Collected autumn leaves don’t have to end up just on the compost heap. Fill a transparent bag with them, shape the corners, add striking eyes, a beak and wings, and in no time you’ll have an impressive owl for your porch, bench, or windowsill.
What You’ll Need
- clean and preferably dry autumn leaves
- transparent plastic bag
- string or raffia for tying
- paper, cardboard or other sturdy material for the eyes, beak, wings, and feet
- scissors
- suitable glue or another way to attach the decorations
1. Prepare the Owl Base: Fill the transparent bag with colorful leaves, shaping the contents as you go to create a firm rectangular body with rounded sides. Tie off the two top corners separately with string to form pointed ears. Attach large round eyes, a triangular beak, and two simple feet to the front.
2. Make Leafy Wings: The second version shows that you can make the wings directly from overlapping leaves. Layer them from the shoulders downward to mimic feathers, and tuck a few leaves into the top corners of the bag as well.
3. Adjust the Owl for the Windowsill: For an indoor decoration, shape the bag more roundly. Tie the top corners with string, add delicate eyelashes to the eyes if you like, and place the beak just below them.
4. Make Owls of Different Sizes: Alongside a large owl, you can also make a smaller one. Adjust the amount of leaves to the size of the bag and keep the same basic features so the decorations look like a matching pair.
5. Add Sturdy Wings: On the sides, you can see simple wings made from sturdy brown material. You can decorate them with glued-on leaves to create colorful and naturally textured feathers.
6. Place the Owl in a Basket: A rounder decoration can be placed in a low wicker basket. This helps stabilize the owl and also catches any small pieces of leaves that might fall out.
7. Accentuate the Ears: Insert narrow dry stems or similar natural material into the tied corners. The fanned-out stems create distinctive tufts and give the head a more pronounced silhouette.
8. Layer Leaves on the Sides: If you want a fuller look, attach several overlapping leaves to each side. Start with the bottom layer and work your way up so the top leaves cover the joins.
9. Add a Decorative Bow: You can soften an indoor owl with a checkered bow under its beak. The side wings remain simple, so the main focus stays on the big eyes and colorful filling.
10. Create a Whole Owl Family: Prepare several bags with different amounts of leaves. Make eyes and beaks in matching sizes for large, medium, and small owls, and arrange them side by side.
11. Attach the Feet: Cut out two feet in rounded shapes with several toes. Attach them to the bottom edge so they stick out in front of the bag and are clearly visible.
12. Choose Simple Cardboard Details: The wings don’t have to be complicated. Just use an elongated shape with a few scallops on the bottom edge to mimic feather layers, which goes well with the natural shades of the leaves.
13. Use Striking Colorful Leaves: When filling the bag, arrange yellow, brown, and red leaves so the prettiest pieces are visible at the front. You can add a large leaf to each side as a simple wing.
14. Make Long Feathered Wings: For a more festive look, make the wings from a larger number of leaves and let them reach almost to the bottom of the body. Place the eyes close together and the beak right between them.
15. Match Two Window Decorations: Two round owls can stand side by side on a wide windowsill. Give each a different color combination of leaves, but repeat the same eyes, beak, ears, and side wings.
16. Add a Natural Bow: Attach a bow made from coarse natural fabric under the beak. This decoration suits an owl in earthy colors and complements the tied ears.
17. Decorate the Ear Tips with Leaves: Let a few sturdy leaves stick out from the top corners. Tie the corners securely with string, but carefully so the plastic doesn’t tear.
18. Tilt the Head by Shaping: When filling, the two top corners don’t have to be the same height. A slightly irregular shape and unevenly placed eyes make the owl look like it’s curiously tilting its head.
19. Combine Cardboard and Real Leaves: Attach several colorful leaves to a sturdy wing base. The wings will hold their shape better but still connect naturally with the leafy body.
20. Place the Finished Owl by the Entrance: Finally, check that the eyes, beak, wings, and feet are securely attached. Stand the owl on a stable crate, bench, step, or windowsill, and you can arrange other autumn decorations around it.
Final Tip
Let the leaves dry before filling, as damp filling can quickly get musty in a closed bag. Place outdoor decorations under a roof and protect them from rain, strong wind, and open flames. If you put the owl on a raised spot, secure it so it doesn’t fall over.
