Make this gorgeous watercolor paper leaf and branch mobile with just a few sheets of paper and about an hour’s time! A stunning fall home decor craft to welcome the autumn season!

Watercolor Paper Fall Leaf and Branch MobileThis post may contain affiliate linksOne of my favorite things about fall is all of the beautiful colored leaves, but in our neighborhood, most of the leaves just turn a boring shade of dull brown. The boys and I decided to take matters into our own hands and make some colorful leaves of our own. We used watercolor paints to turn everyday paper into a gorgeous watercolor leaf and branch mobile that showcases all of the gorgeous colors of autumn.

How to Make a Watercolor Paper Leaf & Branch Mobile:

Painting with Watercolor PaintsWe started by creating lots and lots of watercolor paintings in a fall palette.

Painting with WatercolorsOur very favorite watercolors are the Colorations Liquid Watercolors because they’re super vibrant (they’re even slightly diluted here!).

Children can easily use the Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting MachineMy boys have been dying to get their hands on my Sizzix Big Shot machine ever since I used it to create a felt star banner for Simon’s superhero birthday party last month. The machine is actually really simple to use, so it’s safe for children (with adult supervision, of course!).

Cutting Fall Leaves with the Sizzix Big ShotWe cut our watercolor paintings into quarters, and then used the Big Shot machine with the Tim Holtz Layered Leaf Bigz Die and Embossing Folder to cut out a bunch of leaves.

Watercolor Paper Leaves

Embossing Paper Leaves with Sizzix Tim Holtz DiesOnce the leaves have been cut out, it’s time to use the embossing folder to create the texture. Just place the leaf into the embossing folder, crank through the Big Shot machine, and you’re done! SO simple!

Cutting Watecolor Fall Leaves with the Sizzix Big ShotIt took no time at all to create this entire stack of gorgeous watercolor leaves (okay, maybe about 15 minutes)!

Watercolor Fall LeavesIsn’t that texture incredible?!

Watercolor Fall Leaves Made with the Sizzix Big Shot and Tim Holtz Dies

Hanging Leaves for a Fall Wreath MobileI decided to turn the leaves into a mobile, so I grabbed a branch from our yard and some thread that is the same color as our wall. I simply tied the string to the stem of the leaf, and then tied the other end to the branch. Easy peasy!

Fall Leaf MobileStart by creating one row of leaves and then layering additional rows to create depth and movement.

Watercolor Paper Leaf Mobile Fall Craft

Fall Leaves from Kids Watercolor PaintingsI seriously can’t get enough of these! They’re stunning!

Watercolor Fall Leaf and Branch Mobile

All-in-all, it only took about an hour’s worth of work and six sheets of paper to create this entire watercolor leaf and branch mobile, and I love the way it turned out! I can’t wait to add some more of our fall treasures to turn this desktop area into our fall nature table!

heidi signature from happiness is homemade

 

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Easy Fall Kids Craft: Watercolor Leaf Wreath

 

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Fall Leaf Lanterns

 

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21 Comments

  1. Ummm yes please… I would like to purchase the Big Shot Machine just for this project! No joke! I would do it EVERY year for the next however many i am alive! I think I know I love the autumn leaves more than the kids!

  2. How do you get the branch (stick) to stay on the wall…or do you also attach it to the ceiling….it is beautiful!!!

  3. Such a genius craft to do with the kids!! I love how beautiful and dainty this is, one of my favorite DIY’s I’ve seen so far!

  4. I love this diy. I edit a bi-monthly paper mailer we send out to our patients and it includes fun stuff, not just dental related. I would love to feature this photo in there. I will definitely have a link straight to this blog! Please contact me if you have any other questions. Thank You.

  5. Wow! I love, love, love this project. I pinned it and shared it with my google+ craft tutorial community. Thanks for the inspiration.

  6. Wow, this project is AMAZING! I have never heard of a Big Shot machine before – at first glance those leaves look real! The colors and overall look are fab 🙂

  7. so yeah, this is seriously one of the coolest projects I have seen in a long time! FAB-U-LOUS! I am so loving it!!!!

  8. Love your leaf mobile and such a great idea making a mobile. I have got to get that die, I have a Big Shot. Think it’s so great your boys help you and like to craft. Wonderful for them and you. Nice to have help cutting out all those leaves and water coloring the papers first is brilliant to have the colors put on at random, much more realistic looking. So enjoyed this idea and post. Pinning Happy Fall

  9. What a beautiful project! I really like the embossing effect and the subtlety of the colors. Great job! pinning 🙂