You will need 3 leaves of the same size to make the mouse body and its head. Cut the leaf stalks from two of them. Start making the mouse from the body-end. Use double sided tape to fix the first leaf with a long stalk; this will make the mouse tail. Fix the other two leaves with the same tape. Make ears with smaller leaves. Use cut leaves stalk to make the mustache. You can use a beechnut to make the mouth and the beechnut husk to make the eye. Glue them to the leaves.
How to create leaf art
Fallen leaves can be used to create all sorts of leaf art. In this article we share some creative inspiration to get you started.
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1. Benefits for you
2. Leaf and twig tree
3. Leaf kebabs
4. Leaf animals
5. Ephemeral leaf art
6. What next
- Creating leaf art involves fine motor skills and dexterity
- There are no rights and wrong. Enjoy creating whatever comes to mind
- Using leaves to create art is a very eco friendly craft, using nature’s bounty to make something else of beauty
Leaf and twig tree
A tree picture made out of leaves and twigs
The leaves may have fallen off the tree, but you can create a whole new tree artwork using them!
Collect your twigs and leaves. Let them dry inside for a day before making your artwork.
You may find it easiest to first draw the outline of a tree on your paper using a pencil. Glue your twigs in place to create the trunk. You may need quite a bit of glue for this. Then, carefully glue your leaves in place to create the top leafy part of the tree.
Leave it to dry, then it is ready to display.
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Leaf kebabs
Leaf kebabs on a table
Leaf kebabs are a wonderfully simple, all natural form of leaf art. You can do this activity outside.
Find sticks and a number of leaves. Thinner sticks will be easier to use than thicker ones. You might like to use fallen leaves in a variety of colours, or use different shaped leaves.
Push the leaves onto the stick, exactly as if you were making a food kebab. Keep going until you have several stacked on the stick.
To display your leaf kebabs, you could place them in pots. You could fill the pots with compost so you can push one end of the stick in and make it more steady.
After my hip operation the hospital gave me a reach grabber tool to help with dressing. I now use it in the garden to pick up leaves and weeds
Gardener with arthritis
Leaf animal pictures
Some animals are hard to spot when you’re out exploring, but you can make your own forest friends using fallen leaves. Look for leaves shaped like a hedgehog’s snout, an owl’s feather, a squirrel’s bushy tail or a fox’s face, then build up a picture. You can use acorns and conkers for eyes and noses too.
Let your imagination run wild and create fun leaf animal pictures.
Credit: Danielle Wesley / WTML
Leaf printing
Printing with leaves is a creative way to make an autumn painting. Youngsters can experiment with leaves of different shapes and sizes and make all sorts of interesting patterns. You can even make cards to send to family and friends.
First, head outside and hunt for freshly-fallen leaves. (Flat ones are better as it’s tricky to get a clear print from curled up ones.) Now you’re ready to paint. Choose seasonal colours like yellow, orange and red. Paint the bumpy side of the leaf (look for the raised veins) and press it firmly onto some paper. Gently peel the leaf away to reveal colourful prints.
Leaf printing is a fun craft for children of all ages.
Credit: Sam Oxford-Dean / WTML
Leaf rubbings
Autumn is the ideal time to make leaf rubbings as there are so many fallen leaves around. They come in many shapes, sizes, colours and textures – encourage your kids to study the leaves they find and compare them with leaves from different trees. Can they spot similarities and differences?
At home, lay your leaves on a table with the veins facing up and put a sheet of paper over the top. Using the side of a crayon, colour over the leaves until you see the shapes and patterns magically emerge! Try to get all the details like the veins and crinkly edges.
Get your crayons out and make some leaf rubbings.
Credit: Danielle Wesley / WTML
Flower picture from autumn leaves
Take 5 leaves of the same size and fix them on the paper making a circle. Use leaf stalk to make the flower stem. Use smaller leaves of different colors and shapes to decorate inside part of the flower. You can place an opened beechnut husk to make the center of the flower. Use two small leaves to make the flower leaves. You may also glue some beechnuts to make the final touch. Use double sided tape or glue for all the fixations.
Butterfly picture from autumn leaves
Take a long leaf stalk and fix it on the paper. Use two bigger leaves for the butterfly top wings and two smaller leaves for the lower wings. Place a smaller leaf on each of the wings, preferably of a different color. You can use the maple tree seed pods for the butterfly antennae. Use double sided tape or glue for all the fixations.
Girl picture from autumn leaves
Take 3 leaves to make a skirt, then one leaf for the girl’s upper body. Use maple tree seed pods to make the legs. Take one small oval leaf to make the head. Use tiny oval leaves or cut two round shapes from bigger leaves to make the eyes. Cut small piece of leaf stalk to make the mouth. Use opened beechnuts husk(s) to make the hair. Use double sided tape or glue for all the fixations.
Fall crafts – 5 pictures with autumn leaves
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