Cheap Easy DIY Fall Wreath With Fresh Leaves for $0!

Bren Did
by Bren Did
5 Materials
30 Minutes
Easy
Front door wreaths are beautiful but expensive to purchase and awkward to store. I use this easy trick to make my own gorgeous front door wreath from fresh fall leaves to save $$ and storage space (it's biodegradable so you can throw it away at the end of the season with no guilt). Look how lovely it turned out!

This wreath uses fresh fall leaves from your yard, cardboard, kitchen tools, and NO SPECIAL CRAFT SUPPLIES. It costs almost nothing to make and is so easy you can complete it while watching television!
Colorful fall leaves are my favorite part of autumn. I love the gorgeous colors and always want to collect them for crafts. Unfortunately, beautiful leaves gathered one afternoon are usually a brown curled-up mess the next morning. I'm too impatient to press the leaves between books for weeks & weeks, so I use a QUICK DRY method to quickly flatten the leaves while keeping their colors bright.
First I collect leaves in lots of different colors and shapes. I simply walk around my neighborhood looking for freshly fallen leaves that have no holes or damage. (You can dry all the leaves at once or make a few leaves a day until you have the desired amount.)
I use my kitchen microwave and some parchment paper to dry the leaves.
Next I press them flat with my household iron. You can check out the blog post on BrenDid.com for the full instructions.
Voilá… perfectly pressed leaves ready to use for your favorite craft or home decor. They look great in a centerpiece, floral arrangement, or wreath.
I make my leaves into a front door wreath by attaching them to a wreath shape I cut from an old cardboard box.
Gorgeous fall color for $0... love it! If you want to see exactly how I completed the wreath, please check out the post on BrenDid.com and see for yourself!
Suggested materials:
  • Leaves   (Outside)
  • Cardboard Box   (Recycling)
  • Iron   (Laundry Room)
See all materials
Bren Did
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 14 questions
  • Gayle Franklin Gayle Franklin on Oct 18, 2017

    Why not use hot glue?

  • Susan Sowers Susan Sowers on Aug 22, 2020

    how big is your wreath and how many ( approx.) leaves did you use.


  • Rose Rose on Aug 22, 2020

    How long do you microwave the leaves? How many can you place in the microwave at one time?

Comments
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2 of 52 comments
  • Karen Karen on Apr 22, 2022

    no question- been doing this for 3 years; variations between paint or clear coating.

    All-purpose glue works fabulous. Microwaving- very dangerous- too hot and you've got a kitchen fire. Use the old catalog or magazines to press the leaves.

  • Patty Patty on Aug 21, 2022

    Beautiful colors. What state are you in?

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