Are you tired of the same old fall decorations and looking for a rustic, cozy DIY fall garland? It’s time to get creative! This old book page craft will show you how to transform worn-out books into beautiful, eco-friendly DIY fall leaf projects. Not only is it a fun and budget-friendly craft, but it’s also a great way to give new life to old books. You only need minimal supplies, and it’s perfect for beginning crafters. Let me show you how.
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Old Book Page Fall Leaf Garland
I love making home decor with old vintage book pages. I have several old magazines that I picked up at a thrift store and they are perfect for creating rustic fall decor.
After I made some primitive fall pumpkin topiaries for my mantel, I wanted to add a fall garland. I have several garlands, but I decided an old book page leaf garland would complete the look of the rustic fall mantel. I previously made a paper leaf garland out of kraft paper and loved it for one season. However, it didn’t store well, so I used a different technique for this one.
DIY Fall Garland Templates and Supplies
The first step was determining the DIY fall garland templates. On my last one, I drew out some designs myself. However, I gathered some fallen leaves this time to create an authentic-looking template. It doesn’t get more authentic than actual leaves.
In addition to the leaves, I gather all my supplies. They include:
- Several old book pages or magazine pages
- Hot Glue Gun
- Mod Podge
- A 6 ft. wired jute twine (Dollar Tree)
- Finger Protectors
- Paint brush
- Wax Paper
Cut Leaves From Old Book Page
First, trace the leaves you gathered onto the old book pages. I used a variety of leaf shapes and sizes for the fall leaf garland.
I stacked several pages together and cut as many as possible to save time. If the paper slips and the leaves aren’t exact, that’s okay! They don’t need to be perfect.
A 6-foot garland requires several pages. Before you begin, be sure that you have enough paper to complete the project. I used an entire magazine to complete my garland.
Paint with Mod Podge
The next step is to paint the leaves with Mod Podge. This is the step I should have used on my previous paper garland. Hopefully, the addition will keep the garland usable for more than one season.
I spread a sheet of wax paper over my work table and painted one side of each leaf. Once the leaves began to dry, I moved them to another sheet of wax paper to avoid sticking to the original sheet. Allow the leaves to dry.
Insider Tip
As I mentioned above, you will need to ensure you have a good supply of old book pages before you begin the project. I used more than I thought I would. If in doubt, check at thrift stores for cheap old books. I look for the ones that are aged and already falling apart. They are usually inexpensive.
If you can’t find an aged book, you can use new pages and stain them to look old. Just dip the paper into coffee or tea and allow it to dry.
In addition, you will need a large work area. As the old book page leaves are drying, they must lie flat and be separated. They do dry quickly, but be prepared.
Attach Leaves To The Wired Jute Twine
Now that your old book page leaves are dry, you can begin to attach them to the wired jute twine.
First, fold your leaves to create the illusion of leaf veins on the paper. It’s not necessary to fold every line, but just enough to add texture to the leaves and keep them from lying flat.
Start at one end of the jute twine and add hot glue to the backside of the leaf stem. Then, twist the stem around the twine to secure it. I recommend using finger protectors for this step.
Work from side to side, allowing the leaves to fan out. I placed one in the middle following the line of the twine and then one on either side for a full garland.
When you reach the center of your garland, you can reverse the direction of your leaves. I went to the other end of the twine and worked back to the center. This is optional! I wanted both ends to look the same on the mantel. Below, you can see how the leaves came together at the center of the fall leaf garland.
Insider Tip
Remember that old book pages can be fragile, which is one reason I added the Mod Podge. I only added it to one side of the leaves. However, in hindsight, I would have painted both sides. This would have taken longer, but I feel I would be happier with the results if I had done so.
The good news is that you can quickly repair or hide damaged leaves by attaching another leaf over the damaged area. I made several smaller leaves, which were perfect for filling in and covering any imperfections.
DIY Fall Leaf Garland On Mantel
I have been experimenting with the DIY fall garland on the mantel. I plan to share several ideas with you on Saturday, but here’s a sneak peek of what it looks like.
I’m very happy with my decision to reverse direction at the center. Both ends have this full drop of old book page leaves.
And the middle creates a decorative centerpiece for the mantel.
Don’t forget to check out the other autumn mantel options, including this DIY fall garland and this years Fall Home Tour with Budget Autumn Decorations.
Related Articles
If you liked this article, you will also enjoy these similar Fall tutorials.
- Primitive Fall Pumpkin Topiaries Tutorial
- DIY Old Book Leaf Craft with Dollar Tree Woodcrafts For Fall Decor
- Upcycle Old Books Into A Unique Pumpkin Craft
- How To Make Paper Flowers With Recycled Books
Video
Resources
Here are some of my favorite craft supplies and many that I used to create today’s project.
Thank you for stopping by today and I look forward to sharing my next adventure with you.
MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA)
Thursday 12th of September 2024
Rachel, your leaf garland is so pretty -- and so full! I liked the fact that you used real leaves for the tracing. Plus, the tip that you gave us for working from both ends is great. So many of the garlands that you see in the stores would look so much nicer if they had worked from both ends. Your DIY video is great! Thanks for sharing this leaf garland with us. Now I just have to gather some leaves and an old book!
Rachel
Friday 13th of September 2024
Mary Ann, Thank you so much for your sweet comments and compliments. I'm glad you found this tutorial helpful. I appreciate you so much.
Diane
Thursday 12th of September 2024
Gorgeous as always Rachel. Brilliant to add a layer of Mod Podge.
Rachel
Friday 13th of September 2024
Diane, I'm so glad you liked this idea. Thank you for stopping by.