Fall leaf garland
In this post, I will show you how I made a DIY fall leaf garland which I plan to use for years to come, in some iteration or another.
If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you know I love to decorate for just about any holiday (see my posts: My Fall Home Decor, Fall Window Boxes). The other day I decided that the mantel in my great room was too bare.
Mr. G.Q. LOVES a BIG SCREEN TV! So whatever decorations I choose, need to not obscure the television. So I decided to make a DIY fall leaf garland with lights. Here’s how I did it:
In the above image, you see these very colorful silk leaves glued to a strand of bright, white leaves. They came four to a box and Mr. G.Q. was in charge of loading three batteries into each strand. For this garland, I used two strands of lights. I will use the other strands on my Thanksgiving table (this is a safe idea since the little grandkids will definitely touch them!).
I also used a magnolia leaf garland because I love that the leaves are such a glossy green, with the reverse side a deep rich brown. This is really a worthwhile garland to purchase because it will be useful in this fall garland as well as on my Christmas mantel. (I will mix it with white lights, an artificial evergreen garland, and some fresh branches, so stay tuned for that!) The magnolia garland will add interesting variety and texture to my holiday trimming.
The last component of the DIY fall garland for my mantel is a collection of two silk maple leaf garlands. These are made with the traditional fall-colored leaves and their vibrant hues pair beautifully with the deep green and brown magnolia tones.
The next photo shows the autumn garland with lights once dusk is approaching and the other indoor lights are out. There’s a gentle glow to the whole mantel that I feel looks nice and cozy.
Steps to make the fall leaf garland (hint: there’s a video below…)
The first step is to open the lights from the earlier photo and install the batteries.
The second step is to stretch out the two strands of light, being careful to turn each light so that the leaf is covering the bulb a bit. This is because the lights are very bright. By folding the silk around or over the bulb, the lights look softer, especially at eye level. (I’m 5’4″ and the mantel is right at my eye level.)
Above I put one branch of the magnolia garland on top of the maple leaf lights. I twisted the branch so I can see some of the leaves on their green side, and some on their brown side.
Then I put the other two branches across the mantel.
In the photo above, I arranged the first (of two) silk fall leaf garlands on top of the leaf lights and the magnolia branches.
In the above photos, I arranged the second silk faux leaf garland over the left of the mantel,
In the above photos, I arranged the second (of two) silk maple leaf garlands. Stretch them out over the lights and magnolia leaves (see video).
The sixth step is to turn on the light strands and then rearrange the garland components until everything looks pretty even.
The last step is to ENJOY this fall garland with lights from Labor Day until Black Friday!!! Why should we have until December to wait to light up our mantel? Stretch out the cozy times, don’t you agree?
Video of Fall Garland with Light
XO,
Dr. Julie
PS Here are a few more posts for you to check out:
Delicious Italian Wedding Soup!,
Spooky Mummy Cupcakes for Halloween,
Five Plaid Blazer Outfits for Fall
