Fun family project: Fall leaf garland

Fall leaf garland.

I found this fun leaf project on Pinterest from Artful Parent and couldn’t resist giving it a try.

Centerpiece

It’s my first use of mod podge ever. Oh mod podge, where have you been all my life?

I’m very pleased with the result and the kids and my family really enjoyed doodling on the leaves.

I tried this two ways…first with leaves I didn’t dry and press. Those were harder to decorate because the ink wasn’t as even. And when the leaves dried, they bunched up a bit. They still looked good in my Mason jar centerpiece.

Pressed leaves in heavy book.

The second effort was better, with leaves I’d dried and pressed for a day in a big old dictionary. I knew that word tome would come in handy someday. The biggest hurdle was actually getting the leaves. By the time I get home from work, it’s dark. And the day I started collecting in the morning, it had snowed. So I was pulling leaves out of very wet, icy and snowy grass.

If you want to try this project, here’s what you need.

Supplies:
Fall leaves (pressed and dried)
Mod podge
Foam brush
Metallic Shapies
Hot glue gun
Wax paper
Ribbon or jute

Directions:  

After your leaves are pressed and dry, set them out on a craft table and let the kids and family doodle, decorate and write messages on the leaves with metallic Sharpies.

Once you’re finished with the doodling, apply a thin layer of mod podge over one side of the leaves. Set on wax paper to dry, then repeat with the other side.

Hot glue the leaves to a ribbon or jute garland, then enjoy the oohs and ahhs when your guests or visitors arrive.