Easy DIY Fall Leaf Art on Canvas

Fall decorating doesn’t have to start with a big project or a big budget. This easy DIY fall leaf art on canvas is proof. With just a few supplies and a little time, you can create a warm, colorful focal point that greets guests the moment they walk through the door.

Wondering where to begin your fall decorating? Focus on the three spots that make the biggest impact:

• your entry
• your mantel
• the coffee table

I chose to start our fall decor in the entry, and this leaf art was the perfect way to set the tone.

What puts you in a fall mood faster than anything else? Fall colors. The changing colors of autumn leaves are a classic sign of the season, and they make a beautiful centerpiece for simple wall art. Using real leaves as the main ingredient, this project turns a plain canvas into a piece that feels like fall the second you look at it.

If you love a DIY project that keeps supplies and cost to a minimum, this one is for you.

This isn’t my first canvas art project either. A few years ago I made a pair of fabric-framed pieces for our dining room that I still love today, so be sure to check those out too.

Let’s celebrate the colors of fall with this easy DIY fall leaf art on canvas.

This post contains affiliate links to products used to create this project. If you should order any item from this site, I may receive compensation, but you do not pay a penny more. Your purchase is greatly appreciated as it helps support the continued publication of this site.

As we begin our journey into fall decorating, It’s always best to have a plan. If you are going to include DIY projects into your fall decor, I suggest starting early – like now. At least make a list of what you want to make, the supplies you will need, and set a time to get started.

Use this free printable checklist to help you. CLICK the IMAGE to sign up to receive it in your inbox.

How do you create art with autumn leaves? I’ll show you how I did it.

Decide on a Plan for Your Easy DIY Fall Wall Art

My vision for this canvas project was a picture that I saw on Pinterest from Lauren of Blesser House. She framed 15 dried leaves in wood frames.

My project would be much smaller and much less expensive. Rather than put real leaves in glass and wood frames, I would mount faux leaves on small canvases. In fact, I’m making just one large canvas with smaller canvases on it.

Gather or Purchase Your Supplies for the Leaf Art Canvas

A few years ago I bought a package of 5 X 7-inch canvases at Dollar Tree.

My first step was to locate the Dollar Tree canvases. (Do you ever lose craft supplies you’ve bought?)

After searching every drawer and bin in my office, I couldn’t find the canvases. So a trip to Dollar Tree was in order. Two canvases come in each package. I bought three.

I also purchased one stem of maple leaves. These leaves were a little too bright for my taste.

For Steps 1 and 2, here are the supplies needed for the DIY fall leaf art canvas project:

• 5 X 7 canvases, as many as you want. I planned on using six.
• Chalk Paint, Acrylic Paint or other craft paint of choice for canvases
• faux maple leaves, as many as you need; I really like this option as the leaves are large and you don’t have to remove them from a stem.
• Chalk Paint, Acrylic Paint or other craft paint in colors of choice to paint the leaves
• small paint brush

Easy DIY Fall Leaf Art on Canvas: Simple Fall Wall Decor

STEP 1 – Paint the Small Canvases

I opened the canvas packages and placed them on a piece of craft paper to protect my kitchen granite.

Bright white was not the color I wanted for my fall leaf art canvas. Painting them was the obvious choice

My color of choice for the small canvases was Southern cream gravy – a soft, creamy white.

Using a small paintbrush, I applied one coat of paint and let it dry.

STEP 2 – Paint the Faux Leaves

While the small canvases were drying, I removed the faux leaves from the stem.

Do you notice a problem? I only had five faux leaves. I had to go back to Dollar Tree to buy another stem. (Now my cheap leaves doubled in price!)

NOTE TO SELF: Check the number of leaves on a stem, or even better buy the package of 50 online.

I wanted to use three different colors for my project.

In my paint stash, I found two colors: a burnt orange and a medium apple green in chalk paint.

The burnt orange leaves were looking good. I wasn’t sure I liked the green color of the other leaves.

Since I had to wait until the next day to buy another maple leaf stem. I waited to decide on the third color of the leaves.

After realizing that I only had room for four small canvases (see Step 3 below), I decided I didn’t really like the green leaf color. I looked for something that was more fall-ish. I thought a shade of brown would work.

I didn’t have any brown paint, but I did have two shades of brown stain that would work. I chose English Walnut, leftover from staining our patio tables and recycling a table as a plant stand.

