How To

How to Do a Leaf Rubbing

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(21 Ratings)

Leaf rubbings allow you to preserve fleeting bits of nature for fun or as art.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Crayons
  • Picture Frames
  • Mat Board
  • Mat Cutters
  • Fallen Leaves
  • Colored Pencils
  • Drawing Pencils
  • Paper
  • Tracing Paper
  • Paper
  • Crayons

    Pencil Rubbings

  1. Step 1

    Find some interesting leaves. Ferns, oaks, maples and birches work well. Avoid pines or anything that is not fairly flat and smooth.

  2. Step 2

    Lay the leaf face side up on a table or flat surface.

  3. Step 3

    Cover the leaf with tracing paper or other thin paper such as onionskin paper.

  4. Step 4

    Sharpen a regular pencil and hold it sideways so that the tip is on its side on the paper. You can also use a thick drawing pencil.

  5. Step 5

    Lightly rub the side of the pencil tip over the paper covering the leaf. Make sure you cover the entire area and that you also rub around the edges of the leaf so that you can see the contrast in this area.

  6. Step 6

    Consider framing your rubbing.

  7. Step 7

    Try making a grouping of different leaves and doing a rubbing of the entire grouping.

  8. Crayon Rubbings

  9. Step 1

    Prepare your leaf and paper as described above.

  10. Step 2

    Peel the paper label off a crayon and lay the crayon on its side on the paper.

  11. Step 3

    Make the rubbing using the crayon following the same steps as above.

Tips & Warnings
  • This method is terrific for children of all ages.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

eHow Article: How to Do a Leaf Rubbing

Have you done this? Click here to let us know.

I Did This

Related Ads

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US

Demand Media
eHow_eHow Arts and Entertainment