There’s something rather special about those crisp autumn days when the pavements are scattered with golden leaves. Instead of sweeping them into the garden bin this year, why not gather up the prettiest ones for this lovely craft project?
These delicate autumn leaf bowls make brilliant trinket dishes or eye-catching table decorations. Best of all, they’re dead simple to make and cost next to nothing. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon with a cuppa and the radio on.
What you’ll need:
– Fresh autumn leaves (the bigger, the better)
– PVA glue
– A mixing bowl
– Cling film
– Some newspaper
– A paintbrush
– Optional: gold paint or glitter
Step by step:
1. Pop out for a walk and collect your leaves. Look for ones that are still pliable rather than crispy. Maple and oak leaves work brilliantly, but any large leaves will do.
2. Give your leaves a gentle wash and pat them dry with kitchen roll. Layout some newspaper to protect your work surface.
3. Turn your mixing bowl upside down and cover it with cling film – this will be your mould.
4. Start layering your leaves around the bowl, overlapping them slightly. The stems should point upwards. Paint each leaf with a thin layer of PVA glue as you go.
5. Once you’ve covered the bowl, add another layer of leaves, positioning them to cover any gaps. Give everything a final coating of glue.
6. Leave it somewhere warm and dry for 24-48 hours until completely hardened.
7. Carefully peel your leaf bowl away from the cling film. If you fancy, add a touch of sparkle with gold paint around the edges.
Top tip: Try making a few in different sizes – they look lovely nested together on a sideboard or coffee table.
Don’t worry if your first attempt isn’t perfect – each bowl turns out unique, which is part of their charm. Plus, there are plenty of leaves out there for practice runs!
These make rather sweet gifts too, especially filled with chocolates – try our Strawberry and Mascarpone Chocolate Cups recipe – or potpourri. Just remember to keep your autumn leaf bowls away from water and handle them gently – they’re delicate little things.
Anyone else got the urge to pull on their wellies and go leaf-hunting now?
