Leaf Art Ideas

When the autumn winds blow, nature paints the leaves on the trees into hues of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns. It is a magnificent sight but sadly only for a short time. Using leaves in your crafts can really improve the look of almost anything, from your scrapbook to your curtains and windows.

You can start out collecting fallen leaves from your backyard or the park. Bring your kids along with you on a nature walk. This can be a fun learning and bonding moment with your kids. Collect a bunch of leaves and glue them onto a sheet of cardboard or heavy card stock paper. Let it dry completely.

Once dry, pour a small amount of paint into a paper plate. Dip a paint roller into the paint and then roll it over the leaves. You can also use a paint brush and paint the leaves in different colors. Once the leaves are covered, lay a piece of construction paper over the painted leaves and rub it to get a good print. Lift the paper to see the print and let dry.

You can use this leaf stamp on fabrics but be sure to have every bit of it come in contact with the fabric to create a solid image. Do this by running your finger along the outline of the leaf and systematically across the middle. Liven up your old shower curtain, tablecloth or quilt. Be sure to use waterproof fabric paint for those fabrics that need regular washing.

Another great idea of using dry leaves is by putting them between wax papers, and ironing them together. They will stay colorful for a long time and will make a nice display to your boring window.

Leaves can also be used to create a unique and textured photo mat. This is great for any fall-themed photo. Collect some fall leaves and press them. Then get a photo mat of the desired size. Place the leaves on the mat and use a dab of glue to secure them. Trim around the edges to make sure that the mat fits in the photo frame. Then find the perfect picture for the mat and you’ve got a creative picture frame!

Scrapbooking with leaves is also a great idea, especially if you are working on an event or occasion that occurred during fall. You can either collect leaves, press them, and place them in your journal or in your scrapbook, or you can make a stamp out of the pressed leaves. To do this, take your pressed leaf and either dip it in an ink pad or take a roller and gently roll the paint over the entire leaf. Just be sure that in either method you choose, you completely and thoroughly cover the whole leaf with ink. Then place the leaf on your scrapbook page. Take a piece of paper and lay it over the top so that you can gently rub the leaf, enabling all the ink to get on the scrapbook page. Use a variety of leaves so that you get a great result.