Fall Foliage Crafts

Wreaths

• You can make a fall wreath using real fall leaves that have fallen outside or faux leaves if you intend to display your craft in the home for more than a few days. Purchase a hay wreath from your local craft store. You'll also need a hot glue gun, fall ribbon, pine cones and scissors. If using real leaves, bake them in the oven for 45 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit to remove any insects or eggs. Use the hot glue gun to glue the leaves around the hay wreath. Add pine cones in different spots around the wreath, too. Tie a large piece of fall ribbon into a bow and glue it to the bottom section of the wreath. On the bottom of the wreath, underneath the bow, glue two strands of fall ribbon so that they dangle. Attach pine cones to the two strands using the hot glue gun, and give the entire piece time to dry before hanging it.

Leaf Coasters

• For entertaining in the fall, the Making Friends website recommends making homemade leaf coasters. For this craft, draw a circle around your largest mug or glass onto paper, then cut out a slightly larger circle using the drawing as a guide. Press some pretty leaves by placing them in a heavy book for several days. Place your cut out circle over two sheets of jelly paper and cut the sheets to the size of the pattern. Punch holes with a 1/8 inch hole punch around the pattern for sewing. Slide several of your dried leaves in between the two layers of jelly sheets. Use a needle and yarn to sew the jelly sheets together and trim the excess yarn.

Fall Canvases

• The inspiration of fall becomes wall art in your home with this quick and innovative craft. Press several leaves in a heavy book for several days. Purchase canvas-covered boards at the craft store in the desired size. Photocopy the leaves in a color copier, as the Sunset website recommends, increasing the size to fit the canvas, or make leaf prints by painting the leaves and then pressing them down in random order or in patterns across your canvas. If you make color copies, cut out and glue the copied leaves to your canvas boards. Frame the boards or use a hanger backing to hang your natural fall art on the wall.

Fall Place Cards

• Rather than waste paper for place cards while entertaining in the fall, do nature a favor by giving your decorations a double duty. Use vases of magnolias for centerpieces, but carefully cut the leaves away using floral sheers. The Sunset website recommends using a white, gold or silver-white pen to write your guests' names on the back of the leaves. Place them on top of their napkins for your guests to find, or clip them into free standing photo holders.