November 8, 2011

Colorful Leaf Printing


The leaves are finally changing here in Virginia, and the trees are all golden and russet in the afternoon sunlight. On our walk today we came across a tree with huge yellow leaves and immediately plucked the largest for this craft. I've been just dying to try out leaf printing since I ran across the idea on Pinterest.


 We started by squirting different colored acrylic paints onto a baking a sheet. I then smudged them with paper towel into the general shape of the leaf.


 E pressed the leaf into the paint and then carefully placed the leaf onto the paper, pressing it some more. We made sure we placed the leaf vein-side down.


 She peeled back the leaf to reveal a gorgeous fall print. We made two prints, but there was still plenty of paint left on the pan. Kleas used one pan for an entire class of preschoolers, but since I didn't have other (awake) children in the house, I printed off this tree template for E to paint.


 Although its meant as a wedding keepsake (get your guests to ink their fingerprints onto either side of the tree), I added the word "thankful" and let E fill it in with her own sweet prints.


I truly am thankful for smudgy prints and the dear little fingers they belong to!

Autumn Walk by Kelly Asbury

I mention this book every year, but that's because I love it. Ignore the average illustrations and instead listen to the rhythmical, stimulating language throughout the book. After reading this to your kids, you're both going to want to romp through fallen leaves, sip hot apple cider, and glory in all that autumn offers.




Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

A classic Ehlert, this book follows the life of a sugar maple from the viewpoint of a young child. Gorgeous watercolor collages fill the pages while the narration provides interesting information about the beginnings of the maple tree.

34 comments:

  1. many people have written me to say they would LIKE to try the project, but this is the first time I get to see someone actually do it. thank you for posting it so i could get a glimpse of how yours turned out.

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  2. I love your leaf print! The tree looks great too.

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  3. We already have the "fingerprint" tree on our list to do this week, but I am now adding the leaf print since we will already have the right color paints out! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. We tried some leaf printing earlier in the fall, and totally failed. Yours came out beautifully! And, I love the fingerprint tree - the template and colors are fantastic.

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  5. So cool! I have that template saved to print off too! Thanks for reminding me to do that. LOL!

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  6. Just beautiful!!!! What a treasure!

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  7. I love this project, and the fingerprint is beautiful. What is the font you used?

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  8. I love this!! I just can't figure out how to add text...I'm using a MAC if anyone has a suggestion!! thanks!!

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  9. Thanks, everyone! To answer your questions, the font is called "Caviar Dreams". You can download it at http://www.dafont.com/caviar-dreams.font. To add the font I opened the pdf in Photoshop, but if you don't have Photoshop (and a mac) try taking a screenshot using command-shift-4.

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  10. LOVE your leaf print - it looks like so much fun & it came out amazing! I am your newest follower. I'd love for you to follow me back, if you want to =-) I also wanted to invite you to link up at TGIF Linky Party -0 http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties
    Beth =-)

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  11. They are so beautiful! I wanna try them. did you use just A4 print paper or any thicker one?

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  12. I just love the finger print tree idea. My daughter is 4 and she will love to do this. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  13. I love both of these ideas! So perfect for Thanksgiving - can't wait to do this!

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  14. I love this! I am totally doing it with the kids this year. Love your blog - following along now. Pinned!

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  15. Do you have a link to download the tree printable? That is really cool!

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  16. Where do I get the Finger Print Tree template from?

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  17. Oooh! I love this! I'm going to save it for November!

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  18. Is there a copy of that gorgeous tree anywhere? It is beautiful! Also, I love your idea for pressing the leaves into paint and then onto paper. We tried it this fall painting the leaves and then pressing the paper and they didn't turn out as perfect as yours! Trying your way next year!

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  19. I am going to use this for a baby shower my daughter-in-law's theme is owls so thought that is would be neat for all of the shower guest to leave a little something special for little Anna-Faith so that this print could be frame above her baby bed so that is will always know the peoples lives she will touch

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  20. I loved the thanksgiving tree! I am having my boys make them as thank you cards:)
    I had to share this one with my homeschooling readers:)

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  21. I've featured this on my latest post!

    http://glamorousbride.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-crafts.html

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  22. I'm in love with the thankful tree. I just posted an apple tree with the same fingerprints, but we used the forearm for the trunk and handprints as the leaves. I love the tree you used, and how it made the leaves pop! Can't wait to try this one out! What a fun mom you are! Thanks for sharing!

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  23. Please help me find the Tree Template, I have clicked on the link and it takes me to a wedding blog. Thank You

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  24. Do you have this as a printable? I would love to do this with my first graders. Thanks so much!

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  25. I know this is an old post, but I cannot find the tree template on that site anymore. Does anyone know where to find it? I'm loving it and hoping to let my little ones work on it for their grandparents :). Thanks!!

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  26. Do you have a printable for the tree? I'd love to do it with my kids this year! Thanks!

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  27. I love the tree but was wondering what website you printed it from?

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