How to Make Newspaper Leaf Prints

Whether it is spring, summer or fall, leaves are hanging from our trees or covering our yards. Making newspaper leaf prints allows your children to see these leaves from a new perspective. This fun craft gives your kids a chance to explore the different shapes, sizes and patterns of leaves-and then see their prints on paper.

Things You'll Need

• Leaves
• Small bowls
• Tempera paint
• Newspaper
• Plain white paper
• 2-liter plastic soda bottle

Instructions

1. Pour each color of tempera paint into a separate bowl.

2. Put a sheet of newspaper down on a hard, flat surface (like a kitchen floor). Place a white sheet of paper on top of the newspaper.

3. Take each leaf and dip it into a bowl of paint.

4. Place the leaves on the white sheet of paper--vein side down--until the paper is covered with leaves.

5. Take another sheet of newspaper and place it on top of the leaves.

6. Roll the 2-liter soda bottle over the top sheet of the newspaper so the leaf prints show up better on the paper below.

7. Remove the newspaper from the top of the leaves and gently remove each leaf from the white paper. Let the leaf prints dry.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want your children to enjoy a more hands-on experience, substitute the tempera paint with fingerpaint. Let your children paint the leaves with their hands instead of dipping them into bowls. They will feel the different textures of the leaves that they'll later see on paper.