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42 Best Autumn Leaf Craft Ideas to Help You Fall Into the Season

Make something unbe-leaf-able this year.

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From fall mason jar crafts to autumn wreaths, there is certainly a lot of DIY-ing to be done once the weather turns cool. For the first crafting foray of the season, we have to admit: We are partial to easy fall leaf craft projects. Using leaves in the colorful fall hues is simply the easiest and most festive way to celebrate the new season, and what's more, it's free! Grab your tote bag, take a walk, and simply collect what you need to make one of these beautiful projects. Mother Nature has done her handiwork, and we get to enjoy the bounty.

No access to leaves? Don't worry! You can order preserved leaves from Etsy or buy them at a craft store, but there are also plenty of ideas here for paper leaf crafts, dried leaves crafts, and leaf shapes cut from a variety of materials.

Making use of autumn's most inspiring element is easy and fun with our best picks for leaf-inspired door decorations, creative autumn garlands, and other fun fall crafts. If you're looking for a weekend project to keep you busy, try making a birch bark "leaf" wreath. Or maybe you want something to pass the time on a weeknight, then try the fall leaf mobile. Want to get the kids involved? Grab some paper bags, tape, and leaves, of course, and let those little hands fashion themselves a festive crown. From a stately wreath that involves upcycled book pages to colorful mini leaf cookies, there's something on our list for every experience level. Let the crafting fun begin!

1

Fall Branch Bouquets

bouquet of colorful fall branches in rustic clay vessel, atop sideboard beside mini pumpkins displayed under glass cloches
Becky Stayner

This super easy fall leaves crafts just requires grabbing a pair of clippers and heading to the backyard or park to snip a few branches. Arrange in a large vase and set a sideboard or clips into shorter branches and use as a centerpiece.

RELATED: Best Craft Ideas for Fall

2

Nature Owl Pumpkin

owl crafted from two stacked pumpkins, with red fall leaves covering its breast and tan leaves for wings
Becky Stayner

This sweet face just requires a trip to the backyard to gather a few leaves and pine cones.

To make: Gather small- and medium-sized leaves, acorn caps, grasses, and pinecones from the yard. Glue small leaves on the front of a small oblong pumpkin, overlapping them slightly, to create feathers. Glue four larger leaves on either side, overlapping them, to create wings. Attach a piece of thin leather string with hot glue to a small acorn squash to create the outline of the face. Pull apart a pinecone and use the individual scales to create the nose, attaching them with hot glue. Attach acorn caps to create eyes and grass to create ears and whiskers.

3

Leaf Motif Pumpkins

two pumpkins, each with large fall leaf design carved on front, displayed on rustic stools against vine covered wall
Becky Stayner

Adorn large pumpkins with leaf motifs for a sweet and welcoming display.

To make stained glass leaf: Cut a hole in bottom of a pumpkin; scoop out pulp and seeds. Draw a leaf; etch veining, and cut out between veins using a pumpkin-carving knife. Attach glassine paper inside with push pins. Add a battery-operated candle.

To make oversize leaf: Draw an oversize leaf and cut out. Scoop out pulp and seeds. Place a pillar candle in opening.

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4

Leaf and Pinecone Napkin Rings

three napkin rings crafted from twine, pinecones, and fall leaf shapes cut from gingham and plaid fabrics
Annie Schlechter

Oak-shaped leaves cut from scraps of fabric get tied up with mini pine cones that have been spray painted gold. Tie around corresponding color napkins for an on-point table setting.

5

Leaf-Adorned Pumpkins in a Wheelbarrow

vintage wheelbarrow piled high with pumpkins painted and decorated with fall leaf designs
Becky Stayner

Greet trick-or-treaters and well-wishers with a wheelbarrow stuffed full of painted on and decoupaged leaf motif pumpkins. Bulk up the display with no extra work by including loads of pumpkins in varying sizes and colors.

To make decoupage leaf pumpkins: Cut out leaves and flowers from new or vintage wallpaper or wrapping paper. Decoupage to pumpkins using Mod Podge.

To make painted leaf pumpkins: Use a leaf-shaped stencil to paint fall colored leaves on green, blue, or white pumpkins. Once dry use a white paint pen to outline the leaves, add veining, and decorative details.

6

Fiery Flowers and Fall Leaves Centerpiece

red and yellow floral arrangement in galvanized pale embellished with dried fall leaves, displayed on gray gingham tablecloth
Annie Schlechter

Go for bold red and yellow blooms instead of the usual muted fall tones. In a vintage pudding tin or other favorite vessel, add flowers first, then mix in fall leaves, berries, magnolia leaves. Pro tip: Start with more stiff/branchy pieces to make a strong base, then move to softer, delicate materials. Finish it off with a ribbon tied with dried gourds.

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7

Dried Leaf Place Card

large fall leaf made into place card with name mayor magee penned in blue ink, atop blue and white place setting
Paul Costello

Oversize dry leaves make for perfectly impactful place cards. Simply use an oil based paint pen to write names of dried leaves.

8

Silver Leaf Pumpkins

three bluish green pumpkins adorned with silver leaves, displayed on rustic wood bench with fall trees in background
Becky Stayner

These DIY shimmering leaves look great on blue-hued or green pumpkins such as Jarrahdale, Blue Doll, Blue Moon, and Fairytale.

