Do you remember those days as a child when you would collect fistfuls of autumn leaves?

Maybe it was just last week that you found yourself picking up pretty leaves on your walk?

 

I love how Mother Nature gives us so much FREE material to create into beautiful objects for our homes.  These fall leaf chargers or place mats are simply stunning on the table and are nearly free to create.  Check out this easy tutorial and set a pretty fall table.

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I’m always on the look out for creating home decor with nature’s bounty.

It does seem that Mother Nature couldn’t deliver any more leaves than she’s been raining down on us the past few weeks.

Actually, it’s all been quite convenient for me.

I have been planning an autumn tablescape but feeling like there was an important missing ingredient.

And then it hit me!

All the leaves…

They would be perfect for my tablescape…

Fashioned into natural leaf chargers.

 

Natural Oak Leaf Charger Tutorial

 

I know you’ll want to make some too!

They not only make great chargers, but they also are perfect for vignettes, centerpieces, and more!

 

Make Natural Leaf Charger for Home Decor with this Tutorial

 

So without further ado…

 

Let’s Make Natural Leaf Chargers

Supplies:

Steps:

  • Begin by collecting leaves.  I used oak leaves because they are super sturdy.
  • Pick up flat leaves for this project, though you will ‘semi’ press them.
  • There are many oak varieties.  Your charger will be more interesting if you can get a few different varieties.
  • One charger takes at least 25 leaves of varying sizes.

 

  • Here’s how I prepared the leaves:
  • The first thing I did was to lay the leaves I gathered on large sheets of Kraft paper and newspaper.

 

Preserving Leaves for Creating Natural Leaf Chargers

 

  • Then I covered the leaves with another sheet of paper.
  • To weigh them down some, I placed pillows on top of the paper leaf sandwich.
  • I left it overnight and the leaves dried some and were flattened, but not pressed.
  • The next step was to take the leaves outside, lay them on newspaper, and spray them with Clear Coat.

 

Use Rust-oleum Ultra Cover Clear to Protect Leaves for Home Decor

 

  • The Clear Coat dries fairly quickly.  When the leaf is dry to the touch, turn it over, and spray with another Clear Coat.
  • Allow the leaves to dry for a short while before gathering them up.
  • Get ready to create your leaf charger.  Lay your Kraft paper on your work surface.
  • Find a large bowl of lid from your kitchen that is about 10-11 inches or about the size of your dinner plate.

 

Measure Base for Creatiing a Natural Oak Leaf Charger

 

  • Lay your round object on the Kraft paper and with your pencil draw around it so that you have a circle.

 

Create a Natural Leaf Charger with this Tutorial on a Kraft Paper Base

 

  • With your scissors, cut out the circle.
  • Repeat for as many leaf chargers you will be making.
  • Because you will be gluing, protect your work surface.
  • Place a Kraft paper “charger base” on your work surface.
  • Gather a variety of leaves in sizes from your collection of leaves.

 

Gather Leaves for Leaf Charger Tutorial

 

  • Trim the stems off your leaves so that they will be flatter.

 

Natural Oak Leaf Tutorial Tip: Remove Leaf Stem Ends

 

  • Do a test run before gluing leaves in place.
  • Lay leaves around the edge of the charger.

 

Arrange oak leaves on top of Kraft paper for test run when crafting a natural leaf charger for home decor.

 

  • Then lay a second round of leaves, in between the first layer, being careful to hide the brown Kraft paper with the leaf tips.
  • Continue adding leaves to cover the brown Kraft paper and create a lovely design for your charger.

 

Create fall home decor with oak leaves like this natural Leaf Charger

 

  • Now that you have a feel for it…repeat the process only this time, using your low temp glue gun, add a dot of glue to the leaf and glue to the Kraft paper repeating the process.
  • Here’s how it will look on the back of the charger.  A very clean look.

 

Back of Natural Leaf Charger

 

That’s it!  Four chargers can be made in an hour or two.

I plan to keep mine for another year by storing them in an envelope I make from the roll of kraft paper I purchased.  If you have two larger pieces of cardboard…all the better.

 

Tutorial for creating beautiful natural leaf chargers for tablescapes.

 

There’s still time to create gorgeous oak leaf chargers for Thanksgiving.

If you are already set for your Thanksgiving table, be sure to “pin” this post for next year.

I love natural elements in home decor for fall.  Hope you do too!

 

In what ways have you used oak leaves or other natural elements in your fall or Thanksgiving home decor?

Tell me what you’re working on.  I’d love to see.

 

Thank you for stopping by today.

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Best wishes for An Extraordinary Day!
Diane

p.s. I recently joined Twitter…if you’re there too, would you follow me?  I’ll return the follow.  It’s imperative that I grow a following quickly….if you can help….you’ll make my day!!  Thank you!!!


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Comments

  1. Lucy Beliveau says

    Hi Diane! These are perfect ly beautiful! Im not having company but think I’ll make one for my kitchen island!

