Easy fall leaf garland

I hosted a lunch and devotional for the lovely middle school and high school girls from my church recently, and we made this paper garland that I think has big visual payoff. It’s a more advanced version of the ill-fated paper leaf craft I did with my two small daughters a million years ago. (This garland was made for a beloved older lady at church, so we all signed the backs of the leaves and added encouraging notes and scriptures.) 

It’s easy! Go ahead and make one:

INGREDIENTS:
Red, orange, yellow, and brown construction paper
Scissors
Regular pencil
Colored pencils
Twine or string
1/8 inch hole punch
Optional: Card stock leaf templates will save time (see templates at the bottom of the post)
Optional: Gather some real fall leaves to use for color inspiration

I cut out these templates (see below for printable templates) ahead of time so we could concentrate on production. Basically, you trace the template on folded paper so when you cut it out and unfold, tada! A whole leaf. Very similar to my 2011 kid leaf craft.

SPECIFICS:

1. Fold a 9 x 12 inch sheet of construction paper in half on the short side. Cut along the crease to make two 9 x 6 pieces. (Each sheet of construction paper makes two leaves.)
2. Take a 9 x 6 half sheet and fold it in half again, this time on the long side to make a 3 x 9 inch folded piece.
3. Freehand draw a leaf design on the fold, or use my handy templates below.
4. Carefully cut along your outline and unfold your leaf.
5. Get creative! Use colored pencils to add dots, splotches, and different colored areas, and use a dark pencil to add veins.
6. For added realism, use a small hole punch to add one or two holes.
7. Measure a length of twine that will fit your leaves plus extra for tying the loops at the ends. I spaced our leaves about 2 or 3 inches apart. Bunched together looks nicer than far apart.
8. Fold each finished leaf and punch a hole near the fold at the stem end, creating double holes. Run a length of twine through both holes (keep it folded for this and it will go quicker, then open it once the leaf is strung in place). String all the leaves on, then add two slip knot loops in the twine at either end so you can hang the garland.

Below are the leaf template images if you’d like to use them. Right click or hold to save the images and print them both sized to fit on 8.5 x 11 inch card stock. Cut each shape out and use them to trace your leaves.