Make the pumpkins: Attach silver leaf with sizing to one side of fake or real leaves (alternatively, you can spray paint leaves silver). Once dry, spray adhesive spray on the back of the leaves and attach to pumpkins.

9

Autumnal Welcome Sign

autumnal sign crafted from silver platter with chalkboard center reading welcome to our home, encircled with fall leaves
Michael Partenio

Greet guests with this charming alternative to a fall wreath. Simply apply a layer of chalkboard paint to the inside of an old tray, then add autumn branches and bittersweet berries for a seasonal finish. (Swap in evergreen and holly for the holidays!)

See fall wreath ideas.

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10

Tobacco Basket Wreath with Magnolia Leaves

fall wreath crafted from old tobacco basket, magnolia leaves, and pumpkins on orange door
Brian Woodcock

Waxy magnolia leaves will hold up well in this outdoor fall wreath. Simply wire magnolia leaves, gourds, and mini pumpkins to a small tobacco basket to create this front door stunner.

11

Leaf and Book Paper Leaf Wreath

paper wreath crafted from fall leaves layered with leaf shapes cut from book pages, in front of yellow wall
Brian Woodcock

The ultimate door decor for all the bibliophiles out there!

Make the wreath:
Draw a 3-inch-wide maple leaf shape on a piece of cardboard and cut out to create a stencil. Trace on original pages (or, if preferred, photocopied pages) of a vintage book—consider a fall-themed title or mystery novel—and cut out approximately 100 leaves with decorative scissors that have a “torn paper” edge
(michaels.com). Attach book page leaves to maple leaves with hot-glue. Attach layered leaves to a 16-inch wreath form with hot-glue, layering and overlapping them as you go. Hang with burlap ribbon.

12

Gold Leaf Place Card

fall leaf place card decorated with gold leaf and an initial written with a gold paint pen
BRIAN WOODCOCK

Turn a fall leaf into a place card by adding a swath of gold leaf across one portion. Write guests initials with a gold paint pen.

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13

Fall Tree Door Decor

crafted tree door surround made from a mailing tube and branches of fall leaves
Brian Woodcock

Welcome trick-or-treaters under a canopy of fall branches.

Make the tree:
Wrap a tall mailing tube in wood grain contact paper. Stuff with fall branches (you can glue faux leaves to bare branches, too). Hold in place with a nail and wire.

14

Birch Bark "Leaf" Wreath

fall wreath crafted from leaf shapes cut from birch bark, hung on red washed rustic wood wall above pitcher of feathers
Woman's Day

Trace leaf shapes onto birch bark, then cut them out and fasten together to form this stunning, one-of-a-kind wreath. It's so pretty, you can keep it up all through the winter.

Make the wreath: Trace leaf cookie cutters on the backs of birch bark strips, then use an X-Acto knife to cut out. (Or, use our oak- and maple-leaf templates, scaled as needed. You'll need about 75 leaves total.) Hot glue half the birch leaves around a 20" foam wreath form. Hot glue 5/8" wooden cubes on the backs of the remaining leaves, then layer them onto the wreath to create a 3-D display.

15

Fall Leaf Specimen Wall

40 small prints of individual fall leaves hung in 8x5 grid on white wall, above wood chest topped with decorative bottles
Alec Hemer

Instead of framing pressed foliage, simply adhere it to card stock with spray mount. Then, tack the naturally good-looking pinups into place.

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16

Autumn Cookie Wreath

wreath made from colorful leaf shaped cookies, pictured on rustic blue washed panel wall above yarn pumpkins
Charles Schiller

The blazing color palette of autumn takes the spotlight in this seasonal display of needle-felted pumpkins and an edible "leaf" cookie wreath.

Get the tutorial for our Autumn Cookie Wreath.

17

Fall Leaf Garland Craft

fall leaves crafted from orange, violet, yellow, and brown crepe paper cutouts, strung into a garland
Trisha Zemp / The House That Lars Built

A festive garland is the easiest way to spruce up a drab entryway, no matter the season. It just so happens that this one's perfect for fall.

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.

18

DIY Leaf-Stamped Napkins

three cream napkins each stamped with a leaf in brown fabric paint, pictured with slotted wood spoon
All Things G&D

Once you learn the simple method behind these gorgeous leaf imprints, we guarantee you'll be itching to use it on almost every craft project under the sun. It's that beautiful—and that easy.

Get the tutorial at All Things G&D.

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19

Fall Leaf Cake Topper

cake topper crafted from twigs and painted paper cutouts of fall leaves, atop white cake on blue pedestal
The House That Lars Built

Got an autumn birthday in your family? Surprise the guest of honor with these incredibly chic leaf toppers.

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.

20

Watercolor Fall Leaf Wreath Craft

paper wreath adorned with watercolor cutouts of fall leaves, hung from orange ribbon with white polka dots
Happiness is Homemade

Here's a craft so easy, you can do it with your kids. The result is a wreath that's lovely (and grown-up) enough to be hung right on your front door.

Get the tutorial at Happiness is Homemade.

Lettermark
Charlyne Mattox
Food and Crafts Director
Charlyne Mattox is Food and Crafts Director for Country Living.
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