DIY: Fall Foliage Mobile

I went for a hike up Mount Beacon and couldn't resist collecting a bag of vibrant autumn leaves. So I get home with my bag of leaves and realize it's just not the same when they're sitting in a plastic Target bag on my coffee table.  It's kind of like collecting shells at the beach - they're gorgeous rolling around in the waves, but when you get home there's only so much you can do with a bunch of dried out white clam shells. 

Anyway, I came up with a little craft project using my leaves so I can continue enjoying the gorgeous colors.  I was also feeling like I needed to do some seasonal decorating so this project also brings into the house a little festive fall flavor.

Click the link below to read the complete How To.

STEP 1:  Go on a hike and collect some leaves!

STEP 2:  Sandwich your leaves between two towels and iron for a few seconds.  This will help dry and flatten your leaves.  Make sure you only do it for a few seconds or they will crumble and break.

STEP 3:  Cut out a piece of contact paper big enough to fit one of your leaves.  Place the leaf on the sticky side of the contact paper and smooth it out.  Then, place another piece of contact paper (sticky side down) on top of the leaf.  Your leaf should now be laminated in between the two pieces of contact paper.

STEP 4:  I found that using a bone folder to rub around the leaf - but not ON the leaf - helped to seal the two pieces of contact paper.  You could also use the handle of a butter knife (not the blade) if you don't have a bone folder

STEP 5:  Punch a small hole through the laminated leaves (or leave an extra margin of contact paper so you don't have to punch through the actual leaf). 

STEP 6:  Cut a length of twine that is as long as you want your leave strands to hang.  Add on 6 inches extra for wrapping and knots.  Wrap the twine around the stick a few times and secure with a couple knots.  Then begin creating your leaves mobile by stringing on the first leaf and knotting it so it stays in place.

STEP 7:  Keep stringing on more leaves until you get to the bottom.  I opted to tie on an acorn at the bottom of my strand to help weigh it down. 

STEP 8:  Follow the same steps to add more strands to your stick.   I found that it was easier to hang my mobile as I strung the leaves.  It made it easier to see how it was coming together and plan how to space things out.

VOILA!  Now I just need to figure out where I'm going to put this thing...