumn projects (Lumina Indigo)
• Kitchen witch expertise and culinary skills (Lumina Indigo)
• Professional tarot reading and divination work (Lumina Indigo)
• Personal poppet creation experience (Lumina Indigo)
• Personal pumpkin glamming decorating approach (Lumina Indigo)
• Professional editorial review (Tina Caro)

Recommended Reading

• DIY scrying mirror tutorials and divination guides
• Seasonal witchcraft and sabbat correspondence materials
• Black salt creation and protection spell resources
• Incense blending and kitchen witch craft guides
• Poppet and folk magic tradition resources
• Samhain and ancestor work materials
• Autumn altar and seasonal decoration guides
• Essential oil and herbal correspondence references
• Pagan seasonal craft project collections

About the Author

Written by Lumina Indigo (Moody Moons founder, est. 2012), specializing in in-depth research on modern spirituality. With 20+ years of pagan community experience, Lumina is a professional tarot reader and kitchen witch. Reviewed by Tina Caro.

Note

This article presents 11 fall craft projects for practitioners capitalizing on autumn’s energetic intensity based on contemporary witchcraft crafting traditions. Projects leverage seasonal materials and sabbat timing: DIY scrying mirrors from old frames (utilizing autumn’s thinning veil for divination work), Samhain masks (decorative and celebratory), black salt from fire pit ashes (protection/binding work), poppets from sewing scraps (folk magic tradition, distinct from Haitian voodoo), fall incense blends from kitchen scraps and spices (orange peels, cinnamon, anise, pine needles), ancestor scrapbooks honoring Samhain tradition, pillar candles adorned with pressed fall leaves for Mabon altars, glamorous pumpkin decorations (spray paint, rhinestones, glitter, jewelry, stockings), and Samhain oil blends using essential oils or infused olive oil. Article emphasizes using readily available materials (kitchen scraps, old frames, sewing supplies, thrift store finds) and celebrates imperfection in crafting. Cross-references available for winter and spring craft projects. Tone is playful and accessible, encouraging personal creativity over perfection in execution.