Have you been wondering what to do with all the fall leaves in your backyard? Look no further than our latest creative reuse project. Collect a pile of fall leaves and create a DIY hot plate in just a few short steps! This project is perfect for Halloween potlucks, Thanksgiving gatherings, and other fall festivities.

Gather supplies: tile, adhesive, brush, sharpie, fall leavesopens IMAGE file

Materials:

  • Large salvaged tile
  • Water-based adhesive
  • Brush
  • Bowl
  • Permanent marker
  • Leaves

 

 

 

 

 

Steps:

    1. Get a large salvaged tile from EcoBuilding Bargains for as little as a dollar! Or you can use an extra one from your recent tiling project. Then, with a permanent marker, draw a sketch of your choice. We decided to sketch a spider web on this tile.
      draw a design on your tileopens IMAGE file

      2.  

    2.  Grab a leaf from your pile and detach the stem.remove stem from leafopens IMAGE file

      3.  

    3. Pour some of your water-based adhesive into a bowl. Dip your brush into the bowl and cover the leaf in a coat of adhesive. Place the leaf on the tile and add another coat of the water-based adhesive on top of the leaf and over the entire tile. Repeat this step for each leaf you put on the tile.stick leaves to tile using adhesiveopens IMAGE file

      4.  

    4. Let the water-based adhesive dry for 15-20 minutes. Once the tile is dry, your DIY hot plate is ready to go! These DIY hot plates are quick and easy to make which means you can make as many as you’d like with the fall leaves in your backyard.

      5.  

allow tiles to dryopens IMAGE file

Stop by EcoBuilding Bargains to purchase a large salvaged tile and other DIY project materials and make sure to check out all of our other creative reuse projects!