Go Boho With a Metallic Magnolia Garland for Fall

With nature as your inspiration, create this beautiful, bohemian magnolia garland to soften up any outdoor living space during the autumnal months.

Magnolia Leaves Hanging From Homemade Garland

DIY Fall Magnolia Garland

For a nature-inspired autumn garland that’s a touch on the boho side, start with magnolia leaves and thick twine. Glam up the leaves with a brush of acrylic craft paints in colors like copper, gold and metallic brown. Use colorful ribbons to hang the leaves, even acorns and pine cones, every four to six inches along the length of twine. This makes a wonderful garland to hang across a pass-through. Check out the step-by-step tutorial for this beautiful DIY magnolia garland.

Photo by: Brian Patrick Flynn

Brian Patrick Flynn

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Materials Needed

thick jute twine
1/2" brown floral tape
preserved magnolia leaves
acrylic craft paint (copper, metallic brown, antique gold, gold)
acorns
seed pods
craft feathers
ribbon (1/4" satin brown, 1/2" sheer maroon)
yarn (brown flecked, chunky ivory flecked)
wooden beads
yarn needle
scissors
hot glue gun
hot glue sticks
foam brush
tape measure

Prepare Leaves

Use a paper towel to gently remove some of the preservative from the magnolia leaves (Image 1). Then, using acrylic craft paints in metallic colors, lightly paint the leaves to give them a rustic look (Image 2). After the leaves have fully dried, fasten a 9-12" piece of sheer ribbon or yarn to the stem of each leaf, securing with brown floral tape (Image 3). Add a dab of hot glue for extra strength. Set leaves aside when finished.

Use a paper towel to gently remove some of the preservative from the magnolia leaves. Then, using acrylic craft paints in metallic colors, lightly paint leaves in an imperfect way to give them a rustic look. After the leaves have fully dried, fasten a 9-12 inch length of sheer ribbon or yarn to the stem of each leaf, securing with brown floral tape. Add a dab of hot glue, as well for extra strength. Set leaves aside when done.

Brian Patrick Flynn

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Brian Patrick Flynn

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Brian Patrick Flynn

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Step 1- Prepare Leaves

IMAGE 1

Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Step 1- Prepare Leaves

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Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Step 1- Prepare Leaves

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Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Prepare Feathers

You may want to use the scissors to snip the ends of the feathers to make them thinner to make this step a bit easier. Thread an 18" piece of yarn through a wooden bead using a yarn needle, if necessary (Image 1). (Leave about 3 inches at one end.) Push 3 inches of yarn and bead onto the quill with the short end of the yarn exposed near the feather. Tightly wrap the remaining yarn around the exposed quill and secure with hot glue (Image 2). Cut the yarn, and set the feathers aside (Image 3).

You may want to use the scissors to snip the ends of the feathers to make them thinner to make this step a bit easier. Thread an 18 inch piece of yarn through a wooden bead, using a yarn needle, if necessary. Leave about 3 inches at one end. Push 3 inches of yarn and bead onto the quill, with the short end of the yarn exposed near the feather. Tightly wrap the remaining yarn around the exposed quill and secure with hot glue. Cut yarn and set feathers aside.

Brian Patrick Flynn

IMAGE 1

Brian Patrick Flynn

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Brian Patrick Flynn

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Step 2- Prepare Feathers

IMAGE 1

Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Step 2- Prepare Feathers

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Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Step 2- Prepare Feathers

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Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Prepare Seed Pods

Cut a 9" piece of yarn and lay it on a work surface. Hot-glue the seed pods to the yarn, alternating pod sizes and direction. Once cool, set the seed pods aside.

Step 3- Prepare Seed Pods

Cut a 9 inch piece of yarn and lay it on a work surface. Hot glue the seed pods to the yarn, alternating pod sizes and direction. Once cool, set these aside.

Photo by: Brian Patrick Flynn

Brian Patrick Flynn

Prepare Acorns

Cut a 9" piece of satin ribbon and fold in half. Place a dab of hot glue directly onto the acorn cap and attach a ribbon at the fold. Press gently and let cool. Set acorns aside.

Step 4- Prepare Acorns

Cut a 9 inch piece of satin ribbon and fold in half. Place a dab of hot glue directly onto the acorn cap and attach ribbon at the fold. Press gently and let cool. Set acorns aside.

Photo by: Brian Patrick Flynn

Brian Patrick Flynn

Cut Jute

Once you determine how long you would like the garland to be, measure out the length and cut with scissors. Tip: Allow a few extra inches of jute so it swags a bit.

Step 5- Cut Jute

One you determine how long you would like the garland to be, measure out the length (allowing a few extra inches so it swags a bit) and cut with scissors.

Photo by: Brian Patrick Flynn

Brian Patrick Flynn

Tie on Decorations

Lay the jute across a flat work surface so you can easily space, then tie on the decorative items one by one (Image 1). Fill in any negative space by tying smaller pieces of yarn or ribbon directly to the jute (Image 2). Display on your deck before a seasonal soiree (Image 3), or hang on your mantel all season long.