How to Make an Autumn Leaf Bookmark

Autumn leaf bookmarks make a nice remembrance of nature’s visual splendor. Take a nature walk on a nice autumn day and collect some foliage from local trees or from the leaves that have fallen to the ground. Then preserve the season and the outing by making an autumn leaf bookmark.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Leaves
• Clear self-stick plastic shelf/drawer liner
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil or pen
• Heavy books
• Waxed paper

How to Make an Autumn Leaf Bookmark

1. Gather small autumn leaves or larger ones that can be broken or cut up.

2. Clean and dry them if they are dirty or wet.

3. Press them by setting them between two sheets of waxed paper. Then set the leaves and waxed paper inside the pages of a book. Put a pile of heavier books like phone books or hardbound novels or text books on top of the book holding the leaves. Set them aside in a dry area and let them press dry and flat for 2 weeks. Pressing and drying them will remove excess moisture too.

4. Measure and cut two same sized pieces of clear plastic self stick shelf/drawer liner in the shape of a paper bookmark, about 8 inches by 2 inches or wider if you prefer. You can make it longer or shorter and wider if you like. Don’t remove the backing covering the sticky side of the clear plastic liner before you cut the pieces out.

5. Remove the backing from one of the two pieces of self-stick plastic liner. Then set it on a table or another hard work surface, sticky side up.

6. Get your dried pressed autumn leaves and arrange a few on the sticky part of the plastic shelf liner. You may have to cut larger leaves to fit. Spread them out. Make sure you leave a small border around the outer edge of the liner that does not have any leaves on it, like a small frame.

7. Take the other piece of sticky clear plastic liner and peel off the backing.

8. Starting at the top or bottom of a 2-inch side, whichever direction is easier for you to work from, set it on top of the leaves and other piece of liner, pressing down as you go. Press it down with the edge of one of the books or the palm of your hand to completely seal the front to the back.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make a bunch of these autumn leaf bookmarks and give them as small gifts or pass them out to your friends and family.