Kids can make lovely bouquets of autumn leaves to give during the fall color season. Ideas and instructions for leaf bouquets - a fun fall leaf project.
Have you ever wished you could give beautiful floral bouquets to people you love and appreciate? Surprise everyone with a fall bouquet made of bright autumn leaves.
Of course, flowers are expensive, unless you have time and talent to grow your own. Even inexpensive flowers would be too costly to send to every mom in your group or every local teacher, etc. Making leaf bouquets is a good way to share autumn joy freely with those you admire. Here’s how to have a real blast blessing others!
Cool Days Ahead
Be prepared for those wonderful autumn days when the temperatures drop and the leaves all turn to burnished gold, russet reds, brilliant yellows, and bright oranges. What a great sight to watch the trees changing day by day. Tourists come from all over the States to see the fall show.
Vases to Hold Leaf Bouquets
As you see the time approaching begin collecting some large vases.
Consider some different types of containers for your vases like:
- canning jars
- pottery pitchers
- lined baskets
- tall glassware of all sorts
- tin ware
- metal watering can
- pickle crocks
Be on the lookout for containers for arranging your leaf bouquets. Think heavy and larger than normal because of the weight and size of the leafy blooms. Check out thrift stores where old vases can be had almost free.
Wrapped Leaf Bouquets
If you are unable to come up with vases that you can give away, consider making some leaf bouquets and wrapping the stems in moistened paper towels or newspapers. Then wrap freezer paper or tin foil around that and tie the bouquet with raffia or even with string for a fun touch.
When you have some containers prepared and the leaves begin to turn, watch for places where you can harvest leaves. Be careful to cut where pruning will help the tree or shrub’s growth and not damage the plant.
Where to Gather Leaves
A walk in the countryside will afford plenty of small branches that can be harvested for bouquets. Take a bike ride or a drive through the country to find leaves or ask permission to pluck stems of leaves from your lawn trees and shrubs. Try to get an uneven number of stems per bouquet. Take small branches that have several leaves per stem. Along fields and edges of wooded areas scout for the best colors. Cut carefully the branches of new growth along fence rows and hedges. Some green is nice contrast. Try ivy or holly.
Accent Touches
Your bouquets may mix colors or have only one color per bouquet. Evergreens can be made into bouquets too. Add colored berries and a bright bow to accentuate the beauty.
Look for other nature findings to add a note of special interest to your bouquet.
For example:
- stems of bright orange or red berries for contrast
- holly leaves and berries
- Indian corn
- small colorful gourds or other dry plant pods
- magnolia leaves
- small pine cones with florist wire for stems
- dried water lily seed pods
- dried thistle heads
- mini pumpkins on a wooden skewer
Arranging and Delivering Bouquets
After your collectings, spend some time arranging the leaves in the vases you have gathered. Put water on the stems right away. Add a nice fall ribbon and maybe a card that says “Happy Fall” or “God bless your Days” or some such line.
Delivering the fall bouquets to your teacher, your mom, your pastor’s wife, a sick friend or neighbor, or to a shut-in may be the most fun part of this project. Make a bouquet to act as a centerpiece for a Sunday or holiday dinner. It's a great way to bring fall inside for those who can't get out.
Remember to be polite and cheerful and let your love for autumn and the beauty of the fall leaves show in your face, your words, and your bouquet.
More Ideas With Leaves
Try painting on Sycamore leaves.
Decorate a lamp shade.
Fall leaf collecting--How to collect, identify, and press fall leaves.
