DIY: Create Your Own Pinecone Wreath and Leaf Frame Decor

Though the snow on the ground and the icicles here seem a bit more winter-like than fall, it still is the beautiful season of autumn.  Thanksgiving is about a month away and I've fully embraced the season that we are now completely within.  Even with the early snow, there are still beautiful gifts from nature all around us that we can use to create our own beautiful touches for our home.  Though we cannot shop around in stores as easily as we  once could, we can still find ways to decorate our homes with what we have, just as the pioneers did before us.  There is much to be discovered and created if we just change the way we look at the world around us.

The first DIY is a simple, yet beautiful statement to add to your home this fall.  Paired against the black frames and white background, the sharpness of the leaves are beautiful and elegant.  These leaf frames will make any home a little more fall-ish!

To create, you'll want to head outside to the woods and collect leaves you find beautiful.  They can be the same, different- whatever suits your taste!  Once you've found some you like, bring them back inside and dry them.  Once dried, find the biggest book you have and press them within the pages.  After a couple of days of pressing, they're ready to use!

Materials:

• Picture Frame (we had these already- only $1 from the Dollar Store)
• White Paper
• Pressed Leaves

How to Assemble:

1. Remove the back of your frame
2. Place the leaves directly on the glass
3. Place the white paper behind the leaves
4. Return the back of the frame

​That's it!  A super easy way to add some fall foliage to your home!

DIY Pinecone Wreath

To start, you'll want to assemble your materials:

• Pinecones (lots of them!  As many as you can find!)
• Other beautiful items from outside (I used frozen hydrangeas)
• Yarn
• Wire
• Wire Snippers
• Hot Glue

Directions:

• Start by creating a circle with your wire.  I used an ice cream bucket as my "frame", so I could make sure my wire circle was as symmetrical as possible.
• Next, begin arranging your pinecones around the wire.  Hot glue the pinecones together as you go.  At this point, you won't need to worry about connecting the wire to the pinecones.  That step comes later.

• As you complete the first layer, begin layering more on the inside and on the top, wherever the wreath looks like it needs more!  Be sure to use lots of hot glue and to hold the pinecone in place until the glue has dried.  This helps to make sure everything stays where it's supposed to!  Also be careful not to burn yourself- I did that a few too many times while making this!
• Once your wreath is completed and dry, flip it over so that the front is face down.  Place your wire on the backside of the wreath.
• Using the yarn, tie strips to the pinecones and the wire in various places around the wire frame. You'll want to do this in quite a few places so that it's nice and secure. 

• Once secured, flip back over so that the "front side" is facing up.  
• Add in any extra touches that you'd like to make it beautiful.  This could include dried hydrangeas, acorns, gourds, small pumpkins, leaves, and if you're looking for a more winter-themed wreath, red berries or green evergreen boughs.  The options are endless!

It doesn't have to be expensive to decorate your home for fall.  You can find what's available, use it, and create something beautiful!  It's a fun way to express yourself and embrace the gifts of nature all around us.  

How do you decorate for fall?

If you try it out, please let us know in the comments below!

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A Wisconsin Homestead Journey