Decorate Your Counter Spaces And Bring A Little Fall Charm With This DIY Leaf Rose

Are you searching for an easy and inexpensive way to spread more festive fall decor throughout your home? You may not have to look further than your backyard. Depending on where you live, autumn leaves could be covering the ground during this time of year, and that yard debris can be turned into gorgeous countertop decor. A little bit of glue and a cup will help to transform these pieces of yard debris into a stunning fall-themed rose. 

Rather than cleaning up fallen leaves in your yard and bagging them, use them as a free craft supply for custom fall decor. Autumn leaves come in all different shapes and sizes with vibrant orange, yellow, and red colors, and are an environmentally conscious way to decorate. To form a rose from the yard scraps, you'll need a lot of leaves to make the flower look full.

Leaf garlands are common seasonal decor, and can be a cuter way to decorate kitchen windows for fall. However, these DIY leaf roses are more unique and versatile than plastic, store-bought leaves — as is using them as countertop decor as opposed to part of a wreath. Your cute faux flowers could be set on counters, tables, and mantles to add a pop of autumn color and texture anywhere your home needs it.

To easily fold the leaves together and create the shape of the rose, use a cup as a base. A drinking glass or a paper cup will work well for smaller leaves. However, if the autumn leaves surrounding your home are fairly large, opt for a slightly bigger container with a round opening. Start folding the leaves in half over the rim of the cup, placing them so that they overlap with each other. The top of the leaf should be inside the glass, while the stem is on the outside. Additionally, it's important that the leaves are facing the correct way. The front of each leaf should be toward the cup, showing you the backs of the plant debris as you work.

@mrsclarehoops

Waiting for autumn to properly arrive over here 🍂 anxious yhe leaves just aren't changing like they did last year, so while we wait, I'm borrowing a little autumn magic from previous years 🌹#leafrose #AutumnCrafts #AutumnDIY #FallCrafts #DIYAutumn

♬ A Taste Of You – Matt Hooper

After placing each leaf, apply a bit of glue onto the crease to help hold the following leaf. A simple glue stick or hot glue will work well for this DIY. Continue going around the cup, adding more layers of leaves until you've filled the opening. Consider trimming off the stems for a uniform appearance. Alternatively, letting the stems be, particularly on the last layer of leaves, can make for a unique, crown-like look. Gently pull the project off the cup to reveal the rose inside. This creative way to use dried plants as fall decor is easy-to-make countertop decor, though if you prefer the look of a more traditional rose, you can try rolling the leaves together. However, do bear in mind that this method gives your flowers a different shape and appearance and they won't sit upright on your counter the way the cup-folded leaves will.

The leaves that you choose for this project will determine the look of your roses as much as the method you use. Autumn leaves that are all the same shape and color will create a stunning, uniform flower. However, mixing and matching various types of leaves with all kinds of hues creates more unique decor with a fun fall twist. If you don't like the rustic vibes, you can use metallic spray paint for a glam look; this decor would complement more modern countertop surfaces. Whatever look you go for, it's advisable to preserve the leaves (and make your decor last longer) by dipping them in a solution of glycerin and water. But if you live in an area where trees don't shed their leaves, faux fall leaves can also work for this DIY. 

You can use your leaf roses as standalone countertop decor, or you could add them to other decorations as accents. For instance, they make a pretty addition atop pumpkins or in a fall-themed bowl. Alternatively, place a few leaf roses on a tray together for a beautiful fall display. However, do note that, while the video above shows the roses placed on a tray with candles, this poses a safety hazard since dry leaves are highly flammable.