8 creative ways to decorate with autumn leaves
Leaves glowing in autumn colors look stunning in nature, and they also bring joy to fall crafting. Turn them into artwork, wreaths, and more. Give these easy ideas a try!
1. Spray on some gold
Gather your most beautifully shaped leaves and let them dry slightly. Brush or spray them with gold paint, then scatter the golden leaves on a festive table setting.
2. Decorate a candle lantern
Create a cozy lantern with a large glass jar, placing a tealight inside a drinking glass. Decorate with colorful leaves, as shown here with Japanese and Amur maple leaves. Finish it off with a neatly tied hemp string.
3. Tie a cheerful arrangement for the table
Autumn-tinted leaves look stunning in a bouquet. In the photo, the arrangement includes hostas, Virginia creeper, and birch-leaved spiraea leaves, black chokeberry branches, and ice plant flowers. Use clear tape to form a grid on the rim of a glass jar, making it easy to arrange leaves and branches lightly and beautifully. You can also make a handy flower support from air-drying clay!
4. Turn leaves into art
Use your prettiest leaves to create autumn-themed art by gluing dried leaves onto cardstock. For instance, arrange them into a stylish leaf mandala.
5. Make a wreath
Maple leaves make one of the loveliest door decorations for autumn! Gather colorful leaves into small bundles and attach them to a wreath base. You can also add Virginia creeper leaves or leaves from other trees. A leaf wreath retains its vibrant color quite well. Check out the instructions for making a maple leaf wreath.
6. Gather a ghost gang
Decorate your home with maple leaf ghosts for Halloween. All you need are maple leaves, white paint, and a black marker. Attach them to a string with double-sided tape and hang them in the window. Check out the maple leaf ghost instructions! [in Finnish]
7. Craft a colorful picture
Keep your loveliest leaves and arrange them into an autumn leaf picture. If you quickly dry them in the microwave, they’re ready for crafting right away. Check out the instructions and make a picture out of autumn leaves!
8. Press them onto paper
All it takes is a few leaves to create unique artwork. Brush them with a bright blue craft paint, for instance, and press the pattern onto thick watercolor paper. A wide white mat and a black frame give the piece a striking look.
Which plants look most beautiful for autumn crafts?
- Maples, aspens, rowans, birches, and Sargent's cherry develop gorgeous fall colors. Among the more exotic trees, katsura turns a lovely yellow.
- Among ornamental shrubs, spireas, especially birch-leaved spiraea, azaleas, and serviceberries boast a brilliant red tone.
- Among groundcover shrubs, low sand cherry and fetid currant look striking in their fall hues.
- Climbing hydrangea turns yellow in the fall, while Virgina creeper blushes as the weather gets cooler.
- Perennials also develop autumn hues. Hostas turn yellow, and geraniums redden.
