It’s Time for Leaf Art!

Autumn in the Smokies – plenty of leaves for leaf art

Now is the perfect time for studying the letter “L” and creating lovely leaf creations that make wonderful gifts. Get started by taking the class outside for some fall leaf collecting. Search for vibrant colors and leaves that have few blemishes. Each child should gather about a dozen or so different leaves.

Activity One – Leaf Rubbings

Lay a leaf flat on a smooth surface. It can either be right side up or show the underside. Carefully place a sheet of copy paper over the top. Peel a crayon of any color and briskly rub the side of the crayon over the paper where the leaf is. It takes some practice to keep the paper and leaf still while rubbing the crayon over it but the results are beautiful. Make several rubbings of different leaves in different colors with the same sheet of paper. Have children sign and date their work. Laminate for a memory parents will cherish forever.

Activity Two – Leaves Pressed in Waxed Paper

Most of us remember pressing fall leaves between sheets of waxed paper when we were young. Bring that to life for the younger set now. Take the leaves collected and press between book pages. Weigh down with other books. After about a week, remove the flattened leaves from the books. Note: You can skip this step if you like, but the final product turns out better if the leaves are flatter.

Give each student two sheets of waxed paper about 8 x 10 inches in size. Place leaves on one sheet of the waxed paper in any arrangement and carefully lay the other piece on top. An adult can use an iron on a low setting to heat the waxed paper so that the leaves are permanently affixed inside. Place the final product in a pre-made frame or use craft sticks to make a frame for the collage.

Take advantage of nature’s beauty and create lovely leaf gifts and decor!