How to Make Fall Collage Place Mat

Autumn is a great time to make crafts that use all the fall colors. Children enjoy making crafts using the leaves that fall to the ground during the autumn months. A great craft to make is the fall collage place mat. Kids can use it all year round, not just during the autumn season. Follow these steps to make the fall collage place mat.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Picture
• Autumn leaves
• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Contact paper

1. Go on a nature walk and have the children collect leaves. Encourage but don't force them to gather leaves of different shapes and colors of the fall. Remember, this project is for the children and it should be a fun activity to introduce them to autumn crafts.
2. Pick a photograph to use for the center of your place mat. Crop out any unnecessary background to frame up the photo. Apply glue to the back of it using a glue stick. Don't over saturate it with glue because it will be laminated.
3. Journal on the paper describing something memorable about the photo. For example, if this was Johnny's first Halloween you can write some memorable events about the day, what he ate or what he wore.
4. Glue the leaves to the construction paper around the photo. Once again, don't use too much glue. Try to allow the children to do this themselves but provide the necessary guidance.
5. Laminate the place mats using either contact paper or take it to your local copy shop and have it professionally laminated. This is of much higher quality because it's thicker and more durable to last a long time.