How To Make Autumn Leaves!

Bryan's Workshop
by Bryan's Workshop
6 Materials
This is a fun and "easy for kids" way to make a garland of autumn leaves! We are actually surprised at how well they turned out!
First you need to print out or trace the types of leaves you want. We found a ton of printable leaf templates searching on Google images. Its also better to print on thicker printer paper for this.
Cut out all of the leaves, bend them in half down the middle and hot glue thin craft wire to the crease. Use a couple beads of hot glue first and hold the wire in place until the glue is dry. Leave a length of wire as long as the leaf on the bottom if you intend to make garland.
When the beads of hot glue are dry, run a line of hot glue down the middle and then from the middle to the tips. Try to find a real leaf or look at a picture of a real leaf to match the veins.
Finish up the veins with your hot glue gun.
I bought a variety of autumn colored craft paints and painted every leaf a solid color first. When both sides were good and dry, I sponge painted details on them. Almost every combination looked great! I've sealed and not sealed and I prefer the unsealed leaves. I store them after the season and the paper kind of gets crispy over time and looks more realistic.
I used floral tape and wire to make the garland. Attach all of the leaves together with wire and then start wrapping the floral tape around it. Floral tape comes in a variety of colors and I've used both brown and green.


I used to cut out stems for the leaves, but stopped, because the garland looks better with the floral tape starting right at the bottom of the leaves.
Suggested materials:
  • Printer paper
  • Craft wire
  • Hot glue gun and hot glue
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Frequently asked questions
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  • Donna Donna on Aug 21, 2016
    What do you mean by "thicker printer paper" What weight paper did you use? Thanks
  • Felicia*mgp Felicia*mgp on Oct 08, 2018

    What do you mean "sealed or unsealed"? What do you use to seal them? Thank you for sharing your Beautiful idea!! Can't wait to try it!

  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Aug 14, 2019

    I read in one of your comments that if the leaves crack it shows white and you stated you use a darker paper now. Wouldn’t it be easier to use red paper for the red leaves, orange paper for the orange leaves, etc. etc.? Then if you get cracks you would have the same color as the leave. These are totally awesome by the way! I love making paper leaves!

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