Halloween is right around the corner. Here’s a quick, fun reuse project that is SO simple to make, with satisfying results.
All you need is an empty glass jar, colored tissue paper, scissors, glue or Mod Podge, a brush and black construction paper:
Thanks to this pin for the inspiration and how-to.
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!
Autumn is upon us! Each morning fog obscures the view from our house and we bundle up in cozy clothes. Then as the day moves on, we peal layers off as the weather floats up to the mid-70s each afternoon. The leaves are slowly starting to change color on the vineyards and apple orchards near our house. What a different world than the New England fall I grew up with!
We’ve felt eager to repeat some of our favorite fall activities from years past:
Leaf Rubbings and Characteristics Activity
Gratitude Leaf Rubbings Garland
Leaf Exploration With Stencils
Stay tuned for a host of new fall-themed projects to be posted this month… We’re in the thick of craft time.
We’ve been pouring over Geninne Zlatkis’s brand new, beautiful and imaginative book Making an Impression: Designing & Creating Artful Stamps
First we headed to the local art supply store to pick up a Linoleum Cutter Kit
Such a fun first attempt! We’re excited to make more beautiful hand-carved stamps.
We may be at the beginning of October, still months away from the winter holidays, but I am taking advantage of this second trimester burst of energy and trying to cross as many holiday preparation items off my to-do list as I can. We’ve been busy gathering and crafting holiday presents, and now we’re turning our attention to making more handmade Christmas ornaments for our tree.
Pressing plants gathered from our neighborhood into (gluten-free!) Sculpey Clay
Simple and sparkly, they’ll look beautiful on our Christmas tree. I love the feeling of a handmade holidays.
