How To Make Fall Leaves with Burlap and Paper Sacks
I’m going to show you how to make a simple Autumn craft that you can use to decorate your home, patio or porch, celebrating the season of leaves. It’s simple and uses burlap, brown paper grocery bags, and Mod Podge. And no worries about creating your leaves and cutting free-hand, I’ve got templates for you!
I whipped mine up while I was chatting on the phone with one of my girlfriends and watching HGTV’s Love It Or List It . I made three each of three varieties. It went pretty quick.
I like working with burlap and I thought, Fall. Leaves. Yeah, that’ll work.
These are the supplies you’ll need to join in the fun:
- BURLAP
- Paper Lunch Sacks (thinner is easier to cut but grocery bags work too)
- Scissors
- Mod Podge
- Paint or Craft Brush
- Sharpie (yellow worked perfect)
- Leaf Outline To Print
- Card Stock Paper
Here are the leaves I used. You may right click and “save as”, then print out. You can then cut them out and use them as a template. I suggest printing on card stock weight paper.
(You can print one or all, whatever you prefer.)
After you print and cut, you should have something along these lines.
They don’t have to be perfect, after the first one, I sort of fudged it and zipped along. The leaf police never caught on. So it’s all good!
OKAY! Now that you have your leaf templates cut out, let’s get started:
STEP ONE. Cut the bottom off your paper sack.
STEP TWO: Cut the bag open at the seam.
STEP THREE: Lay bag flat and smooth out.
STEP FOUR: Apply a uniform layer of Mod Podge to the paper sack.
STEP FIVE: Smooth burlap onto the Mod Podge covered paper sack surface.
*I like to back my burlap with something when I craft with it, otherwise, it’s very floppity.
STEP SIX: Outline your leaf template of choice onto your new burlap and paper sack layered creation. I used a yellow Sharpie. Just enough to see my lines You can cut a pinch inside the line to avoid any outline marks showing. Which is what I did.
When you are all done cutting out your leaves, you should have something that looks like these:
Maple Leaf (my fav!)
Oak Leaf
Funky Leaf.
This is my least favorite. It looks like a chicken foot claw thing. Me no like. I will not be decorating with it. If it’s your favorite. Sorry about that!
Mostly though…
Have fun with them and decorate as you see fit!
I’ve got a project I’m working on but it’s not quite ready to share.
This whole floor thing is really cramping my crafting schedule.
Just Kidding!!!! I am not complaining about getting new floors.
You could totally smack me if I was! I would insist.
Pin-it for later or to share!
Hi Shannon,
I love how you were watching HGTV while making these. Great idea!! I have left over white burlap might be making some of these soon. Almost makes me wish fall was here.
hehe. Yeah, I like to have the TV on as background noise, lots of times, I’ll have a movie on I’ve seen a zillion times so I only half pay attention. I’m not ready for Fall yet, since it means Summer will be gone. But I love Fall decor? Go figure 😉
Great idea Shannon! There are so many ways to decorate with these burlap leaves!! It was so fun to party with you lady and get our burlap on together!! Pinned!!
Back at ya girl! Love those pillows you made. They are awesome! It’s just a burlap bonanza 😉
I LOVE this project! It turned out so pretty!! And I love the chalky swirlies… so pretty!
Thanks sweetie! That burlap ribbon project was awesome. I hope to get to use your tricks soon!!
Totally LOVE and totally PINNING! Thanks for sharing! I am looking forward to the burlap party! Life to the full! Melissa
Suzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home
Hi Shannon!
I’m new to your site and so happy that I found you!
I am i LOVE with your burlap leaves.
I have the perfect chalkboard for them, and plan on making this project when Fall rolls around.
Thanks so much for the beautiful inspiration!
Have a beautiful week,
Suzanne
Super cute … I need to make some. I made some with painters drop cloth last year and loved them. Like the paper backing to keep them from fraying.
Thanks,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
I’m completely in love with this! Thank you for the fantastic fall inspiration! 🙂
So love this idea and I betcha you’ll be seeing it on my fall mantle! 🙂 Now why I didn’t I think of backing the burlap with a brown paper bag so it’s not so floppity??? #facepalm 😀
Very cute! I’m pinning to make later! Can’t wait to see your project! I’m sure it’s gonna be smashing!!!! LOL~~Angela
Oh how darling these are! I just might have to make some. Thanks for sharing the tut and the leaf template. Win win over here, for free!
So Adorable and Fun!!! Multitasking at it’s best! Crafting, Chatting and Watching a show 🙂 LOVE it!
xoxo
this is adorable Shannon!!!
XO
Kristin
Super cute girl ~ I think I’m going to need to make some!
LOVE those leaves! Pinning now…to make later…when I FIND my burlap! xo
Shannon,
Looking forward to all of the burlap ideas! I sell burlap so I always appreciate ideas for burlap.
Love the leaf idea. I’ll have to use this to decorate my selling space!
Beth