Leaf and flower crafts for kids

Safety first

Only use leaves and petals that have already fallen, and collect them from safe places such as a path, a courtyard or your own garden. Please do not pick from other people's gardens, from places with picking rules or from protected areas, and do not pull anything off a living plant. Some plants can irritate skin or make people ill, and they can be hard to tell apart, so ask a grown-up to check each item before you touch it. Leave berries, mushrooms and anything unknown where they are. Nothing here goes in the mouth, including glue, paint and petals. Check for allergies and hay fever first, since pollen and dust can bother some children. Use a small dab of glue, keep it away from eyes and hair, and wipe sticky fingers straight away. Scissors are for grown-ups only, so a grown-up does any trimming while children sit at the table. Wash hands well after collecting and after crafting. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.

1. Leaf-print painting

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: washable paint on a plate, a soft brush, a few sturdy fallen leaves, paper and an old cloth to cover the table.

1. Ask your grown-up to check a dry leaf, then lay it vein-side up on scrap paper.
2. Brush a thin layer of paint over the veins. Too much paint hides the lines.
3. Turn the leaf over onto clean paper and press gently with a clean hand or a folded cloth.
4. Peel it off slowly and let the print dry flat.

Notice: Which parts of the leaf printed clearly, and which parts did not?

2. A leaf-person collage

Age hint: 3 and up, with help for the glue.

Bring: a sheet of card, child-safe glue, a handful of dry fallen leaves in different sizes, and a pencil or crayons for faces.

1. Lay your leaves on the card without glue first. A big leaf can be a body, a small one a head, and thin ones arms and legs.
2. Move them around until you like your person.
3. Add a small dab of glue under each leaf and press it down.
4. Draw a face, hair or a hat, and give your person a name.

Notice: What does your leaf person like to do, and which leaf shape made the best hands?

3. Pressed-petal bookmark

Age hint: 5 and up.

Bring: a few dry fallen petals or tiny leaves, plain paper, a heavy book, a strip of card, glue and clear tape.

1. Lay the petals flat between two sheets of plain paper, then close them inside a heavy book.
2. Add more books on top and leave it alone for a week or more, until the petals feel dry and papery. Throw away anything that smells or looks damp.
3. Arrange the dry petals on the card strip and fix each with a tiny dab of glue.
4. Ask your grown-up to cover the strip with clear tape, trimming the edges.

Notice: How did the colour and feel of the petals change after pressing?

4. Petal colour chart

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: a sheet of paper with a row of squares, a pencil, crayons and a few fallen petals or leaves in different colours.

1. Colour the top of each square with a crayon to match a colour you find.
2. Place the matching petal or leaf in the square, without glue, and look closely.
3. Sort each colour from lightest to darkest.
4. Take a photo or draw the chart, then return the petals to the ground.

Notice: How many different shades of green or pink can you find?

5. Stick-and-leaf boat

Age hint: 4 and up, with a grown-up beside the water.

Bring: a large dry leaf, a short fallen twig, a small leaf for a sail and a wide, shallow bowl with just a few fingers of water, set on a towel.

1. Ask your grown-up to check the leaf and twig and to smooth any rough ends.
2. Rest the twig across the big leaf, then fix the small leaf upright as a sail by tucking it in gently.
3. Set the boat on the water, with a grown-up within arm's reach.
4. Blow softly across the bowl and watch it travel. Empty the water when you finish.

Notice: Which leaf floated best, and what happened when you changed the sail?

For more splashing ideas, see our water play activities.

Tidying up

Pop used leaves and petals into a compost bin or return them outdoors. Wipe the table, wash brushes and plates, and wash hands again. Keep the craft table away from food, and store glue and paint out of little hands.

More to do on Rangooo

Gather materials on a walk with nature walk activities, paint stones with pebble painting for kids, make something from household bits with recycled crafts, try easy paper crafts, send a note with handmade cards for kids, explore shades with colour mixing activities, grow plants with balcony gardening for kids, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

Where can we find leaves and petals for crafts?

Look for fallen leaves and petals on the ground in a safe place, such as a path, a courtyard or your own garden. Please do not pick from other people's gardens, parks with picking rules or protected areas, and do not pull anything off a living plant.

Are any leaves or petals unsafe?

Some plants can irritate skin or make people ill if eaten, and it is hard to tell them apart. Let a grown-up check every item before it is touched, leave anything unknown on the ground, avoid berries and mushrooms completely, and wash hands afterwards. Nothing in these crafts is for eating.

What if my child has hay fever or allergies?

Check with a grown-up or your doctor before collecting, since pollen, dust and mould on leaves can bother some children. You could craft with dry paper leaves cut from old cards instead, or wear gloves and work in a well-aired spot.

How do we keep a pressed petal bookmark from going mouldy?

Use only petals and leaves that feel dry, press them between plain paper inside a heavy book and leave them undisturbed until they are completely dry and papery. Throw away anything that smells or looks damp rather than gluing it down.