By J. A. Young
Crafting with nature and natural elements is always inspiring and frequently lovely—but few items can rival the fall in terms of beauty. It may be those magical gold-toned colors of the autumn season and it may be the poignancy of nature’s last hooray before the dormant season, but crafting with fall foliage and elements is a great way to transform your home with sensational seasonal accents.
A simple wreath in autumn foliage can provide great drama to any door. Consider a simple grapevine wreath adorned in gold—dried ‘annabelle’ hydrangea, tufts of yarrow, a few burnished gold mums and you have a golden orb perfect for a seasonal display. An herb and floral wreath speaks about harvests in colors of red, brown and gold.
Another simple wreath even kids will love is comprised simply of fall leaves and berries (always advise children not to eat any berries as they gather them—some may be poisonous). A grapevine wreath in any size can be transformed by red, yellow and orange leaves interspersed with sprigs of dried berries. Consider a wreath made from dried lemon leaves, white hydrangea, red celosia and pomegranates for a great splash of red color. Also, consider a foam wreath (sprayed with adhesive) and decorated with beans of all shapes and sizes—a great way to show off a harvest!
You can also employ autumn foliage to decorate more than wreaths. A rustic wagon wheel or a simple garden trellis can be strung with dried flowers, gourds and leaves for a festive fall look. Transform window boxes with autumn-colored mums. Replace your planters with arrangements of oddly-shaped gourds.
Dried arrangements of flowers in shades of fall make dramatic centerpieces for tables even when placed in rustic wicker baskets. An item as simple as a watering can be transformed by a bouquet of dried yellow roses. Or, swags of dried flowers tied with orange raffia or brown calico can be tied just about anywhere—from the garage door to the garden gate. A simple centerpiece for a patio table can be had by creating a fall flower topiary in a terracotta pot; use yellow yarrow, mint leaves, dried Spanish moss—any dried flowers from your own garden will do.
Use dried floral arrangements to ring candles. Drape vines through the loops of chandeliers or other light fixtures. Add silk leaves in autumn colors to tabletops and shelves for a great colorful effect. When blooms are too imperfect to use in crafts, break them down into petals for bowls of potpourri.
You can also craft with items of the harvest. Hollowed-out apples, pumpkins and other gourds make attractive candleholders for candles that provide great natural fragrance. A centerpiece of ornamental gourds is a welcoming sight for any table during the autumn season.
Anything from dried corn husks to hay bales can be used to make seasonally decorative items. Head out to your garden and see what the fall season can inspire in you!
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