Bring the warmth and color of fall leaves into your home with this perfect rainy day activity. This simple, seasonal project calls for only two ingredients: glue and food coloring! The leaves dry in a day and can be displayed in different ways, like around a candle centerpiece or glued onto a cardboard ring to make a colorful fall wreath.
What You Need:
- White glue
- Food coloring
- Wax paper
- Toothpicks
- Small paint brushes
- Paper plates or disposable cups
What You Do:
- Begin by placing some wax paper on your work surface.
- In a disposable container, have your child mix some glue and yellow food coloring to make a light yellow. This will be the base color for the leaves. Pour a small puddle of glue, about three tablespoons of liquid, on the wax paper.
- Have your child use a paintbrush to brush the glue into a shape of a leaf. This is a great time to brainstorm or sketch out various leaf shapes. You can make it longer, with a pointy end, or wider with globes like an oak leaf. Maybe the leaf doesn't exist in nature, but only in the imagination!
- Next, squirt a small amount of red and yellow food coloring on separate paper plates.
- Dip a toothpick or paintbrush into the food coloring and paint the leaves. Swirl the colors into the leaf in creative designs, and the colors will blend together as the leaf hardens. Let leaves dry overnight. As they dry, the colors will become more intense and slightly translucent.
- After they dry, carefully peel the leaves off the wax paper. If your child wants, trim off any rough edges with scissors. They will stay pliable for another day, so you can curl the edges up, or fold them in half at this time.
It's hard to tell these beautiful glue leaves from the real thing!
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