Leaves and imagination

When I’m out on a walk, I can never resist stopping to pick up some beautiful leaves. I take them home and, after a couple of days drying under a heavy book, I can use them to make something new. With a bit of imagination, they can become butterflies, faces or little works of art.

 

1. Leaf butterflies
Turn a few different leaves into a decorative butterfly.

How to make it:
Choose four leaves for the wings.

Trim them a little bit if necessary, to create a nice shape.

Glue them to a piece of paper. Make a body and antennae out of stems or twigs.

Leave natural or decorate the wings with paint.

 

2. A natural hairstyle
Turn any leaf into a fun character by adding a simple face.

How to make it:
Cut a simple face out of thick paper.

Glue this to the bottom of a nice leaf.

Use the shape of the leaf to form a hairstyle.

Use a fine liner to draw features onto the face and add some colour to the cheeks too if desired.

Draw on simple faces and give each leaf its own personality, or make all the different members of your family! I think they’re so cheerful!

 

3. Paint gingko leaves
Fan-shaped gingko leaves are perfect for painting to make butterflies.

How to make it:
Use dried gingko leaves. Stick two leaves together at a slight angle, so the stems look like antennae.

Cut a little triangle out of the bottom. Paint the two halves with a symmetrical design.

Leave the paint to dry fully.

A paintbrush, some paint and a pretty leaf are all you need.

 

Have fun crafting!
Love, Daphne