GALVANIZED LEAF WREATH

This Galvanized Leaf Wreath lived in my head for a long time before I decided to just sit down and figure it out. I love how it takes on the appearance of leaves in nature, like a magnolia leaf, but pairs this natural element with the texture of galvanized metal.

MATERIALS

• Pencil
• Section of galvanized sheet metal (I used about one-third of a 24" × 36" piece, but smaller sizes can be found in hardware stores)
• Work gloves
• Metal snips
• Metal file
• Utility knife
• Straightedge
• 12" MDF wreath form
• Heavy-duty, quick-drying craft glue appropriate for metal
• 10" of ribbon or twine (optional)

1. Use your pencil to draw a leaf shape on your sheet metal. My wreath has sixty-six leaves. I drew a group of about ten leaves at a time and then cut them. Then, I would start again doing about ten leaves at a time. They don’t have to be perfect or all the same size. Wear your work gloves while working with the metal and metal leaves. Use your metal snips to cut each leaf out.

   

2. File the edges of your leaves with a metal file until the edges are smooth.

   

3. Use your utility knife and your straightedge to score a line down the center of each of your leaves.

   

4. Use your utility knife to score several lines out from the centerline to create a leaf pattern.

   

5. Fold each leaf slightly inward and flatten the bottom edge so it will sit better on your wreath form.

   

6. Attach your leaves to your wreath form one at a time with your craft glue. I generally fanned out three leaves together in a section before moving on to the next section. Place the grouping of three leaves that are fanned out, let them set, then work on the next section by slightly overlapping this section over the previous one. You want to cover the bottom edges of your leaves with the next grouping. It is important to use fast-drying glue so that each leaf holds in place before moving onto the next one. Depending on your glue, each leaf will take about 30 seconds to set enough to move on to the next leaf.

   

7. Continue adding leaves until you make your way all the way around the wreath. You can thread a 10" section of ribbon or twine around the form of the wreath, tie a knot, and use it to hang the wreath as desired.

TIPS & RECOMMENDATIONS

For year-round use, thread a white ribbon through the wreath form to hang your wreath. Change the color of the ribbon or add a textured fabric like burlap to update it for the seasons and holidays.