    • Diane says

      You should Lucy! It will be a stunning piece for your island. Let me know if you do…better yet…post it on my page on FB and I’ll share it. 😉 Thanks for you kind words. {hugs}

  2. Dona says

    See? Another great project that can’t be done with cactus!! I think someone out there should take pity on me and send me a box of leaves and acorns!! Actually, after your post on the acorns, I got on Ebay and found that you can actually buy them!! Not so much leaves. (sigh) I’ll just enjoy reading your posts, I guess! God bless you, girl! Dona

    • Diane says

      Donna…we just got 8 inches of snow…so I don’t know if I can help you with the leaves…but I surely would have been happy to send you some. Remind me next year…early…and I will for sure. 😉 Seriously….I will!! BTW…I have another project coming up that uses both. I know…you’re going to love me now. :-/
      As far a cactus… 😉 I give that some thought!
      Okay…I did. Sorry…I didn’t come up with anything. 😉
      All the best for an extraordinary weekend!

  3. Wow! That is so creative and yet so simple! You could also use these as part of your centerpiece at Thanksgiving.

    • Diane says

      My husband told me I should hang one on the wall in a gallery arrangement. 😉
      Thanks for popping by with your kind words Barb!
      All the best!!

  4. Love this idea,can’t wait to try it.Thank you for sharing and have a Blessed day.

  5. I love this, I truly love this!

    • Diane says

      Awww…thanks Cathy!! It was one of those projects that just made my heart happy!
      All the best for an extraordinary start to your week!

  6. Very cool idea! Love it!

  7. What a cool idea! I hope you will link it up at the Found & Foraged Linky Party tonight!

  8. Thanks so much for linking up with Found & Foraged! This was a great idea…and I’ve not used clear coat like that before, so it’s good to know about it!

  9. Dee says

    Diane, I love how these turned out! We don’t have many fall leaves around here, but I loved that you used natural elements! 🙂

  10. We are so glad you came by the party! See you next week

  11. Cathy says

    Such a beautiful and unique idea. Love that you share it with Share It One More Time. Cathy

  12. I love this idea….it’s just beautiful!

  13. Jenna says

    These are just awesome Diane! Fabulous idea and great tutorial! LOVE it~

  14. Kim says

    Gorgeous, Diane! I pinned your post for next year – great suggestion. I love these chargers you’ve created…hope my leaves do OK next year.

  15. i love this idea! they look fabulous. i would love to make a runner version of this. thanks for the inspiration! warmly- mj
    https://maryjomaterazo.typepad.com

  16. Oh this is too neat! I love that it could last for another year too! I am not sure if we have any oaks other than pin oaks but maybe some of the other leaves will work! Should be a fun project!

  17. Thanks so much for sharing this at the Say G’Day Saturday linky party. Hope you have a wonderful week!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

  18. absolutely love this idea!!
    my daughter has been collecting leaves on her walks to the mailbox.
    she has them in between her art journal pages…I’ll be sharing this idea with her, thank so much!
    #SITS

  19. Great tutorial! And I love that shot of the charger in the leaves!

  20. Wow! These are so cool! These would be perfect on a Turkey Day table!
    Stopping by from the Thrifty Thursday like party. 🙂

  21. Absolutely gorgeous!! Thanks for the tutorial–I’m pinning this!

  22. Mimi says

    What a stunning idea! Must steal for self 😉

  23. tia says

    These look lovely! Thank you for sharing them with us this weekend!

  24. This whole table is wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

  25. Vickie Branson says

    I LOVE this idea! I am always looking for cheap unique ways to decorate for our church events. 30+ tables that need a center base to build on can get very expensive when you have to purchase other items. Even if I spend $1 per item and have 5 items per table, $150 is a lot to spend especially if it’s a fundraiser so this is absolutely perfect. I live in SE Texas where Tropical storms Harvey and Imelda flooded our area. We’ve lost lots of decorating items so something I can go outside and pickup for free is amazing! And as abundant as flood water has been, leaves are even more abundant.
    For my home use I think to make them a little more sturdy and easier to move I will use a cardboard round that is sold cheaply for bakeries to put under their cakes. And to keep the price down to only glue and spray sealer I think cutting up boxes would work. Hmmm, round plates, round pumpkins, maybe a square charger would be a great alternative and much easier to cut from my Amazon boxes. Thanks for a great project that I can make with a friend that recently had a double knee replacement, it should keep us busy!

    • This is certainly cheap, Vickie… but I can’t imagine doing SOOOOO many! Hope you have many happy hands to help you because it will look amazing for sure!! All the best!

  26. Vickie Branson says

    Dona, I can’t see what year you posted but today is 9-28-19. If you still want leaves I’d be happy to send you a box. Just no idea how to communicate with you without publically posting my information. If you actually get this and would still like to do the project perhaps you can find a way to privately share addresses. I have several types of oaks, sweet gum, maple, sycamore, tallow/chinaberry (like an aspen) and others. Maybe I can send you leaves and you can send me cactus!

Trackbacks

  1. […] you do too, you’ll want to check out my tutorial for making beautiful natural leaf chargers for your Thanksgiving table.  Be watching for my […]

  2. […] I took a stroll around the yard and down the street looking for leaves.  Not any leaves… but just the right kind of oak leaves.  I was amazed at all the different varieties and sizes of oak leaves that had fallen.  Perfect!!  Those leaves became oak leaf chargers.  I wrote a tutorial about it here. […]

  3. […] wanted to create a centerpiece for my Thanksgiving table setting.  I had already made lovely oak leaf chargers, so I did what we all do when we want inspiration, I popped over to Pinterest.  While I was looking […]

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