Simple Leaf Printing with Kids

I love this simple way to do leaf printing with kids, using leaves, paint, paper and a brush. (No fancy brayers required!)

First paint the underside of a leaf using whatever type of paint you have handy (we like washable paint since it’s likely to end up, oh, everywhere!):

Then lay the leaf paint side down onto a piece of cardstock or heavy paper. Place a piece of paper towel on top of the leaf, then have your child press gently down on the towel with the palm of her hand.

Remove the paper towel, carefully peel off the leaf from the cardstock, and admire your beautiful, unique print!

We used our leaf characteristics terminology to discuss the various leaf types, veins and margins of each print too. (After all, we couldn’t resist turning our artwork into a homeschool activity!)

We love how each leaf print looks slightly different.

The next day, after the paint had dried, our daughter used crayons to decorate her leaf artwork… it’s now hanging up on our art clothesline!

Love those pink and orange colors she mixed. Those leaf colors scream fall!

* Thanks to my friend Dorothee (owner of the fantastic children’s accessories shop Sofee and Lenee) for the paper towel tip and the Charles M. Schulz Museum for the inspiration and how-to!