Hello, dears!
Today’s post is a bit different than normal. I haven’t done a crafty post in QUITE a while, but I’ve been having so much fun painting and decorating fall leaves that I wanted to share some ideas with you! These are great for fall table settings, happy mail, Thanksgiving decor, etc. Let’s get started!
I’m going to show you three ideas for fall leaf art first, and then some inspiration for how to use the art you just created. π Let’s start by using actual fall leaves!
For this project, go outside and collect some fall leaves. Hopefully you have some brightly colored ones around you, but if you don’t (like me), this is a great way to brighten them up. π Prepare the leaves by ironing them between two pieces of wax paper until they’re dry (but not too crispy!).
Next, have fun decorating them with a paint pen, gel pen, or Sharpies. Seal with Mod Podge if you like (before and/or after the doodles) to protect the leaf and make it sturdier.
Next, here’s a mini tutorial for how to paint fall leaves yourselves! You will need…
To start with, I’m painting a super simple leaf shape with yellow gouache paint. I like to look up fall leaves on Pinterest or Google to find more interesting shapes as well.
Once your leaves are painted, let them dry completely.
Now the fun part! Take a paint pen or something similar and add details to your leaves – colorful spots, stripes and leaf veins, etc. I found that gouache paint and Posca pens go super well together!
Cut out your art, leaving (heh) a narrow white border around the edges to make them look like stickers. π Ta-daa! So pretty.
Lastly, if you like the ideas I’m about to show you but don’t actually want to make the leaves yourselves, check out my newest printable set here, which kind of inspired this post. π I love how vibrant and colorful they turned out!
I’m going to use the printables for the art ideas since I already have them available. π If you’re using them too, print on heavy paper or cardstock, and cut them out as I showed above. You could stop there and stick them up on your bulletin board! Or…
Pair a few leaves with some pretty ribbon and brown kraft paper for the perfect fall gift wrap.
I tied the leaves together with the ribbon, but you could also tape some on with washi tape or punch a hole in one end and use as a gift tag!
Speaking of punching holes, you can get out your hole puncher and string up some leaves as a pretty fall garland! Or simply use mini clothespins and some twine like I did here.
These also make cute place cards for fall celebrations. Depending on the color scheme of your table, you might want to make some slightly less realistic-looking leaves. π You could also scatter the leaves down the center of the table as fall “confetti.”
These leaf cut-outs (also called die-cuts) are PERFECT for snail mail! Glue a couple onto an envelope…
Or use like a sticker to seal the envelope’s flap.
You can also include a few extra leaves (real or painted) in the envelope with your letter as a fun surprise for your pen pal to use too.
There are a few ideas to get you started! I hope they inspired you to go outside, get creative, and make something beautiful! If you want to remember this post, feel free to pin any images to Pinterest for future reference. I had so much fun making this post, and I definitely want to try more leaf art soon.
Which idea was your favorite? How would YOU use this art? Do you love fall leaves too?Β
Thanks so much for reading dears, and have a lovely day!
***Allison***
P. S. Photos taken with my Nikon D3400 and a 35mm lens. Edited with picmonkey.com.
Allison Marie 
OOOH AHHHH LOVELY! I LOVE these! So pretty. I think I like the last ways the best!
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AHH THANKS! I liked those too because I have a feeling I’ll be using them a lot. π
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such wonderful ideas. i need to try them!!!!! thanks for the inspo, allison!
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Thanks so much, Sarah! Yayyyy, I hope you can! My pleasure. π β€
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These are so cute!! Youβre amazing at it as well! β€οΈπ§‘
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Aww, thank you, Lizzy!
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this is so pretty! Did you draw the printable art digitally? Great work!
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Aww, thank you! Nope, I drew them by hand but then scanned and edited them on Photoshop so they looked smoother and better for printing. π
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Awe my gosh! You should sell these on Etsy! I’m definitely going to use this for Thanksgiving!
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Ahh, thank you! I actually AM selling them on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/729786276/colorful-leaves-printable-set-fall?ref=shop_home_active_1
Thanks for the lovely comment. π
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You have me tempted now. Maybe I could write my autumn haiku on them.
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Oh, that sounds lovely!
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Ooh, Allison! So pretty! I love the first and last ideas! SO CUTE! I love how many ways there are to use your latest printable! π
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AHH, THANK YOU! I had so much fun coming up with different ideas!
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I love these ideas!! ππ We are hosting a party soon and Iβm totally making some to use as place cards! Thanks for the great idea!! ππ»
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Ahh, yay! I’m so glad I could inspire you, Annie. My pleasure!
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oh my word that is gorgeous
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AWW THANKS.
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AWW!! Those are so cute!!!! Love those!!
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Why thank you, dear!
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My pleasure, friend!! π π
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Love this!!
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Yay, thank you!
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Wonderful crafts and colors in the leaves. So much fun to use in many applications πππ Great postβοΈ
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Thanks so much! π
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I did most of them!!! Thanks soooooooo muchπππππ
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Really? That’s WONDERFUL! My pleasure, Beka! π
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Ohh! I am a sucker for anything fall related. XD These are so beautiful! β€ And I am off to try the leaf painting right now! π Awesome post! π
-Laura β€ π
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Hee hee! Well YAY! I hope your leaf painting goes well! π
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You are full of skills, Allison. π
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Aww, you’re so kind. Thank you!
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Lovely!
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Thank you!
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This looks so much fun. Maybe I’ll try it. It would make a cute gift for a fall birthday.
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Ooh, you’re right! Thanks, Megan!
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This is beautiful! I always love your posts!<3
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Aww, thank you, dear!
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These are sooo pretty Allison!!! π
I really like the last ones that you did! π Are you going to sell these on your Etsy shop?
I’ve never heard of Posca pens but they look AMAZING!!!!! :O :O
Great job as always! π hehe!
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Aww, thank you! β€
Yes, the last leaves are for sale on my Etsy shop as printables! π
THEY ARE GREAT.
Thanks so much, dear. π
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YAYY!!!
I will definitely check out the Posca Pens! π π
Some snail mail is coming your wayyyyy!!!! (I know you’re busy and don’t have lots of time to respond BUT it’s just to encourage ya!!!) ;D
Also, what pens/markers do you use for your Inktober drawings?? THEY ARE REALLLLLYYY good! π I got the white Gelly Roll pen thanks to your recommendation and IT WORKS GREAT!!!!
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They’re great!
Aww, that is SO sweet of you! Thanks, dear!
WHY THANK YOUUUU. I use several different things, but some of my pens include the Tombow Fudenosuke brush pen (it’s AMAZING!), Crayola super tip gray markers, Micron pens (also amazing), and, actually, a uniball white gel pen which has a lot brighter ink than the Gelly Roll pen, but with a bigger tip so it’s not quite as good for details.
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absolutely loved your creativity here!!! will certainly try it out myself
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Ahh, thank you! π
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These leaves and the way you used them are gorgeous Allison! Super inspiring!
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Aww, thaaaaanks!
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