Nov 23 2008
For the Love of Autumn Leaves
Personally, I love autumn leaves. I love seeing all the golden tawny colors spread across the front yard. I love listening to the crispy sound as the wind blows through them. I love gathering them, taking them indoors and using them for decorations. And I love using them as a subject for artwork. So, you can imagine my dismay at having a husband who likes the front yard neat and orderly. As they first start to fall, he mows them up. Later, when they start to cover the lawn he gathers them and takes them of…somewhere.
The truth is these dried leaves can be recycled in a lot of different ways. After all, nature is recycling by feeding the earth with these nutritious morsels. The two well known ways that human’s use them is as a mulch in the flower beds and as future compost for the garden. But, if you are an arts and crafts person, or you’re just feeling creative, you can press the leaves and use them in art projects.
I love creating multi-media art where you might start with a canvas and use paint, ink, chalk for the background and then add texture with, what else, pressed autumn leaves. Or, create a collage on a journal cover or gift card with the leaves.
How to Press Leaves
Its best to choose the autumn leaves that are still a bit pliable (have retained some moisture). So, when they are pressed they will not just crumble in a thousand pieces, but stay intact in one piece.
Step 1. Collect different shapes and colors of autumn leaves. Also pick some green ones for variation of color, if you like.
Step 2. Place the leaves between two pieces of paper. Find a location where they won’t be disturbed and place several books on top of them.
Step 3. Leave them to flatten and dry for a minimum of 24 hours.
Step 4. Place the flattened leaves between two sheets of waxed paper and then place a piece of paper over and another under them on the ironing board. With your iron on a medium low temperature (no steam), press over the paper, moving the iron slowly for about 10 seconds.
You know I’ve always wondered how that was done. Thank you for the tip.