The Duchess of Cambridge ended her 5-month maternity leave following the birth of Prince Louis with a visit to Sayer’s Croft Trust, an outdoor education charity based in Surrey. The organization encourages children to get outdoors to explore and learn. It was a delightful event filled with kids, nature, and crafts!
At the event, Kate helped a group of children collect leaves to make leaf crowns. The craft was sweet and simple, and encourages kids and adults to get outside, then bring those wonderful nature finds back inside to create something fun. While Kate’s new friends made very kid-friendly designs, we’ve upped the ante with a final product that looks elegant enough to Instagram.
Our inspiration comes from one of our favorite UK bloggers and Instagrammers, Hunters & Heels. Last year, Lauren shared a surprisingly simple DIY leaf garland project that she did with her boys. We are adapting that for little hands and little heads! This is the perfect, simple autumn project to enjoy the changing of leaves in the autumn. 
Image via Hunters and Heels
Here’s our DIY Leaf Crown tutorial, perfect for getting your own little prince or princess into nature:
Step 1: Collect some leaves! Go outside and find the loveliest autumn leaves you can. Look for leaves that have changes color but are still sturdy and intact, the less holes the better.
Step 2: Take the leaves inside, give them a quick rinse to remove any dirt or bugs, and allow them to dry overnight in a dark, temperture-controlled space.
Step 3: After the leaves have dried, spray each leaf with Mod Podge spray (this may be a job just for parents!). Allow to dry for about an hour, and then spray the other side. While the Mod Podge is wet, you can sprinkle delicate glitter onto the leaves! Just add a second coat of spray after you’ve sprinkled.
Step 4: Using a hot glue gun, glue the leaves to a white piece of ribbon about 18 inches long (for adults, use a ribbon about 24 inches long). Delicately press the leaves into the glue and allow it to set. Once the glue has cooled, your leaf crown is ready to wear!!
Leaf garland: To create a leaf garland, like the one Lauren made, skip Step 4 and instead use tiny clothespins to affix the leafs to a ribbon or piece of string. Hang your beautiful creation above the fireplace for an autumnal touch!
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