How to Make an Autumn Leaf Mobile

During autumn, all the leaves change colors and turn into beautiful shades of orange, brown and yellow. Some even remain green. This variety of colors makes a beautiful mobile. Send the kids on a nature walk to collect autumn leaves and turn them into a mobile. The kids will have a blast and so will you. Follow these steps to learn how.

Instructions

1. Walk in your neighborhood and collect leaves. Choose five to ten leaves that you find interesting. The kids would probably really enjoy this and they seem to have the knack for finding the special leaves.

2. Snip off the leaf stem until it's 1/2-inch long. Make sure to treat the leaves with care because they're fragile this time of year.

3. Place laminating plastic on the table with the backing still on it. Lay the leaves out on the sheet leaving 1/2-inch between each leaf. Also leave a 1/2-inch space along the edge of the plastic. The leaves will not stick to this practice sheet, but this will allow you to determine the leaf placement without wasting any laminating plastic.

4. Remove the backing on a second sheet of laminating plastic. Lay the plastic with the adhesive side up on the table next to the leaves on the other sheet of laminate. Transfer each leaf to the new laminate in the same placement that you had on the practice sheet. Gently press them down onto the adhesive.

5. Peel away the other sheet of laminating plastic 2 inches from the edge. Line it up with the corresponding edge of the first sheet. Don't let them touch until it is exactly where you want it. Press it down gently. Pull back the plastic slowly and press down the laminating sheet, sandwiching the leaves between the sheets of adhesive laminating plastic.

6. Cut out the leaves leaving 1/4-inch border all the way around each leaf. Poke holes in the top of each leaf with a needle and string 12 inches of thread through the hole. Tie the thread securely to the plastic.

7. Select an interesting-looking twig for your mobile from which to hang your leaves. Tie the leaves to the twig with varying lengths of thread so the leaves hang at different distances. Find a nice location to hang your completed autumn leaf mobile.