DIY Network

Bring Fall Indoors Gather autumn’s bounty to fuel your projects. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-307

Great seasonal décor is as close as the back yard.

Mother Nature puts on her most spectacular show in the fall, and it’s easy to bring some of season indoors to create fabulous decorative arrangements. Just follow Michele Beschen’s example and head to the back yard, garden or even a park with a basket and some clippers or scissors. You’ll find a wealth of beautiful elements that will fuel projects for months to come.

B. Original with the best of the season and bring some of autumn’s natural beauty indoors. Scroll down for Michele Beschen’s tips.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Bring Fall Indoors

• Look for elements that have already dried: seed pods, nut shells, seeds, grasses, pine cones or bark that has peeled away from trees (figure A). After a few gathering excursions, you'll be able to tell which items will hold up and which will be too fragile or brittle (figure B).

• Don’t overlook simple weeds. Weeds produce some of the most beautiful and detailed dried elements.

• Gather up some leaves. Try to catch them in the middle of changing colors. Press autumn leaves between heavy books or in a flower press.

• Collect pine needles as well as fallen acorns and buds.

• Wild grasses always produce some beautiful plumes in the fall.

• When you get home, store your natural decorations in a dry place.

• Gather grasses and other long pieces together in small bouquets and secure the stems with rubber bands (figure C). Hang the bouquets upside down by the rubber bands and let them dry in a warm, dry, dark place. The darkness helps preserve the colors.

With a little time and effort, you’ll collect enough beautiful autumn bounty to keep your projects going throughout the winter – no matter how much snow is on the ground!