How To Make A Wood Leaf Garland For Fall

I love using garlands in my fall decorations. They are fun and not hard to make. How to make a wood leaf garland for the fall?

Let me show you how! Honestly, it is not hard to make and I find it very relaxing crafting. I love making things for myself that you may not necessarily find in the store. It’s putting my spin and ideas together to create something for my home.

Where do you put a fall garland? Your DIY fall garland can be added to fireplace mantel. Trying draping the leaf garland over a window or door. I have used handmade garlands around a basket.

PIN IT FOR LATER

Other ideas for styling your wood fall leaf garland:

• Over a mirror
• Hung across a hutch
• On a wall shelf
• Across a mudroom or entry bench

The ideas for styling are endless.

How do you make a fall leaf garland? It really is not hard. I ordered a bag of pre-cut leaves. It came with 30 pieces and can be used for other projects for the fall too.

The other items I did have on hand in my crafting supplies. You may have some similar items.

Supplies:

Affiliate links are used for your convenience at no additional cost to you. It helps to support my blog so that I can bring you more free tutorials. Thank you! Read my full disclosure here.

• 55 – 16mm beads
• 44- 14 mm beads
• 10 wood leaves
• Jute Twine
• Gold Leaf Sheets
• Gilding Adhesive
• Gilding Varnish
• Artist Paint Brush (flat inexpensive)
• Paper plate
• Old rag
• Lint free rag
• Stain of choice (or you can paint your leaves)
• Stain Applicator Pad
• White Acrylic Paint
• Heat Gun (optional)

How To Make A Wood Leaf Garland For Fall Tutortial

Stain or paint the leaves

1. For the DIY fall garland, my leaves where stain in Golden Ash. It was a stain that I had on hand by Dixie Belle. If you are interested in this color you can purchase it here.
2. You will want to add the stain on with a lint free rag or stain applicator. Add the stain to the wood leaves on the front and back. With a clean lint free rag, wipe off the leaves.

Allow them to dry for 30 minutes.

paint the 16mm beads

1. In a small lidded throw away bowl, add some white paint. If your paint is thick, you will want to add a touch of water to thin it just a little.
2. Add some bead into the container with paint. Allow enough space at the top so that you can shake the container to distribute the paint over the beads.
3. Push the lid firmly over the container.
4. Now shake the beads in the container. You can dance while shaking them. LOL I always have music on and do this being silly to have fun.
5. Remove the cover and look to see the coverage. You can shake it again if needed.

Drying the painted beads

1. It is not going to me a completely smooth finish. It gives the beads a rustic feel.
2. Dump the beads onto a paper plate. I will shake the paper plate while using the heat gun to help dry them fast. DO NOT USE A BLOW DRYER! You will have a paint mess blown all over the place.
3. You will not be painting the 14mm beads. We will be leaving them natural.

Add Gilding adhesive

The gilding adhesive is going to allow the gold leafing to adhere to the leaf.

1. Paint the gilding adhesive only on the area where you want the gold leaf.
2. It will be tacky to the touch went dried.
3. Don’t follow the direction on the container to wait one hour. The wood leaves are very porous. When the cloudiness of the gilding adhesive is clear, it is ready to apply the gold leafing.

Gold Leafing

1. Work over a paper plate to capture the gold pieces from the sheet. Lay the a gold sheet over the stained wood leaf.
2. With your finger or a flat paint brush (dried) and rub over the gold leafing. Brush away the gold that does not adhere.

add vaRnish

1. Follow the direction on the container for mixing the varnish. You will need to add 10% water to the mixture (on the brand that I am using).
2. The varnish is going to keep the gold leafing on the leaf. Paint the varnish over the entire surface and let dry. It will dry very quickly.
3. When the fronts are dried flip the leaves over and apply a thin coat of varnish over the back of the leaves.

assembling the garland

On all of your leaves, add a loop that is knotted at the end.

1. The fun part! Be generous with your twine to make sure that you have plenty. You may want to measure your mantel or area where you will be using the garland.
2. Remember you can make yours as long or as short as your need to.
3. At one end make a loop knot. This loop will help you be able to hang your garland.
4. I added tape at the end of my jute twine. It helps to feed the beads through easy.
5. You can add your beads in any combination. I did one white then a natural bead. I used five small white beads and four larger natural beads.
6. Add a leaf.
7. Repeat with your beads.
8. Add a leaf and repeat beads again.
9. Continue until you have the amount of length you desire for the garland.
10. At the end, you should make another loop and knot. Cut your Twine.
11. Not hang and enjoy!!!!

finished Wood Leaf Garland For Fall

DIY Fall garlands can be so much fun. The gold leafing adds a touch of elegance to rustic charm of the garland. Here hung the DIY leaf garland in our mudroom.

I love the wood element against the bench. The colors more of nature.

You could also make a bead strand with one leaf tied to the end of the strand. It would look wonderful on a coffee table or tray on the counter with a plant and candles.

other posts

With that left over gold leaf sheets, adhesive and varnish, try making these great votive candle holders. I have the complete tutorial here.

SERENA & LILY VASE DUPE

WOOD BEAD FALL WREATH

EASY DIY MOSS TOPIARY

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with me today.  If you want to hang out some more, I would love to have you subscribe to my newsletter. You can also follow me over Facebook at White Lilac Farmhouse, on Instagram @whitelilacfarmhouse, on LTK at white_lilac_farmhouse, Pinterest, YouTube, Tiktok, and Hometalk.

Hope you have a fantastic day, sweet friend!