Wax Paper Leaf Book Instructions
Making a wax paper leaf book prolongs the fun and learning of a fall leaf walk. Collecting and preserving an array of leaves with different shapes and colors increases a child's interest in examining the natural world close up. A homemade leaf book is also a craft children can take a leading role in doing; all they need is your supervision or help with using an iron. Replacing wax paper with clear self-adhesive contact paper makes the project a truly hands-on craft for families. Make one book and prepare for enthusiastic requests to make more!
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Things You'll Need
- Colored or green leaves, in a variety of shapes and colors
- Wax paper
- Brown kraft paper
- Old phone book or several heavy books
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Scissors
- Colored construction paper
- Hole punch
- Ribbon or string
Instructions
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Wipe leaves you have collected free of moisture and dirt. Place the leaves between sheets of brown kraft paper and weight them with a phone book or other heavy book for three to five days.
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Tear several lengths of wax paper to make leaf book pages. Let children arrange leaves on half of each wax paper sheet; fold it in half widthwise to indicate the space to be covered with leaves.
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Place a sheet of brown kraft paper on the ironing board. Fold the wax paper sheet in half, if you have not already done so, so that leaves rest between two layers of wax paper. Add a second sheet of brown paper between the wax paper and the iron. Set iron on warm, setting and press until wax melts to hold both halves of the sheet together. Press for the count of 10, raise brown paper to check, and repeat if necessary.
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Trim ironed pages so that they are all the same size. Stack them, and punch two holes, approximately 2 inches apart, on the top or left side of the pages. Cut a sheet of construction paper to fit the pages, and make a cover; punch the same holes in the cover.
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With your pages and cover stacked together, thread string or ribbon through the two punched holes, tying the ends together in a knot or bow, to hold your book together.
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Tips & Warnings
If you choose clear contact paper over wax paper, peel off half the backing on a page, let children arrange leaves on the sticky side, then peel the rest of the page and fold it over to cover the leaves.
Leaf books are easy for even young children to make. When they tire of their own "library," they can make books to thank Grandma for a visit or share a bit of fall with a faraway relative in another climate.
Leaf books make a great spring or summer project, helping children recognize different kinds of trees and exploring shades of green during growing times.
Small buds and even flowers can be preserved in a wax paper book.
Even a warm iron can burn little fingers. An adult needs to manage the iron until children are old enough to follow supervision.
References
- Photo Credit fall leaves in gutter image by Jeffrey Sinnock from Fotolia.com
