Why not enjoy the crisp fall air with a walk around your neighborhood, your park or even your backyard? With this week’s DIY project you can create a piece that will help you embrace the beauty of nature in autumn and also create something that will last years in your home. All of it will cost just $6.99 to make.

YOU WILL NEED

Items I Purchased:

• 24x36 foam board - $1 at Dollar Tree

• Poster frame - $5.99 at Goodwill

Items I Already Had Around the House:

• Glue gun

• Glue sticks

• Pressed leaves

• Large book

• Scissors

DIRECTIONS

1. Find a variety of leaves in your neighborhood. As you collect them, place them on the pages of a thick book or magazine. Look for a good variety of leaves that are not too dried out or they will crumble during the project. If you can’t find leaves, the Dollar Tree has packs of 50 maple leaves you could use instead.

2. Let the leaves sit in the thick book for at least two days. This will flatten out the leaves and make them more uniformed and easier to work with.

3. Once your leaves are pressed, use a low-temperature glue gun and carefully add a few dots of glue to the back side of your leaves. You don’t need a lot of glue, just enough to hold them in place.

4. Layer the leaves on directly onto your foam board until you are happy with the design.

5. Using the paper insert that comes in your frame, cut out a mat to go around your leaves.

6. Lay the mat down first, place your leaves on top and then close up your frame.

7. Hang it on the wall and enjoy. Although the colors may dull over time, this artwork will last for years. I did this project about five years ago and my artwork still looks like new.