🍂🎨 THRIFTED TREASURES & DIY CREATIONS 🎨🍂Tuesday, September 1, 2026🍁 SEPTEMBER CRAFT OF THE DAY🖼️ Dollar Tree Picture Frames → Cozy Fall Farmhouse Lantern

Dollar Tree Picture Frames → Cozy Fall Farmhouse Lantern

HELLO SEPTEMBER! 🍂🌻

A brand-new month means brand-new crafts!

Today we're proving that beautiful fall décor doesn't have to cost a fortune. We're taking a few simple Dollar Tree-style picture frames and transforming them into a gorgeous Cozy Fall Farmhouse Lantern.

Add a flameless candle, some fall florals, and a few repurposed treasures, and you have something that looks like it came straight from a cozy cottage boutique! 😍

🛒 WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Look for inexpensive supplies such as:

🖼️ 4 matching picture frames🪵 Small wood plaque, tray, or sturdy base🕯️ Flameless LED candle🌻 Faux sunflowers🍂 Fall leaves🌿 Greenery🎃 Mini foam pumpkins🌾 Fall floral picks🎀 Burlap, plaid, or gingham ribbon🪵 Craft sticks or small wood pieces🎨 Chalk paint — optional🖌️ Hot glue gun and glue sticks✂️ Scissors

CRAFT STASH TIP: Before buying everything new, check what you already have! Leftover ribbon, florals, paint, and greenery are perfect for this project.

🖼️ STEP 1 — PREPARE YOUR FRAMES

Remove the backs, inserts, and glass from four matching frames.

For a lighter, family-friendly version, you can leave the glass out entirely.

Arrange the four frames upright to form the four sides of a lantern.

Before gluing anything, make sure the corners line up nicely.

🎨 STEP 2 — CREATE YOUR COTTAGE FINISH

Now decide what style you want!

Try:

🤍 Distressed White🌿 Sage Green🤎 Rustic Brown🖤 Farmhouse Black💜 Soft Lavender

Paint your frames and allow them to dry.

For a weathered farmhouse look, lightly dry-brush a contrasting color over the edges.

Don't make it perfect—we WANT a little character!

🏮 STEP 3 — BUILD YOUR LANTERN

Stand the four frames upright in a square.

Carefully hot-glue the frame edges together to create the lantern shape.

For extra stability, attach the finished lantern to a small wooden plaque or sturdy tray.

Remember: this is decorative—not designed to hold a real burning candle.

🪵 STEP 4 — CREATE THE TOP

Use craft sticks or small pieces of wood to create a simple decorative top.

You can even repurpose a wooden drawer knob for the very top!

Paint it to match your lantern and attach it securely.

Now our Dollar Tree frames are starting to look NOTHING like picture frames! 😍

🌻 STEP 5 — ADD YOUR FALL FLORALS

Create a small arrangement for one corner or across the top.

Layer:

🌻 Sunflowers🍂 Fall leaves🌾 Wheat🌿 Greenery🍒 Berry picks

Start with your greenery, add the larger flowers, then tuck smaller pieces into the empty spaces.

🎀 STEP 6 — MAKE A BEAUTIFUL BOW

Mix two or three ribbon textures.

Try:

🤎 Burlap🖤 Buffalo Check🧡 Fall Plaid🤍 Lace🌻 Sunflower Ribbon

Tie your bow near the top and tuck a sunflower or little fall pick into the center.

🎃 STEP 7 — DECORATE THE BASE

Place your lantern on a small tray or wood slice.

Arrange a few inexpensive treasures around it:

🎃 Mini pumpkins🌲 Pinecones🌰 Acorns🍂 Fall leaves🌻 Flowers

Don't overcrowd it—a few simple pieces can look beautiful.

🕯️ STEP 8 — ADD THE GLOW!

Place a battery-operated flameless candle inside.

Turn down the lights and watch your inexpensive craft become a warm, cozy fall decoration! 🕯️🍂

For safety, do not use an open-flame candle inside a craft made from frames, glue, ribbon, or faux florals.

♻️ DON'T STOP AT FALL!

Here's what makes this project even better.

Keep your decorations removable and use the SAME lantern throughout the year!

🎄 Christmas: Pine, berries & plaid

❄️ Winter: Snowflakes & white greenery

🌷 Spring: Tulips & pastel ribbon

🇺🇸 Summer: Flags & red, white and blue florals

🌻 Fall: Sunflowers & pumpkins

One inexpensive project — FIVE decorating seasons!

💰 SEPTEMBER $10-ISH CRAFT CHALLENGE!

Before heading to the store, check your craft stash.

Can you make today's project using just a few new inexpensive items and things you already own?

Maybe you already have:

🎀 Ribbon scraps🌻 Leftover flowers🎨 Paint🪵 Scrap wood🍂 Fall decorations

Use it before you buy it! ♻️

That's part of the fun of creating on a budget.

💜 TODAY'S INSPIRATION

September reminds us that change can be beautiful.

The leaves begin changing.

The air slowly becomes cooler.

Summer starts giving way to fall.

And our homes begin feeling just a little cozier.

As we begin a new month of crafting together, let's remember that creativity isn't about how much money we spend.

It's about taking what we have and seeing what it could become.

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time."

— Ecclesiastes 3:11 (KJV)

🍂 QUESTION OF THE DAY

What color would YOU make your lantern?

🤍 Antique White🌿 Sage Green🖤 Farmhouse Black🤎 Rustic Wood💜 Lavender🎨 Something completely different!

📸 SEPTEMBER SHOW & TELL!

Let's start September with some inspiration!

👇 Post a picture of your latest:

🛍️ Dollar Tree find♻️ Repurposed treasure🎨 Craft project🪑 Furniture makeover🍂 Fall decoration📸 Before & after

Don't be afraid to share something you're still working on, either!

Someone in this group may have the perfect idea to help you finish it.

🍂 HAPPY SEPTEMBER, CRAFTING FRIENDS!

Here's to a month filled with thrift-store adventures, inexpensive crafts, cozy fall projects, creativity, and lots of beautiful second chances. 💜🌻

THRIFT IT. ♻️ REPURPOSE IT. 🔨 CREATE IT. 🎨 LOVE IT. 💜

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