Day 6: Crafts with Leaves

By: Jennifer Personette

Fall leaves are so rich in color and beautiful. Why not use them to inspire an arts and crafts program or to adorn your home?

Here are three of the easiest ways to use fall leaves:

Candle Holder

Materials:

• Glass hurricane candle holder -- any color will work. (I prefer clear so the leaves stand out)
• Leaves
• GlueDots (you can use another kind of glue or adhesive but I think these are the best)

Directions:

1. Gather the leaves you would like to put on your candle holder
2. Press them inside the pages of a heavy book overnight.
3. Use a few glue dots to adhere the leaves to the outside of the glass.
4. I like to add acorns to the bottom of the candle holder and then nestle the candle inside them.

Blinged Out Centerpiece (EASY!!)

Materials:

• Large vase (clear, glass)
• Branches with leaves attached
• Spray glitter
• Small pine cones or acorns
• Metallic spray paint

Directions:

1. Simply remove the leaves and smaller branches from the bottom 1/2 to 2/3 of the larger branches (depending on the size of your vase)
2. Outside, use a light coat of spray glitter to give the branches and leaves some bling. Don't use too much, you will weigh them down and they will lose their natural form and wilt.
3. While still outside, evenly spray the pine cones and/or acorns in the metallic spray paint.
4. After all the branches and pine cones/acorns are dry, add the several of the pine cones/acorns to the bottom of the vase, then all of the branches, then fill with the remaining pine cones/acorns as filler.
5. Place in the center of your dining room table or foyer table.

Memorialize Fall in Wax!

Materials:

• Leaves
• Wax paper
• Iron
• Scissors
• Close pins
• Magnet strips with adhesive on one side
• Spray paint
• Clear coat glitter spray

Directions:

1. Gather the leaves you would like to use.
2. Press them inside the pages of a heavy book overnight.
3. Place the leaves between two sheets of wax paper.
   
4. Using an iron on medium heat, press the sheets of wax together until the two sheets have melted together and totally enclose around the leaf. Also press the area over and right around the leaf.
5. After the was leaf cools, spray each side with clear glitter spray. After the glitter is dry, cut around the shape of the leaf.
   
6. Using a spray paint color of your choice, paint a close pin on all sides and in all crevices.
7. Adhere a small strip of magnet to the back of the close pin.
   
8. After everything is dry, pin the was leaf with the close pin and add to the refrigerator.
   

OPTION:
Instead of a close pin and magnet, you can use wire picture clips (shown below, from an etsy shop) and stick into a pumpkin or gourd.