How to Make an Autumn Leaf Outdoor Bench

As summer winds down, our thoughts turn toward falling leaves, warm sweaters and peaceful walks among colorful trees. Autumn is full of colorful leaves in shades of orange, purple, yellow and deep red. A small bench that is covered in leaves can make an attractive addition to your porch. Here's how to make a cozy autumn leaf bench. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Go for a walk in your garden or backyard. Pick up fallen leaves in various shapes and colors that appeal to you and place them in a plastic bag.

2

Return to your kitchen table and pick up your pencil and tracing paper. Choose some of the leaves that you picked up from your backyard and trace about a dozen assorted leaves. Using your scissors, cut out your leaf pattern on the tracing paper. Either tape or glue each patterned cutout onto self-adhesive plastic. Using your scissors cut the shape out of the self-adhesive plastic.

3

Place your unfinished wooden bench on a drop cloth to catch any dripping stain. Randomly arrange your leaf cutout on the top of the bench. Peel off the paper backing and press the cutouts firmly in place.

4

Put your gloves on and take a large paint brush and paint mahogany stain over the entire bench. Have a clean sponge available to wipe off any excess stain. Carefully remove the cutouts from the bench. Allow the stained bench to dry completely overnight.

5

Put your gloves on. Take a small brush and use your walnut stain to outline the leaves on the bench. Draw in the veins of the leaves with the tip of the brush. Allow the walnut stain to dry completely--about two hours.

6

Put your gloves back on. Take your small brush and apply one coat of natural stain on the entire bench. Allow the natural stain to dry completely overnight.

7

Finish your bench by applying one coat of clear polyurethane finish to the entire bench. Allow the polyurethane coat to dry completely before setting the bench outdoors for use.