How to properly autumn leaves. Leaf crafts: new photo ideas, tips, instructions

Golden autumn in its full swing, in the parks, the beauty is indescribable. As a family, we really love to walk in the autumn forest, rustle leaves, raise whole “pillars” with our feet, arrange fireworks from them, and on the way home, collect the most beautiful ones and put them in a vase at home ... Oh, but at home all this beauty is warm so short lived. A couple of days pass and the leaves dry, wither and begin to curl, and so I wanted to save bright colors autumn and admire them in winter!

And here are the resources! Welcome to the cut to find out all the "magic", as well as for fun ideas of what leaves can do!

Save the leaves

The simplest and most well-known way to preserve leaves is through drying under pressure. But this method is suitable if you want to make a herbarium. Just storing it in a vase or somehow decorating a room with dried leaves is not very good, because the leaves become too brittle. Therefore, if we want to decorate the room with the help of leaves, then it is better to choose a different method of “preservation”.

In order to “prolong the life” of fallen leaves, it is best to collect still “wet” (recently fallen), undamaged leaves.

Method 1 - soak in glycerin

To do this, we need a baking sheet (or a deep tray), a board (which will completely fit into a tray or baking sheet, in fact, glycerin itself (a lot)
Glycerin is the best remedy to maintain plasticity.

We make a solution - 2 parts of water and 1 part of glycerin. The solution needs so much so that our leaves can be drowned in it. The solution is poured into a tray or baking sheet, leaves are placed in one layer, and covered with a board on top so that the leaves are completely recessed. We leave it like that for 2-3 days, and then we check. If the leaves have become plastic, you can dry them, and if they are still a little brittle and “dry” to the touch, then it is better to leave them for another couple of days.

Ready-made such leaves are perfect for decorating a room - wreaths, garlands or just a bouquet.

Also, small branches can be preserved in a solution of glycerin.

How it's done:

1. Cut off small twigs with leaves and immediately immerse the stems in a container with warm water. Let them sit there for about 2 hours, away from direct sunlight.
2. Make a solution of 1 part glycerin with 2 parts water (you can add a few drops of dishwashing liquid) and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer it for 5-10 minutes over low heat.
3. Allow the solution to cool completely.
4. Remove the branches from the water container, and break their ends with a hammer in order to large surface could absorb the solution.
5. Put the branches in a solution with glycerin. Keep away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat until small dew drops appear on the leaves. This means that the leaves have absorbed all they can.
6. Remove the twigs and wipe the leaves.
7. Hang the branches upside down to dry.

Method 2 - wax paper

You will need wax paper (for baking), 2 towels, iron

Cut off a piece wax paper and lay our leaves on it in one layer so that there is space between them. Top with the same sheet of the same waxed paper. It turned out such a "sandwich". Now it breaks up with a towel (kitchen, not thick) on top and gently iron it so as not to dislodge the leaves. NO STEAM! It is also better to put a thin towel on the surface on which we iron, so as not to stain anything with wax. Pieces of waxed paper should stick together completely. After cooling, we cut out our leaves, leaving small edges so that the paper remains “sealed”. Leaves are intact!

Method 3 - wax procedures

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We take paraffin wax (we took ordinary candles) and melt it over low heat. ATTENTION - we melt in the container, which is not a pity, it is not possible to wash off completely solidified wax (we have had a special bowl for these procedures for a couple of years already).
Where the leaves will then dry, we lay wax paper (again, it is better to lay it under kitchen towel) (or you can hang the leaves on a rope to dry).

We take the leaf by the handle and gently immerse it several times in melted wax.

And now for some fun ideas on what to do with leaves.

funny herbarium

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A figured hole punch is always useful

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Shall we play?

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Painting

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We draw with prints

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Thus, you can make postcards as a gift.

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And if you take craft paper (brown) and decorate it with a lot of prints, then the issue of gift wrapping will be solved!

Can you print on fabric?

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With pencils

Beautiful leaves are the highlight of this season. Some fall foliage looks more beautiful than flowers in summer, because it is filled with vibrant, genuine colors. But in order to preserve this beauty, you will have to make an effort.

Foliage selection can be done with children, brothers, sisters, and then make a beautiful family bouquet. When looking for craft materials, follow these guidelines:

• choose flat, not twisted specimens without streaks or tubercles;
• gather foliage different colors, do not get hung up on one tone, otherwise your autumn bouquet will be boring;
• dry wet leaves under pressure, otherwise they will not be preserved;
• leaflets that accumulate less moisture in themselves can be preserved with glycerin or silica gel.

How to keep autumn leaves for a long time

There are several ways to preserve seasonal beauty.

Pressing

Pressing the foliage is the easiest, but the result will not last as long as we would like. After it, the foliage often loses its shape, and then quickly dries out if not constantly under pressure. However, it is one of the most common ways to save money. autumn beauty. How to dry leaves under pressure:

1. Choose dry flat leaves.
2. Lay them between newspapers or waterproof waxed paper - a layer of wax will seal the cracks and make the leaves smooth.
3. Take a couple of heavy books, put paper in the middle. A large weight will not allow the herbarium to twist.
4. Place more heavy books or any other weight on top.
5. Leave the book in a cool, dry place. After a week, check the leaves - they should dry out, but if something went wrong, only rot will remain from beauty. If during this time nothing happened to the leaves, hold them under pressure for as long as possible.

After pressing, the foliage can be used to design a room or decorate furniture by placing the dried branches on interior items and then covering them with a transparent cloth. Such decor will make the apartment even more comfortable.

Application of silica gel

Silica gel is a powder white color used for drying shoes. It resembles salt and can often be found in shoe boxes. Silica gel removes moisture, so it helps a lot when drying shoes. Powder can be purchased at any craft or hardware store.

Silica gel is a powerful thing, it will cope even with thick wreaths. Therefore, in order for the craft to be stored for a long time, the composition should be preserved in this way. The drying process by this method consists of several stages:

1. Choose moist elastic specimens.
2. Sprinkle a 3 cm layer of silica gel on the bottom of a thick microwaveable dish.
3. Put yellow leaves on top, leave some free space.
4. Completely cover the material with another layer of powder.
5. Place the dish in the microwave at medium power, uncovered, for about 2 minutes.
6. Check the leaves periodically. When they are dry, take them out and let them cool.

The use of glycerin solution

Marinating in glycerin is one of the best practices conservation of the herbarium. When using this liquid, the foliage remains flexible and soft for several years. So you can save not only leaves, but also whole small branches.

1. Make a one to two solution of glycerin with water, pour into a flat tray.
2. Fold everything into a glycerin composition, and then cover with another dish. Allow the herbarium to fully submerge in the solution.
3. Leave the leaves to soak in glycerin. Check every 2-3 days to keep them soft and bouncy.
4. After filling with glycerin, the herbarium must be removed and the remains wiped off.

After the glycerin solution, the foliage can also be used for wreaths or garlands. With their help, you can transform the interior of the table, make rings for napkins and dishes.

Those methods that we talked about above have one significant drawback - in the pursuit of storage time during drying, you can deprive the bouquet of the beauty that you were just trying to preserve. The probability of such an outcome is small, but still it is.

1. Choose fresh, damp maple leaves and place them between two paper towels.
2. Put this "sandwich" on a tray that can be heated in the microwave.
3. Put in the microwave and turn it on at medium power.
4. Check the herbarium every 30-60 seconds. With high humidity and thickness, this process will take longer.

If too long passes, the leaves can ignite and flare, so keep a close eye on them before they crumble and shrink. Only you can protect the leaves from drying out, and the house from a fire.

The time has come autumn preparations. This is not about canning tomatoes or cucumbers. Who in the family has children of preschool and younger age will understand what it is about. ahead academic year and time for regular crafts.

We will prepare autumn leaves.

There are many ways: you can press the leaves (remember school herbariums?), save with wax paper, laminate, use silica gel, and even dry in the microwave.

In our opinion, best way preservation of leaves - with glycerin. Not the fastest, but the leaves remain soft to the touch, are stored for several years, and are suitable for crafts and for decorating rooms.

You will need:

• Glycerin (sold in any pharmacy, it is cheap)
• Containers or trays
• Autumn leaves
• Absorbent paper (napkins will do).

1. Select beautiful leaves. It is better that they are free of spots, bulges and not twisted. Put them in a plastic container.

2. Mix 1 part glycerin and 2 parts water by volume.

3. Pour the mixture over the leaves. To prevent the leaves from floating up, you can press them down with something, for example, put a smaller container on top.

4. Leave for 2-3 days. After that, check. If the leaves are still dry to the touch, leave for a couple more days. The leaves should feel soft and elastic to the touch.

It is easy for children to be carried away by something new and interesting. If the child is already bored with drawing or modeling, you can invite him to make crafts from bright autumn leaves. This process is utterly fascinating - amazing things are born from simple dried leaves with the help of glue, threads and other improvised devices. Having engaged in applications or making vases and bouquets, the child will not only be able to develop his creative skills and imagination, but also get to know environment. Collecting a herbarium for crafts is an excellent opportunity to teach a child to distinguish different breeds trees. So, what can be done from the leaves?

Preparing leaves for crafts

For the manufacture of any leaf craft, only well-dried material is needed, fresh leaves will not work. Leaf preparation takes long time so you have to be patient. In addition, you need to dry the material correctly, here are the basic rules:

1. If the evenness of the leaves is not important for crafts, they can be put in a spacious container (for example, a large wicker basket) and leave on fresh air. So the leaves dry quickly, and air circulation will not allow mold to develop.
2. To get perfectly smooth leaves, you need to lay them between book pages or landscape sheets under pressure. Carefully spread the material between the sheets of books or albums. It will take at least 14 days for the material to dry completely and be ready for use.
3. If you do not want to wait a long time, you can use a special herbarium press. To do this, fold a stack of leaves, alternating each layer with newsprint or scrap sheets. In a few days, the material for crafts will be ready.

