How to Make an Autumnal Leaf Wreath

Begin by cutting up a spare corrugated cardboard box, making sure to use the main body of the box rathetr than the sides, avoiding any fold lines.

Use a tea plate as a template to draw a circle measuring approzimately 25cm in diameter.

Cut out the circle using a craft knife or scissors.

Repeat this process to create two circles.

Use a saucer to draw another smaller circle, centrally within the larger cut circles.

This smaller circle needs to measure about 14.5cm in diameter, creating a ring about 5cm wide.

Cut away the inner circle of both pieces using a craft knife or scissors.

Apply tacky glue to one surface of the cardboard ring. Place it face-down onto the other ring, making sure the cardboard ridges are in a completely different ordination -this adds extra strength to the wreath base.

Use more spare cardboard to glue another slightly thinner layer onto the wreath base. This can be achieved using smaller sections of cardboard.

Repeat, creating a fourth layer, again slightly narrower.

Use more spare cardboard to cut out several small, finger shaped pieces of cardboard. Make these pieces the same width as the top wreath ring section, and about 4cm long. Fold under the bottom section to make a gluing tab about 1.5cm deep.

Crease, and flatten the fold well by using a bone folder.

Make about 14 of these finger supports and set aside.

Empty out all the leaves from the packaging. Sort them into three piles of leaves in perfect condition.

One pile of the largest leaves, another of the smallest sized leaves, and then a third pile of all the other leaves. Start by using the largest leaves.

With a hot melt glue gun, fix them into place, overlapping around the outer circumference of the cardboard base. Use a few of the leaves upside down to add a bit of extra texture to the wreath.

Repeat this process, by gluing smaller sized leaves to cover the inner edge of the cardboard base.

Take the medium-sized leaves to work on covering the prepared finger supports, using a hot melt glue.

Again, use a few of the leaves upside down. Start by gluing a single leaf to the back of the upright support.

Then apply a leaf either side of the first leaf, but on the front panel this time.

Lastly, glue three more leaves fanned out below the first group of three.

The base stem may need to be torn off from the bottom of the leaf glued to the back, to make sure the support can fold back easily.

To complete the wreath, fix into place as many of the covered finger supports needed to cover the whole wreath ring.

Glue the bottom tab of each support and simply place it straight onto the top ring.

Follow the same direction as the edged leaves, and allow the supports to fold back on themselves, without being glued down.

Hang the finished leaf wreath up.

Now it's ready to be admired!