Looking for an easy way to decorate for fall? Why not take leaves to the next level? Here’s how to print on leaves and decorate with them.

A single artificial yellow-orange leaf with brown veins lies on a light gray marble surface.

Raise your hand if you remember School House Rock.

It was the BEST.

There were bills sitting on Capitol Hill that got stuck in committee and Lolly selling adverbs and conjunction junction, hooking up words and phrases and clauses, and that galaxy girl, Interplanetary Janet, who was a solar system miss from another world.

It came on every Saturday morning when I would watch cartoons.

It existed before Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or phones that start with I.

It existed during a time when social and media would never have even been used in the same sentence. A time when people read books and wrote letters and baked pies for each other and met at the fence and had actual face-to-face conversations.

And watched School House Rock.

And one of my favorites?

Mother Necessity.

She sat in a chair with her messy bun and her glasses and turned a chair into a rocking chair and inspired Thomas Alva Edison to give his mother light and inspired Samuel Morse to send messages across the pike and Alexander Graham Bell to invent a way of talking on a thing called a phone.

Because necessity is always the mother of invention.

Like this leaf project I want to share today.

I used this leaf to make FREE fall decor that looks like it came from a boutique.

A small artificial pumpkin and a yellow leaf with the words “Let me alone—I’m getting cozy” sit on the edge of a wooden drawer. Another faux pumpkin is visible inside the open drawer below.

 

Yep.

Thanks, Mother Necessity.

I just made these printed leaves.

And you can make them, too.

Can you imagine the possibilities?

And it was so easy.

Here’s the DIY for how to print on leaves.

A white sheet of paper with the typed text “You’re unbe-leaf-able” centered in small, spaced-out letters.

How to Print on Leaves

1. Decide what you want to say

This is the hardest part of the project.

No worries.

I’m here to help.

Here’s a list of “punny” fall sayings you can print on your leaves (or make fall projects or make fall tags or signs or pillows or pumpkins).

  • love at first spice
  • you’re unbe-leaf-able
  • gourd vibes only
  • I only have pies for you
  • don’t stop be-leafing
  • apple-y ever after
  • sweater late than never
  • orange you glad it’s fall
  • happy fall y’all
  • I only have pies for you

2. Print out the saying

I just printed one saying in the center of the paper.

Find a font you like (you want the font to be a little bolder).

You may need to adjust the size of the font to fit your leaf.

A piece of orange fabric with a leaf pattern is partially bordered by torn green tape on a plain white background.

3. Tape the leaf

Place the leaf over the words on the paper (that’s why you want them to be a little bolder).

I chose yellow leaves, and the leaves were light enough so you could see the words through the leaf.

Make sure the leaf completely covers the words.

Tape off the leaf around the edges. You want to make sure the leaf is as flat as possible so it will go through the printer.

Reduce the wrinkling of the leaf as much as possible and press the leaf down firmly.

A yellow-orange paper leaf with the words “You’re unbe-leaf-able” is surrounded by torn green paper pieces on a light background.

4. Print on the leaf using a printer

Now your leaf is ready for the printer.

We just ran the leaf through the printer and this is what it looked like after it came out of the printer.

Next, remove the tape.

My leaf was slightly frayed after I peeled off the tape, so I just trimmed it slightly with the scissors.

Yellow fabric leaves on a marble surface. One leaf has the text “Leaf me alone—I’m getting cozy” printed on it in black letters.

That’s it.

Now it’s time to decorate.

I knew exactly where to use my leaves to decorate.

Small orange pumpkins and autumn leaves are displayed on the open drawers of a vintage wooden cabinet, with books and more pumpkins arranged on white shelves above.

Small orange pumpkins and colorful autumn leaves placed on and inside open wooden drawers, creating a festive fall display.

A yellow leaf with the text “You’re unbe-leaf-able” sits next to a small orange pumpkin on a wooden surface.

Small pumpkins and colorful autumn leaves are arranged on open wooden drawers, creating a festive fall display.

Sometimes it’s the simplest projects that are the easiest.

(Edited to add: someone just pointed out these would make great fall tags for gifts, or you could also create place card holders for people at a party for FREE)!

