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Who says Fall has to mean drab shades of brown? Not Heather Donohue! Maker Team member Heather of @heathdon has created this vibrant felt leaf and acorn wreath with her signature splash of color and we are fall-ing for it. Follow along to see how to make one for yourself!
Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 8 hours
Supplies:
One 9x12" sheet of Marigold Wool Blend Felt
One 9x12" sheet of Flamingo Wool Blend Felt
One 9x12" sheet of Cinnamon Wool Blend Felt
One 9x12" sheet of Mustard Wool Blend Felt
One 9x12" sheet of Lemonade Wool Blend Felt
Orange Thread
Gold Glass Beads
Tacky Glue
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Needle for Beads
Needle for Felt
White Pipe Cleaners
Wreath Base
Polyfil
Ribbon
Scissors
Pinking Shears
Permanent Marker - Orange shown
Leaf and Acorn Template (click to download)
Directions:
1. Print Leaf and Acorn template onto paper. Cut out shapes, then pin to felt. Cut out acorn cap and leaf shapes from felt.
2. Continue re-pinning leaf shapes onto felt; cut out a few oak leaves from each color. 18 oak leaves will cover a 12" wreath base nicely. Arrange your leaves on the wreath base, overlapping slightly, to estimate coverage. Cut more if needed.
3. Use a thin permanent marker to draw veins on the leaves as shown below.
4. Next, lay leaves vein side down. Draw a line of tacky glue from the bottom of each leaf to 2/3 up. Place a pipe cleaner on the glue and set aside to dry overnight.
5. Next, we'll work on the acorns. Here’s how the acorns look when completed:
6. Returning to the acorn cap (circle) template, pin and cut until you have ten circles in varied colors. This example will use ten acorns total. For added charm, use pinking shears to trim the circle for extra acorn adorable-ness. Snip a small slice of the cap as shown.
7. Fold an acorn cap in half, with the sliced sides together. Draw a threaded, knotted needle near the pinked edge, then secure by sewing a whip stitch towards the center of the acorn cap. Pull snug and knot just before reaching the center because you will run a pipe cleaner through the center in the next step. Flip the cap right side out, so the knots will be underneath. Repeat with remaining caps.
8. Moving on to the acorn base, cut five strips (4.5 x 1” each) from each color of felt. Then cut these in half, forming ten strips (2.25 x 1” each).
9. Form a ring and, using a needle small enough to fit through a bead, sew the ends together with a whip stitch to secure. Knot. Without cutting the thread, use a running stitch 1/4” from the edge around the loop. Pull stitch to draw the felt into an acorn shape. Knot.
10. Sew an “x” across the bottom of the acorn. Then sew one more “x,” picking up a seed bead midway through. Draw the needle up through the center of the acorn. Using a small ball of Polyfil, poke through the stuffing, then stuff it into the acorn. Use the eraser end of a pencil, if needed. Knot, then cut thread.
11. Take a pipe cleaner and bend the end over 1/2” to keep it inside the acorn cap on one end. Poke the straight end of the wire through the cap, catching the loop inside. Repeat for all caps. Next use a hot glue gun to build the acorns. Squeeze the glue on the Polyfil, then press the cap down over the acorn. Gently hold the cap in place for a couple of seconds until the glue sets. If any part of the cap seems to need more glue, dot it in place and hold. Repeat for all acorns.
12. Wrap ribbon around the wreath base. Before gluing in place, practice wrapping the ribbon. Pull it through the center and wrap around the base at an angle, overlapping the ribbon slightly to cover it completely. Once you’ve mastered the technique, undo then wrap the ribbon again. Draw a line of hot glue on the base (at low heat if using a styrofoam wreath base) to glue the ribbon end down. Once a few inches of ribbon is in place, add a line of hot glue every few wraps. Continue this pattern until the whole base is covered. I like the tail of my ribbon glued to the front of the project because it will be covered, and it keeps the reverse neat.
13. Loop a pipe cleaner through a ribbon on the back and bend it into a circle. Dab hot glue under to keep it in place. Flip wreath base over to decorate the front!
14. Take the oak leaves you made previously and bend them and their stems gently to give them a more naturalistic shape.
15. Next, slide the stems under the ribbon, staggering the leaves to arrange the colors as you like, and to cover most of the wreath base. DO NOT GLUE DOWN LEAVES YET.
16. Step back and look at your wreath once it’s covered. Move leaves as needed.
17. Now add the acorns in the same manner, sliding the pipe cleaner past the leaves and under the ribbon. Once you are satisfied with the arrangement, hot gluing it for posterity is the next step!
18. Gently turn over the leaves, one at a time, and dot hot glue in four or so spots along the spine and the very top of the leaf. Turn the leaf back into place on the wreath base and hold in place for five seconds. If needed, add dots of hot glue to the same leaf for extra coverage and security. I suggest creating an outer and inner ring of leaves and alternating between the two as you work.
Your oak leaf and acorn wreath is finished! I did not glue the acorns down, but you might like to. I hung up the wreath, stood back, and manipulated the acorns a bit. I like mine pointing a few different directions. Style yours how you like! If you share photos of your wreath on social media, please tag me at @heathdon and Benzie Design at @benziedesign so we can see!
Thanks to Heather for designing and writing this tutorial! You can follow her on Instagram @heathdon or visit her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials from Heather and the Benzie Design Maker Team!
