How to Make a REAL Oak Leaf Wreath
4 Materials
$5
3 Hours
Easy
You've heard the adage, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade", right?
Well, when Tropical Storm Irma gave us a yard FULL of green oak leaves, a friend suggested I do something pretty similar during our cleanup.
This is just a tiny example of what was in our yard.
Since we have a lot of mature oak trees, the whole yard was littered with leaves and limbs after the storm. (But...I am so grateful that a yard full of leaves was all that we had to deal with and am still sad for those who lost so much during the storms this season.)
All I used for this project was the leaves, a straw wreath, hot glue, and clear spray sealer.
I wasn't sure how well green leaves would hold up but decided it was worth trying and finding out.
I started by layering them across the front of the wreath, making sure the ends of one row overlapped the stems from the previous leaves.
It's really a very simple project and repetitive, so I did most of the work while sitting with my family during a Friday night movie.
I used low-temp glue and recommend it. The leaves are thin enough and since every one needs to be pressed down, it's a finger-saver!
After the front was covered, I repeated the same process on the inside and outsides of the ring. I left the back bare.
After the wreath was covered, I gave it three coats of clear sealer, letting it dry between coats.
The finished wreath is lightweight, so a bent paperclip worked well for a hanger.
These finished photos were taken 4 weeks after the wreath was finished, and it's still as vibrant as it was when I made it.
I doubt I'd have ever thought of making a wreath with a few of those storm-strewn leaves.
Aren't friends like that great?
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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