And the possibilities for fall decorating with this project. Here are a few more things you could print on for fall:

  • Vintage book pages
  • Sheet music
  • Old dictionary pages
  • Brown kraft paper
  • Paper lunch bags folded completely flat
  • Kraft gift tags
  • Thin watercolor paper
  • Thin cork sheets specifically rated for laser printers
  • Printable wood-veneer sheets made for laser printers
  • Printable fabric sheets made for laser printers
  • Canvas sheets designed for laser printing
  • Flat paper ribbon
  • Maps or architectural plans

Mini orange pumpkins and autumn leaves are displayed on and inside the open drawers of a rustic wooden cabinet, creating a cozy fall decoration.

Schoolhouse Rock is still inspiring me.

Especially with this project.

I went all Alexander Graham Bell and came up with a new way to make leaves even cuter.

Thanks, Mother Necessity.

You are still alive and well in 2026. 🙂

Collage of fall leaf-themed decor, including wreaths, garlands, pillows, framed leaf art, wooden trays, and a small tree with orange and yellow leaves, all on a blue and white striped background. “Fall Leaf Decor” is written at the top.

// fall leaf decor //

Looking for more fall leaf decor ideas?

I just found some ideas and suggestions and loaded them into my storefront here.

Yellow fabric leaves with printed text, including “Leaf me alone—I’m getting cozy,” are displayed on a marble surface. The image promotes a creative DIY project featuring how to print on leaves, with full instructions available at thistlewoodfarms.com.

Disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.

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Posted On: September 3, 2026

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  1. Image for Kris Kris

    How cute! I remember Schoolhouse Rock, but not Mother Necessity. I can still say the Preamble because of Schoolhouse Rock. Funny how things like that stick in your brain.

    Reply
  3. Image for Mary Ann Coombe Mary Ann Coombe

    Kari, You continually amaze me! Love your wacky sense of humor! These do look like you paid a fortune for them. Thanks again for always having such great ideas! I long for the days of backyard talks with the neighbors, no social media, baking cookies for the neighbors (I still do that) and just a kinder, gentler time! (sigh) YOU are my Mother Necessity these days!

    Reply
  6. Image for Angela Boswell Angela Boswell

    Thanks for the little walk down memory lane. Love those days... Now I'm going to be walking around all day singing Conjunction Junction what's your function...lol. I've got to figure out a way for my grands to see that. They will love it. I've got another idea for you for your leaves... which I love by the way... use them as little hanging decorations on a gift bag. Just punch a hole in the leaf and tie a ribbon or jute....it'll make a cute accent touch for a fall gift.

    Reply
  7. Image for Judy Judy

    You make me feel so GROWN UP. loved watching School house rock with my KIDS. Seems to be an age gap. still love your site, and all the memories you bring to us. Watching you and your YOUNG family reminds me of all the memories I have of my family. Keep the coming.

    Reply
  9. Image for Rizae Rizae

    I watched that with my kids years ago. My favorite was conjunction junction! I wish pbs would brung it back, its needed now more than ever! Memories... love the idea of leaf printing. Big Hugs

    Reply
  11. Image for Marlene Stephenson Marlene Stephenson

    Good idea and love those cute sayings. Thanks for these,will be perfect for my family gathering in a few days.

    Reply
  12. Image for Cathy Garner Cathy Garner

    Love the writing that leads up to the activity, and absolutely love the leaf idea. Who would have thought to run that through a printer? Great idea!

    Reply
  13. Image for Teddee Grace Teddee Grace

    Cute! I'm not sure these would feed through my printer, though. I guess, nothing to lose by trying. They would be clever for my senior apartment building Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks!

    Reply
  14. Image for CAROL CUPP CAROL CUPP

    Karrianne What kind of tree did the yellow leaves come from? Fall colored leaves in sunny California are a challenge. Thanks

    Reply
  15. Image for Maureen Maureen

    Schoolhouse Rock...those words invoke such fun memories and haven't though about it in years but loved it so!!! This is a rerun I'd love to see for sure!! Here's my wonder...could you use one of those ultra thin, fine line, permanent markers and hand write your quote on the leaf? It could be "un-be-leafably" easy😉

    Reply

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