Fun Autumn Leaf Crafts
Autumn leaves are wonderful! Nature has given us
beautiful colors to work with, no painting
necessary! I also find the green leaves of ivy,
herbs and other plants are beautiful as well.
Collect nice whole leaves and
press them between two clean sheets of paper in a
large book like a phone book or dictionary. After
2-4 weeks they will be dried and flat. Here are some
things you can do with them:
Buy white poster board and cut
several bookmark shape rectangles out with scissors.
I usually cut them about 2 inches by 8 inches. You
will need smaller leaves for this project. Ivy
leaves work will or thin long tree leaves. Place the
leaves on the bookmark with a touch of glue.
Allow to dry for a few minutes.
You may decorate with marker too, or simply write
the person's name on the bookmark at the bottom or
top, or in between the leaves. You can also use
dried flowers for this.
Cut a section of clear contact
paper that is twice as big as your bookmark, plus
some extra. So, mine would be about 5 inches by 17
inches. Lay your bookmark upside down very carefully
on one edge of the contact paper so you can fold
over the rest of it on the back of the bookmark.
Carefully smooth down the contact paper so there are
no bubbles then trim the contact paper to the edge
of the bookmark. You may put a hole in the top with
a paper punch and tie a ribbon through the hole.
This makes a wonderful gift for friends or teachers!
MORE LEAF CRAFTS
Leaves are wonderful to use for
tracing! You can tape leaves to a pumpkin and trace
the shape to the pumpkin with a pen or marker. Then,
cut out the leaf shapes. Place as many as you can on
the pumpkin, and you will have an unusual neat
lantern to light up at night!
A leaf mobile is the perfect
decoration for the fall season! Trace outlines of
five leaves onto white foam sheets; they should all
be close to the same size. Foam sheets are bought
like poster board and can be found in craft supply
stores. Cut out the shapes, and punch a hole in each
cutout. You can now sponge paint your leaves! Use
yellow, orange and red paint.
Dab your sponge lightly into the
paint and then onto your leave shape and press the
sponge all over both sides. While these are drying
you can make the mobile. Glue two sticks together so
they are crossed at the center. You can use twigs,
or craft sticks.
They should be about 5-6 inches
long. Tie raffia ribbon or twine to each leaf
through your hole and then knot the other end onto
end of each stick and the fifth one in the center.
Balance the mobile by adjusting the length of each
leaf if it hangs crooked. Tie a final ribbon or
piece of twine to hang the mobile!
You can also make leaf magnets the
same way as above by gluing a small magnet on the
back of each leaf instead of making the mobile. You
can write each family member's name in the middle of
the leaf after sponge painting.
Use your imagination, and you will
find so many uses for leaves of all colors, shapes
and sizes.
Brenda Hyde is a Mom to three, a
freelance writer and editor. For more kid's
activities and nature crafts visit Brenda at www.seedsofknowledge.com
where she is bringing old fashioned traditions to
the modern family.
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