DIY Leather Leaf Garland: A Simple Fall Craft

Fall is the perfect time to slow down, get a little creative, and bring some of the warmth of the season indoors.

After cutting the leather pieces that become our bags, we're often left with smaller scraps that are still just as beautiful as the rest of the hide. So, in the spirit of the season, we decided to give a few of those pieces a new purpose.

With a handful of leather scraps, some twine, and a little creativity, we created a simple leather leaf garland that's perfect for adding a warm, handmade touch to your fall décor.

The best part? We've created a free printable leaf template to make this project even easier. Download the template, gather your supplies, and follow along!

DOWNLOAD THE FREE LEAF TEMPLATE

 

Materials/Tools:

• Leather Scraps
• Printable Leaf Template   DOWNLOAD THE FREE LEAF TEMPLATE
• Scissors or Exacto Knife
• Chalk Pencil or Pen
• Leather Punch, Hammer & Nail, or Hole Punch
• Jute Twine
• Wood Beads optional

Instructions:

1. Print & cut out your leaf templates – Start by downloading and printing our free leaf templates. Print the page at 100% or actual size, then cut out the leaf shapes you'd like to use.

We've included a mix of different leaf shapes and sizes so you can make your garland as varied as you'd like.

2. Trace your leaves – Lay your paper templates onto your leather scraps and trace around each shape using a chalk pencil or pen.

Mix and match different leather colors, textures, leaf shapes, and sizes. We love the way warm browns, muted reds, and deeper tones come together for fall.

3. Cut out your leaf shapes – Carefully cut along your traced lines using scissors or an Exacto knife and cutting mat.

Continue tracing and cutting until you have enough leaves for the length of garland you'd like to make. Don't worry about making every leaf exactly alike—a little variation adds to the handmade charm!

4. Add details to your leaves – This step is optional, but adding a few simple vein details can give your leather leaves a little extra character.

Lightly mark a center vein down each leaf with smaller lines extending toward the edges. You can keep the details simple or get creative and make each leaf a little different.

5. Punch your holes – Using a leather punch or a hammer and nail, make a small hole near the top of each leaf.

Be sure not to punch your hole too close to the edge so there's enough leather around it to keep the leaf secure when it's hanging.

6. Arrange your leaves – Before stringing everything together, lay your leaves out on a flat surface and play around with the arrangement.

Alternate the colors, shapes, and sizes until you find a combination you love. We mixed larger leaves with smaller ones to give the garland a more natural look.

If you're adding wood beads, this is also a great time to decide where you'd like them to go.

 

7. String your garland – Cut a piece of jute twine to your desired length, leaving a little extra on each end for hanging.

Thread your leather leaves onto the twine in the order you arranged them, adding wood beads between some of the leaves for an extra touch of texture.

Once everything is on the twine, adjust the spacing until your garland looks balanced.

If you’re having trouble getting your leaves to stay together or face forward, a little super glue can help! Add a small dot of glue to the corner of one leaf where it overlaps the next, then gently press the two together until secure. Repeat as needed along the garland.

8. Hang & enjoy! – And just like that, your leather leaf garland is ready for fall!

Drape it across a mantel, bookshelf, hutch, doorway, or anywhere in your home that could use a little seasonal warmth. Pair it with pumpkins, candles, dried branches, or your favorite fall decor to complete the look.

We just love how a few simple leather scraps can be transformed into something completely new. The mix of leather colors, textures, and leaf shapes makes each garland unique, and there are so many ways to make this project your own.

Whether you keep things simple or add your own creative touches, we hope you enjoy making this project as much as we did—and that it brings a little handmade warmth into your home this fall.

Happy crafting!