Easy crafts update your fall wardrobe and home fashions

(ARA) - As fall arrives, our world changes to a place decorated with vibrant colors and filled with the tastes and abundance of the harvest. And as the season changes, it's only natural that we crave some changes of our own. Whether you want to update your wardrobe with some new looks for the cooler weather, or warm up your home with some stylish new decor, it's good to know that you can make changes without breaking the bank.

"Fall is such an exciting season for style," says Susan Atchison, manager of trend development for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. "We're saying farewell to the breezy lightness of summer and looking forward to a rich and cozy feel in the season that takes kids back to school and gets us looking toward the excitement of the holidays. In fall, inspiration is literally all around you and it's a great time to get inspired to do some projects that will give you a look that is perfectly suited to the season."

The do-it-yourself approach makes creating new looks for fall even more fun. Whether you're enhancing your own style or updating your home's decor, it's budget friendly and surprisingly easy to make accessories that would cost a lot in stores.

Here are some ideas from the creativity and craft experts at Jo-Ann:

* Warm up your wardrobe.

Autumn means it's time to go back to the closet - to the very back of the closet, for some of us - and pull out our favorite, never-out-of-style sweaters, slacks, jeans and boots from last year.

It's easy to put a 2010 stamp on last year's outfits with a few trendy and stylish new pieces, like a wet-felted scarf, a perfect pencil skirt or sophisticated needle-felted wool jacket. Wool felting is a great project that you can do right at home with a few simple tools, which allows you to turn yarn into a warm, thick fabric through brushing and exposure to water. Make sure the wool you use 100 percent wool or other animal fiber or marked "feltable" if it's synthetic. You'll find directions for wet felting projects and more on Jo-Ann's website, www.joann.com.

* Fun fashion for home

Your wardrobe isn't the only look you might want to update for fall. Your home decor could use a seasonal make-over as well. "In fall, we start inviting more people into our homes: backyard barbeques are out, but dinner parties and indoor get-togethers are in," Atchison says. "It' the perfect time to create a seasonal atmosphere inside your house, taking cues from the colors of the leaves and late blooming plants."

Bringing the shades of the season to your table top can be an easy, economical way to freshen your home decor for fall. Some new napkins, a dazzling centerpiece and hand-painted placemats can completely change the look of your fall table.

To discover more fall trends for you and your home, visit www.JoAnn.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent