Capture a bit of fall and make a beautiful banner to display in your home. This is an easy art activity that will result in some stunning works of art! Invite the whole family to join in and make some festive leaf banners. Take a trip outside with your child and observe the fall surroundings while you collect fallen leaves and branches for this fun nature craft.
What You Need:
- Covered work area
- Natural colored cotton muslin cut into squares at least 6x6 inches (Note: Use pinking shears to prevent unraveling)
- Several large, well-formed fallen leaves
- Branches collected from outside
- Old toothbrushes
- Jar lids
- Red, yellow and brown non-toxic tempera paints (look for the AP (Approved Product) and CP (Certified Product) non-toxic seals on the labels)
- Tacks or a stapler
- Yarn, string or embroidery floss
What You Do:
- Have your child place a leaf on a muslin square and splatter paint around the edge of the leaf by dipping a toothbrush in paint and scraping it over the edge of a jar lid. This part can get messy so make sure your child is wearing clothes that are ok to get paint on and that your work surface is completely covered.
- Being careful not to move the leaf, help your child splatter paint all the way around the leaf, then lift it up to reveal the imprint left behind.
- Attach the banner to a branch with tacks or staples.
- Tie a piece of string to each end of the branch to make it easy to hang hang up.
- Allow to dry and hang it as is, or repeat the above steps the next day on the other side to make a double-sided banner.
- Hang in a place of prominence in your home to celebrate the season!
You and your child can make as many of these leaf banners as you like! They're easy to make and they'll look great hanging up in your home as a festive, fall decoration.
By Kathy Charner (Editor)
Adapted with permission from "Everything for Fall: An Early Childhood Curriculum Activity Book." Copyright 1997 by Kathy Charner (Editor). Used by Permission of Gryphon House, Inc., Maryland. All Rights Reserved.
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