Crafting with Fall Leaves

Gather fallen leaves for Creative Decor

The fall colors are just beautiful this year. Many years we have rainy Octobers – days upon days of rain and wind. The leaves seem to fall before they even have a chance to change color, or maybe we don’t notice, hunkered down under our umbrellas.

• Flattened leaves are a versatile crafting medium.
  • They are not so brittle the first few weeks after pressing.
  • They remain malleable enough to manipulate, but strong enough to create with.
• They’re free, perfect!

Don’t you love all those yellows, reds and oranges, even sprinkled with the rusts and browns? I don’t even mind the imperfections.

I have this thing for leaves, I wait for them to start changing, I watch like it’s my official duty. Those first glimpses of reds and oranges sprinkled in among the green leaves. I love to collect them, stopping to stoop and pick up everywhere I go – and no, I’m not embarrassed, much to my family’s chagrin! In front of a grocery store, a neighbors house, along the side of the road…. I just choose carefully, and definitely not from directly around tree trunks where pups may have stopped by!

PREPARE your leaves

• So get out there, gather up those colorful fallen leaves – all shapes and sizes.
• If you see acorns or chestnuts, definitely snatch them up too.
• Toss the leaves in a light dish towel or press lightly with paper towels to remove any moisture.
• Press them flat in old books or magazines.
  • Weigh down your books/magazines, it will quicken the flattening and draw out any moisture in the leaves quicker.

Meet me back here next week, and we’ll whip up a few different creations for your fall decor. They’ll be quick and elegant crafts. Hopefully something you’ve not seen before. You might not even mind waiting a little bit longer to pull out the Christmas decor.

thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Fall!