Autumn Leaf Bowl • DIY

I for one am not ready to roll out the Christmas decor yet. I may be starting my Christmas cards but I am also thinking about Thanksgiving first. This project was for that time after Halloween and before Christmas. Several weeks ago I saved some beautiful fall leaves. I decided to use them in this project.

Using ModPodge and the leaves, I crafted this bowl. It was a quick and easy project (although there are several long soak and dry periods) and requires very little skill, just supplies.

I especially like the ragged rim created by the leaves. That combined with the beautiful colors makes a stunning natural bowl for display - not for holding anything wet. I have seen this type of project completed with store bought fake leaves and fabric stiffener. I generally find the artificial leaves just too fake so I wanted to attempt this with the real thing.

Leaf Bowl Tutorial

Supplies

• Preserved natural leaves- small ones work best. (2-3")
• Glycerin (available in pharmacies)
• Water
• Mod Podge
• Paint brush
• Scissors
• Vaseline
• Saran Wrap
• Bowl for form

Process

Preserving the leaves:

• I selected leaves that were well shaped. I didn't worry about the size but if I do this again I would definitely use only small leaves. The larger ones pucker more with the compound curve of the bowl.
• I researched different methods of preserving them and decided to try the glycerine method. This method keeps the leaves supple but they do lose a lot of their color.
• Mix 1 part glycerine with 2 parts water.
• Submerge the leaves in the mixture in a flat pan and weight them down.
• Keep the leaves submerged for a week.
• Remove the leaves and dry them on paper towels - Takes several days.

Making the Bowl:

• Choose a bowl that has an interior shape that you like.
• Coat the interior of the bowl with vaseline. This helps stick the saran wrap in place.
• Cut pieces of Saran wrap about 3" wide and lay them over the edge of the bowl and down into the center.  The goal is to completely cover the bowl insides but creating as few air pockets or big wrinkles as possible.  Try to smooth it all in place. Small wrinkles are OK.

• Brush a coat of Mod Podge on the inside of the bowl.
• Cut the stem off the leaves. It adds nothing and is difficult to deal with.
• Starting at the rim of your finsihed leaf bowl add a leaf and cover it with Mod Podge working out the air bubbles. This is where you will find it is much easier to use smaller leaves. I thought I wanted a low bowl so started half way down the sides.  I went back and added another row later which was problematic. I wish I had started higher. - Next time!

• Completely cover the interior of the bowl. Make sure you don't leave any spaces. 
• Also be sure to apply ModPodge on both sides of every leaf.
• Overlap the leaves.

• Allow to dry. The inside which is exposed to the air dries in about 24 hours. 
• I waited two days and then carefully took the leaf bowl off the bowl used as the mold.
• The leaf bowl was still flexible and still quite wet on the outer side.
• I placed it over a smaller bowl balanced on a tall container so it could continue to dry with out sticking to the counter surface and still maintain its shape.
• Here you can see the gaps that formed in the places I used leaves that were too large. I didn't have this issue with smaller leaves. 

• Allow the bowl to continue drying.
• Once dry take a small pair of scissors and trim the excess plastic off the edges.

You can fill it with pinecones........

Or place a candle in it......

This is why I wish I had made it taller. I think the candle light would glow through the leaves creating a beautiful centerpiece. I will need to try that for my Thanksgiving centerpiece. I hope I have saved enough leaves! More to come I hope!

Previous Posts of Interest:

• Thanksgiving Centerpiece #1
• Prepping for Thanksgiving Centerpiece Design
• Book Page Autumn Leaves

©2012 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy

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