DIY: Vintage paper leaf wreath

Melanie Sabol – Copy Editor

Do you have old books with yellowed pages that you just don’t know what you should do with? Here’s an idea, now you can make a fun vintage paper leaf wreath without having to throw the entire book out. This vintage paper wreath will look so cute in your dorm room or even your room at home. It’s great for the fall time.

What you’ll need:

o   Leaf template

o   Scissors

o   Cardstock

o   Pencil

o   Old book with at least 100 yellowed pages, pages removed

o   Craft glue

o   24-gauge floral wire, cut into 5-inch lengths

o   Pressed real leaves (optional, from naturespressed.com)

o   20-gauge floral wire

o   Brown floral tape

o   1/8-inch tan quilling paper

o   Acorn caps

o   Hot-glue gun and glue sticks

Steps:

1.     Print leaf template on cardstock and cut out. Trace the leaf shape on a page from the book; roughly trim the paper around the leaf shape.

2.     Apply craft glue to the back of the leaf shape. Place a five-inch length of wire on a second page from the book, then place the leaf shape glue side down over it, sandwiching the wire between the papers. The wire should be centered on the stem of the leaf, with half of the wire within the leaf and half of the wire emerging from the stem. Allow glue to dry, then carefully cut out the leaf shape with scissors. Repeat to make 45 to 50 leaves for the wreath.

3.     Bundle three to five leaves and twist the wires together. Tip: You can add wires to real pressed leaves and incorporate them in the paper leaf bundles if desired.

4.     To make a wreath form, cut a 47-inch length of 20-gauge wire; fold in half and twist. Shape twisted wire into a horseshoe, then wrap with brown floral tape.

5.     Starting at one end of the wreath form and working toward middle, attach bundles of leaves with floral tape; repeat for other side.

6.     To make the acorns, tightly roll 1/8-inch quilling paper into a flat disk. Use thumb to push the center of the disk outward, forming into a cup shape. Rub the inside of the cup with craft glue to secure the shape. Apply hot glue to the inside of the quilled cup and adhere to an acorn cap. Use hot glue to attach acorns to wreath.

7.     Tie bow on the top center of wreath, if desired.

This wreath doesn’t just have to be for the fall season. You can continue this idea even into the winter holiday seasons. Just take out the yellowed pages of the books and swap them out for holiday cards. Changing the pages to cards will allow for the wreath to have more colors. It’s a cheap and easy way to add fun and creative décor to you room.  Or you can leave the yellowed pages and change the bow according to the season or holiday that is happening during that time.

For example, for St. Patrick’s Day, you can swap out the bow for a nice green bow and change the acorns to shamrocks! You can get very creative with this simple wreath and on a college budget its great for people who like to decorate but it won’t break the bank.