I just painted over the green paint and also painted the extra leaf.

I liked the brown leaves much better. I let the stain dry while I worked on the next step.

It occurred to me the next morning that the six canvases would look better mounted on a larger canvas, an 16 X 20-inch, which, fortunately, I already had.

STEP 3 – Cover Large Canvas with Fabric

Supplies needed:

• large canvas to hold small canvases: either 11 x 14 or 16 X 20, depending on the space you have and the size and number of small canvases you want to use.
• fabric of choice, large enough to turn back at least 2 inches on all four sides. Fortunately, I had a piece of light cotton fabric in my fabric stash.
• staple gun to attach the fabric to wood on canvas; a staple gun is an indispensable tool.

I’ve had several large canvases in my office just waiting for a project. I bought them months ago at Joann (before it closed) on a 50% off sale. The DIY fall leaf art canvas project was the perfect time to use this large canvas.

First, I placed the smaller canvases on top to see the arrangement. It was obvious that only four would fit.

The good news? Since I only needed four painted maple leaves, no trip to Dollar Tree was necessary.

Again, the canvas was too bright white for the fall season. I wanted another way to change the color rather than more paint. How about fabric? I went through my bin of cream, beige, and taupe fabric and picked this one.

Other Options to Cover the Canvas:

• use paint to change the color of the canvas.
• cover it with vinyl or glue wrapping paper.
• use adhesive shelf paper

After ironing the fabric, I placed the canvas on top of the fabric, face down.

Using the canvas as a guideline, I cut out the piece of fabric about two inches larger than the canvas. Then Sweet Shark helped me use the staple gun to attach the fabric to the wood frame. (We’ve had this staple gun since Sweet Shark was climbing on the roof to string Christmas lights AKA Clark Griswold.)

STEP 4 – Attach the Leaves to the Small Canvases

Once the paint on the small canvases and the leaves was dry, it was time to attach the leaves to the canvas.

How do you attach leaves to a canvas?

For this step, you will need an adhesive.

At first, I tried to use permanent adhesive tape. It seemed to work, but when I held up the canvases with leaves, a couple fell off. Next, I used Clear Elmer’s Glue, which worked much better. I placed a book on top of the leaves until the glue dried.

After gluing the orange leaves to the small canvases, I decided to attach the other two canvases to the large canvas first.

STEP 5 – Add Jute/Twine/Ribbon to the Large Canvas

To hang the large canvas, I used two small eye-hooks and a piece of jute twine, all of which I had on hand.

I didn’t tie the other end of the jute twine yet. I would wait until I was ready to hang the large canvas.

STEP 6 – Attach Small Canvases to Large Canvas

I measured 2 inches down from the top of the large canvas to place the top two small canvases.

Then I used my ruler to align the four small canvases both vertically and horizontally.

To attach the small canvases to the large one, I used removable double-stick mounting tape on the back of the small canvases at the top and bottom. I pressed down and rubbed until I thought they were secure.

Then, I added the two brown leaves to the small canvases with the Elmer’s Glue.

STEP 7 – Hanging the Canvas on the Mirror

I knew that my fall leaf art canvas would hang on our entry mirror. A few years ago, I placed a small nail in the top of the frame. I use it to hang wreaths and other seasonal signs.

I held up the large canvas to estimate how long the jute twine hanger needed to be, and tied off the other end of the jute twine in the eye-hook. I didn’t even cut off the excess twine. I just tucked in the extra twine behind the canvas.

I’ve never created a “mixed media” project before. Using canvas, faux leaves, paint, and fabric together worked out better than I anticipated. But I do love how the fall leaf art on canvas looks. It’s simple, but impactful.

Here is another fun fall wall art project that is so easy to make with a unique way to make a DIY frame.

Using the Fall Canvas Art in the Entry Vignette

To start accessorizing the entry commode, first, I added a wood palette, two hay bales from Hobby Lobby, and three ceramic containers, a flea market find. These are all in my fall decor bins.

As you can see from the image below, I removed those things and added a large basket, a blue and white dish towel, some pumpkins, and some fall leaf stems.

Here is how I finished the entry vignette. I think it looks great.

The DIY art leaf project was easy, and it was a breeze to put the basket vignette together. I realized that I like working with the canvases in different sizes and mixing materials like paint, fabric, and faux leaves.

Your Questions Answered

I hope you will PIN this fall leaf art canvas project.