Things You'll Need:
- Autumn leaves
- Acid-free construction paper or card stock
- Ribbon
- Clear plastic contact paper
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Colored pencils and markers
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Step 1
Purchase your scrapbooking supplies (see Resources). Make sure that the contact paper you buy is the same size or larger than your construction paper or card stock. Buy high-quality supplies which will last for years without yellowing or becoming brittle.
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Step 2
Gather autumn leaves of several different colors. Get a variety of different types of leaves, such as oak, maple and cottonwood. Have your children help you and encourage them to select their favorite fall leaves. Don't pick up leaves that are dry or brittle.
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Step 3
Place each leaf between the pages of a large book, such as a dictionary or encyclopedia volume. Make sure that the leaf is not touching any other leaf. Place a heavy object such as another book on top of this book. Allow the leaves to remain here for several hours.
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Step 4
Spread the leaves across a piece of construction paper. Allow your children to arrange the leaves in the pattern they desire, with the colorful side facing upward. Supervise this process to make sure that the autumn leaves are in an attractive pattern and not going over the boundary of the paper.
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Step 5
Remove the backing from a piece of contact paper. Carefully lower the contact paper, adhesive side down, onto the autumn leaves and paper.
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Step 6
Repeat steps 4 and 5 on the back of this page. Create three or four more pages of autumn leaves.
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Step 7
Create a front page for your scrapbook. Allow the kids to draw autumn pictures lightly in graphite pencil and give their book a title. Go over the outline of the pictures and text with marker. Color them in with colored pencils. Create a back page design on a separate piece of paper, if you like. Laminate both the front and back cover with contact paper.
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Step 8
Trim any excess contact paper from the pages of the scrapbook. Use a ruler if necessary to keep the edges straight. Stack the pages in the proper order and tap the edges on a clean, clear workspace. Punch three holes at the leftmost edge of the scrapbook and tie them together securely with ribbon.
