diy paper paint chip leaf wreath

as i was preparing to create holiday content for the blog this year,

i sourced some paint chips (paint color cards, etc) as supplies for my chosen theme.

and i want to be perfectly clear about WHERE i sourced them:
i didn't take these paint chips from the displays at the hardware or paint store.
i asked the manager of my local paint store if they had any OLD paint fans
that might not be in use any more (because new ones come out every year)...
and they handed them over with a smile. FREE.
a very happy Deb with arms full of paint fans nearly skipped out the door.

but as it so happens, while i was in the midst of creating decor for Christmas... 
another FALL decor idea hit me. so i stopped, and created this fall decor.
(i endeavor to NOT anger my muse!)

it's so simple, you could make the leaves from any kind of paper -
gift wrap, paper bags, scrapbook paper, wallpaper scraps!

continue reading for more details and the easy how-to...

the bleached reed wreath is one that i have used before.   

i simply tucked the paper leaves into the spaces between the reeds, which required no glue.

and that means i can use the wreath again in the future!

i arranged the brown, rust, and gold leaves in an ombre',

with the darkest shades near the center of the arrangement, fading to lighter tones.

that included placing each leaf so the paint colors on them goes from dark to light, as well. 

a few small branches were 'planted' in a milk glass urn.

more leaves were glued onto the branches - each branch holds a different color.

i started with the largest leaves at the bottom of each branch, 

adding smaller leaves as i went.

on two branches, the leaves start dark at the bottom and get lighter at the top.

on the center branch, they are dark and the top and get lighter toward the bottom - 

just to make them stand out.

a smaller reed wreath, an ironstone creamer, and more leaves scattered around

add interest at the bottom of the vignette.

making the paper leaves is very simple:

select the colors you want to use, pull the paint chips out of the fan decks, 

then arrange from dark to light.

cut various sizes of leaf shapes out of the strips.

i was able to get one large and one medium OR three small leaves from each strip...

the tiniest ones i cut from the leftover scraps.

thinner, longer shapes work best on the long paint strips - 

but if your paint store gives you the larger more square sample cards, you can make leaves

that are more 'maple'-shaped.

after they were all cut out and segmented into colors,

i chose where each color family would be placed on the wreath and the branches.

a metal ruler helped to crease some of the leaves down the center,

giving them 3-D shape for interest.

(some fold forward, some backward, and a few curve.)

after determining the placement and angle of each leaf,

i used the tiniest drop of hot glue to hold them on the branch.

a perfect, quick, easy project to add autumn style to your home this month,

this project also provides a perfect opportunity
to integrate a 'gratitude' practice in your November activities...

before gluing (or even hanging) each leaf on a branch or wreath,
use a Sharpie marker to add a word or phrase expressing thanks
for someone or something in your life.
(you could add that on the white back side of each leaf, if you wish)

as excited as we all are about Christmas,
observing Thanksgiving is especially important this year.

links to previous related posts:

diy painted paint chip paper

paint chip paper craft projects

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