DIY Leaf Bowl

 I’ve seen this project on Pinterest before: use Mod Podge and artificial leaves to make a decorative leaf bowl. With fall around the corner, it seemed like the perfect time to test out this project. 

Supplies needed to make your own DIY leaf bowl:

• Artificial Autumn Maple Leaves
• Plastic Bowl
• Mod Podge Matte
• Krylon Triple Thick Glaze
• Plastic Wrap

Step one. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Step two. Paint Mod Podge onto a leaf, and press the leaf onto the bowl.  Repeat with various leaves, overlapping the leaves as you go.  As you layer and press the leaves onto each other, excess Mod Podge will squeeze out.  Just brush that over the outside of the leaves.  Continue until the base is covered and half the sides are covered with leaves.

Step three. Because the leaves are not flat, they kept popping up and sliding around a bit.  To hold them in place while the Mod Podge set, I covered the wet leaves with more plastic wrap.  I pressed on the plastic wrap to smooth out the leaves and help them stick together.  I placed the covered leaves in the sun for about 4 hours, then I carefully removed the outer layer of plastic wrap and let the leaves dry completely.  You could probably leave the plastic wrap on while they dry, but it will extend the drying time considerably.

Step four. When the leaves were completely dry, I sprayed them with an application of Krylon Triple Thick Glaze.  Mod Podge tends to be slightly tacky when it dries, so the glaze helps cover up the stickiness.  Also, the leaves are still very pliable, and I thought the glaze would make them a little firmer and help the leaves adhere better.

Step five. When the glaze is dry, carefully take the leaves and plastic wrap off the bowl.  Carefully peel back the plastic wrap from the inside of the leaf bowl.

This DIY leaf bowl is lovely, don’t you think?  It would make a gorgeous addition to a side table or coffee table.  It is very lightweight and pliable, so you can’t fill it with anything heavy, but it would look cute with some artificial acorns inside. You could add some scented pot pourri to the bowl and use it to brighten up a room.

How might you use your decorative leaf bowl this fall?