Invite the kids to make a fall leaf baby with real autumn leaves.
If you like “Leaf Man,” you will love this easy fall leaf nature craft. Create fall art with leaves with this easy, autumn-themed book-inspired nature craft for kids. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create beautiful leaf art using real fall leaves and simple watercolor paintings.
Whether you’re an experienced artist or just looking for a fun, creative fall activity, this fall leaf art project blends the natural charm of pressed leaves with a watercolor wash to create something unique. This autumn leaf craft is also a fun activity for a baby shower and is a unique gift idea for a new mother. You may also enjoy these Fall Nature Crafts.
I recently dug this project out of the art box to take pictures of it and share it with you. This leaf baby is two years old in these photos!
Related: Fall Books for Kids.
Fall Leaf Craft
After reading Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert with my daughter, we were inspired to create some of our own leaf art. We used some of my daughter’s single-color wet-on-wet watercolor paintings as the background or canvas for our projects. My daughter and I created lots of leaf nature crafts, including a leaf baby and these fish in the sea!
Start by taking a nature walk to collect some colorful leaves. Then gather the remaining supplies from the recommendations below and get ready to create seasonal art with fall leaves. You might also enjoy these Fall Art Projects for Kids.
Fall Leaf Art Supplies:
- Single color, two color, and/or three color wet-on-wet watercolor paintings or construction paper or colored cardstock.
- Fresh or pressed preserved fall leaves
- Mod Podge with a foam brush
Related: Turkey Leaf Lanterns
Leaf Man Book-Inspired Nature Craft Preparation
If you don’t have any watercolor paintings, you can create some first using the single color, two color, and three color wet-on-wet watercolor tutorials. Click on the links above to learn more about this process. Short on time and don’t have any watercolor paintings? Use construction paper or colored cardstock.
Related: Windy Fall Leaves Sensory Bottle
How to Make a Fall Leaf Baby: Step-by-Step Tutorial
Follow the easy step-by-step directions below to make a “Leaf Baby” inspired by Lois Ehlert’s gorgeous book “Leaf Man
.”
1. Gather Materials and Supplies:
- Collect leaves and gather your choice of art supplies recommended above.
2. Apply Mod Podge with a foam brush on the back of each leaf:
- Use a foam brush to apply Mod Podge or another watered-down white glue to the back of each leaf as shown in the photograph below.
- Flip it over and press it down onto the canvas to create leaf art.
3. glue leaves to create art:
- Glue the autumn leaves onto watercolor paintings or construction paper in the shape of a leaf baby, as shown in the photographs.
- Alternatively, create another shape or form of leaf art.
- Make a leaf baby, or use any of this leaf art project as inspiration to do your own thing.
- I have a few more watercolor and fall leaf art projects you may also be interested in checking out.
4. Seal and Protect Leaf Art:
- Use a foam brush to apply Mod Podge on top of the leaf baby nature craft project to seal and protect it.
- Don’t skip this last step if you want to preserve your leaf baby.
- The photos shown were taken when our leaf baby was 2, but we preserved it before we put it away.
- If you would like to learn more about preserving autumn leaves, click on the link!
Related: Fall Leaves Black Glue Watercolor Resist Art
Related: Fall Leaf Lacing Beginning Sewing Project for Kids
Leaf Baby Autumn Leaf Art Project for Kids
Use real autumn leaves to make “Leaf Man” inspired nature crafts. Creating art with leaves is an easy book-inspired nature craft for kids. This fall leaf craft project not only provides a creative outlet but also a chance to slow down and connect with the natural world. You may also like this collection of nature crafts and art activities for kids and teens.
Making leaf babies is a fun activity for an art project at home or in the classroom, a baby shower, and is a unique gift idea for a new mother. For more ideas, be sure to check out this fantastic collection of fall art projects for kids, and our fall bucket list family guide for the best autumn ever!
Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author, photographer, and creator of this original fall leaf craft HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!
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