How to Stamps With Fall Leaves
When fall leaves begin to change color, they can create a dazzling display. You can preserve the beauty of autumn by making fall leaf stamps before the leaves fall off the trees. These can then be used to create simple yet beautiful works of art. If you like to do craft projects often, chances are you already have all the materials you need. This is a wonderful project to keep kids busy on cold, rainy days. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Autumn leaves
- Construction paper
- White paper
- Glue
- Craft paint
- Paint brush
Instructions
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1
Pull some leaves off several trees. Try to vary the type of leaves that you use. For example, get some oak leaves, maple leaves and cottonwood leaves. Try to find perfect leaves without broken points or insect damage. It's fine if the leaves have changed color, but don't pick leaves that are brown or brittle.
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2
Remove the stems from the leaves. Place them within the pages of a large, heavy book, such as a dictionary. Place another book or set of books on top of this book. Allow the fall leaves to remain here for several hours.
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3
Remove the leaves from the book. Brush some craft glue on the side with the most prominent veins. Attach the leaf to a piece of construction paper. Rinse the glue from your brush. Allow the glue to dry completely before continuing.
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4
Make a new stamp for every different color leaf you would like to create. If you're using several different types of leaves, then create multiple stamps for each color of each different leaf shape.
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5
Place your craft paints in the cups of a Styrofoam egg carton. Water them down just a little. Fill an old cup full of water for rinsing. Use the brush to apply some craft paint to one leaf. Don't apply the craft paint too thickly. Select fall colors such as brown, yellow, orange and red. Use a large brush for the inside of the leaf and a small one for the edges. Take care not to get any paint on the construction paper. Apply one color per leaf.
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6
Press the painted fall leaf gently against a piece of white paper, then peel it up. Repeat the painting and pressing process for each leaf pattern you would like to create. For best results, allow the paint of the last leaf stamp to dry before stamping another one.
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Tips & Warnings
Do the stamp creation and painting yourself, and let your kids do the stamping.
Use old T-shirts as smocks for both yourself and your child.
Leaf stamps don't keep well. Throw them out when you're finished stamping, and make new leaf stamps next year.
