dearest readers, i'm not ready for the holidays yet.
i get to this point every year, and struggle with it. why??
i feel like i need to keep up with the popular bloggers and influencers
and start posting holiday / Christmas content earlier every year.
but... i can't do it. i honestly can't. my brain revolts against it.
after spending 45 years as a retail visual merchandiser / designer / stylist
and pushing every season months beforehand,
i want to just enjoy the season i'm IN. that inspires my creativity!
and it's one of the reasons i started this blog a decade ago.
so here we are on November 1st and Deb is not even dipping a toe into Christmas decor.
instead, i'm gonna' share some simple ways to decorate your home this month,
for Thanksgiving, for Friendsgiving, for the fall season.
because if you're looking at this the way i am, we can just enjoy this month
and the chance to embrace the lovely autumn atmosphere
before the holiday hullaballoo kicks in!
i get to this point every year, and struggle with it. why??
i feel like i need to keep up with the popular bloggers and influencers
and start posting holiday / Christmas content earlier every year.
but... i can't do it. i honestly can't. my brain revolts against it.
after spending 45 years as a retail visual merchandiser / designer / stylist
and pushing every season months beforehand,
i want to just enjoy the season i'm IN. that inspires my creativity!
and it's one of the reasons i started this blog a decade ago.
so here we are on November 1st and Deb is not even dipping a toe into Christmas decor.
instead, i'm gonna' share some simple ways to decorate your home this month,
for Thanksgiving, for Friendsgiving, for the fall season.
because if you're looking at this the way i am, we can just enjoy this month
and the chance to embrace the lovely autumn atmosphere
before the holiday hullaballoo kicks in!
so - grab some scissors, some scrap paper in a color you love, and a branch from your yard,
and let me show you how to craft some pretty paper leaves in a jiffy...
and let me show you how to craft some pretty paper leaves in a jiffy...
.jpg "diy recycled paper leaf decor for fall")
of COURSE mine are yellow! yours can be any color you choose.
head out to your yard or a nearby nature trail, and find a branch - on the ground is best.
i used one of the smaller branches that i trimmed from our backyard hedges.
look at the way the leaves grow on the branch and snap a photo for reference later.
then take some pruning shears / secateurs and clip every leaf off -
it is important that you leave the leaf stems!
i used one of the smaller branches that i trimmed from our backyard hedges.
look at the way the leaves grow on the branch and snap a photo for reference later.
then take some pruning shears / secateurs and clip every leaf off -
it is important that you leave the leaf stems!
next, simply cut leaf shapes (doesn't need to replicate the real leaves) from paper.
over the years, i've used MANY kinds of paper for leaves -
vintage sheet music, old book pages, scrapbook paper, paper bags, printer paper,
over the years, i've used MANY kinds of paper for leaves -
vintage sheet music, old book pages, scrapbook paper, paper bags, printer paper,
gift wrapping paper, paint chip strips, plus scrap paper and junk mail from the recycle bin.
cut several sizes of leaf, so they replicate the natural look of how leaves grow.
after you've cut a few dozen (i cut four dozen to fill in my branch),
use a ruler to create a fold at the 'base' of the leaf .
the shape you cut out will dictate which end is the base -
you can fold the whole leaf, if you wish. i just did one end.
cut several sizes of leaf, so they replicate the natural look of how leaves grow.
after you've cut a few dozen (i cut four dozen to fill in my branch),
use a ruler to create a fold at the 'base' of the leaf .
the shape you cut out will dictate which end is the base -
you can fold the whole leaf, if you wish. i just did one end.
separate the different sizes of leaves into piles - this makes it easier to work from!
to attach the paper leaves to the branch, use a tiny drop of hot glue on each one
and place the leaf onto the natural stems that you left on the branch.
hold the leaf in place for a few seconds as the glue dries.
i began with the smallest size leaf at the ends of the branches,
then worked my way up in size as i moved down each stem.
i found that placing my branch into a large jar / vase held it upright,
to attach the paper leaves to the branch, use a tiny drop of hot glue on each one
and place the leaf onto the natural stems that you left on the branch.
hold the leaf in place for a few seconds as the glue dries.
i began with the smallest size leaf at the ends of the branches,
then worked my way up in size as i moved down each stem.
i found that placing my branch into a large jar / vase held it upright,
making it much easier to move it around as i glued each leaf on.
.jpg "diy recycled paper leaf tutorial")
after the leaves were all glued onto the branch,
i took a pencil and curled the end of a few of the leaves to create this realistic look.
TOP TIP:
to make the effect even more realistic,
cut a few extra leaves and place them below your branch on the table, mantel, etc.
giving the effect of 'fallen leaves'
i took a pencil and curled the end of a few of the leaves to create this realistic look.
TOP TIP:
to make the effect even more realistic,
cut a few extra leaves and place them below your branch on the table, mantel, etc.
giving the effect of 'fallen leaves'
.jpg "diy recycled paper leaf decor for fall")
.jpg "diy recycled paper leaf decor for fall")
.jpg "diy recycled paper leaf decor for fall")
.jpg "diy recycled paper leaf decor for fall")
i love the movement they have, from being glued onto the stems...
they spray out in different directions just as they do in nature.
they spray out in different directions just as they do in nature.
.jpg "diy recycled paper leaf decor for fall")
i 'planted' my branch in a small narrow-neck vase,
but it was a bit unstable - even with pebbles inside for weight.
so i tucked it into a larger vase and filled in with golden yellow eyelash yarn.
if you wish to make this project relate even more to Thanksgiving,
write words of gratitude, people, things, experiences that you are thankful for
on the leaves before you glue them to the branch:
but it was a bit unstable - even with pebbles inside for weight.
so i tucked it into a larger vase and filled in with golden yellow eyelash yarn.
if you wish to make this project relate even more to Thanksgiving,
write words of gratitude, people, things, experiences that you are thankful for
on the leaves before you glue them to the branch:
.jpg "paper leaves with messages of gratitude for Thanksgiving")
when the season is over and it's FINALLY time to decorate for the holidays,
i simply toss projects like this back into the recycling bin or onto the fire pit.
no storage required!
ps: this craft works perfectly in springtime, too!
i simply toss projects like this back into the recycling bin or onto the fire pit.
no storage required!
ps: this craft works perfectly in springtime, too!
related content:
paint chip leaf wreath
recycled scrap paper leaf wreath
recycled scrap paper leaf floral arrangement
vintage sheet music leaves
fall,paper crafts,paper,DIY,diy decorating,re-purposed,up-cycling,home decor,decorating,fall leaves, paper leaves,autumn leaf craft,paper crafting,tutorial.
Oh my... the fall leaf possibilites are truly endless with this one... and the outcome does totally look so realistic! Wouldn't a holly leaf one look cool for Christmas? Bahaha... didn't meant to rush you there... embrace your cozy fall, friend, for as long as you can stretch it out!
ReplyDeleteLOL well, my friend, i have to admit i LIKE your idea! ;) i was already jumping ahead by mentioning that spring leaves would look good, so your suggestion isn't rushing me! (and in all truth, i'm in my studio working on holiday decor anyway!)
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