How to make leaf skeleton

Skeletons of leaves due to their lightness and transparency look very impressive as a decor. To achieve this effect, you need to resort to a special technique - skeletonization.

What you need:

• any fresh leaves;
• soda;
• egg dye;
• small capacity - ladle or pan;
• Toothbrush;
• paper napkins.

How to make skeletonized leaves:

1. Mix soda with water in proportions of 1 to 4 and put in ready solution leaves so that they are completely hidden by water.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Remove the saucepan from the stove and remove the leaves, lay them carefully on the table, glossy side up.
4. Remove excess moisture with paper towels.
5. Peel off the pulp from the leaf with a brush (this must be done very carefully, the leaves are quite fragile).
6. Rinse the skeleton under water and then paint it in desired color.
7. Leave the painted skeletal leaves to dry.

The resulting material is ready for use.

Bouquet of flowers from leaves

A bouquet is the simplest thing that can be made from leaves, and it is worth starting with it if the child has not previously been engaged in such crafts. To make crafts in the form of a homemade bouquet, it is not necessary to use real flowers, dry them, etc. Buds can be made from multi-colored leaves collected on a walk. Connect children to every step of the process, creating a real creative workshop.

What you need to make crafts:

• maple leaves (fresh) with stems;
• spool of strong thread.

To make a bud maple leaves, you need to do several things:

1. Take one sheet first and fold it glossy side out.
2. Roll the sheet into a tube.
3. Fold the next sheet in half and wrap it around the straw.
4. Continue to wrap the bud with leaves until the flower is quite lush.
5. Wrap the base of the bud with thread so that the flower does not fall apart.

With this method, you can make any number of flowers, which are then simply collected in a bouquet.

Topiary can be made from the most different materials. Often you can find crafts made from coffee, banknotes, sweets, hearts, etc. This version of the topiary involves the use of maple leaves.

So, what is required for the topiary:

• pot;
• wooden stick for the trunk;
• a ball of foam rubber or polystyrene as a base;
• gypsum;
• dye;
• hot glue;
• elements for decor.

The procedure for creating an autumn topiary looks like this:

1. The stick must be inserted into the pot and firmly fixed with a gypsum mortar. As a result, the structure will be strong and stable.
2. Paint the pot and wand a color you like, such as gold to match the leaves.
3. We fix a ball of foam rubber on the top of the stick - this is the future crown of the tree.
4. Stick into the ball right amount leaves. For decoration, you can use berry clusters, ribbons, beads, as well as artificial twigs and flowers. To make the stems of the leaves more durable, they must first be soaked in a hot solution of glycerin (1 to 2) and left in this form for 10 days in a dark, cool place.
5. Next, we decorate the trunk and soil of the tree with dry moss, bark, and beads.

How to make a decorative fall wreath

From bright autumn leaves you can weave a beautiful wreath to decorate windows, doors, walls, etc. A wreath attached to front door, will delight not only you, but also your guests.

What you need for crafts:

• flexible branches of any tree;
• dried leaves of different colors (contrasting combinations look best, for example, yellow and red);
• bunches of red berries (mountain ash, viburnum, etc.);
• physalis;
• glue;
• spool of strong threads;
• decorative metallized threads;
• small figurines of birds for bouquets.

How to weave a wreath:

1. The branches will serve as a frame - make a round or oval wreath out of them.
2. For strength, fasten the structure with a thread in several places.
3. Wrap the frame tightly with gold thread, leaving small twigs free.
4. Glue the leaves to the branches.
5. Attach the berry clusters with string.
6. Glue or thread physalis.
7. Finally, attach the birds to the wreath.

A ready-made craft made of leaves in the form of a wreath can be hung anywhere in the house; it will delight you with its beauty for a long time and remind you of the most colorful season.

Beautiful autumn leaves can be used not only for simple children's crafts, but also for a full-fledged interior decoration. One of these products is a fruit vase.

To make such a vase you need:

• glue and brush;
• inflatable ball;
• petrolatum;
• scissors;
• maple leaves.

Step by step instructions:

1. Inflate the balloon to the size you need.
2. Lubricate the surface of the ball with petroleum jelly, this is necessary so that the leaves do not stick to it in the process and easily separate from it.
3. Fix the ball in a stationary state, so it will be more convenient for you to make your vase.
4. Glue maple leaves to the ball, pre-lubricating them with plenty of glue.
5. To make the vase strong enough, you will need several layers of maple leaves.
6. As soon as the last layer is completed, once again carefully coat the product with glue and leave for 3 days.
7. Pop or deflate the balloon, remove its remnants from the product.

The original interior decoration is ready.

Photo frame in autumn style

Children love to decorate the walls of their room with their own drawings and favorite photographs. Craft from leaves in the form of a frame, perfect for complementing the design of the room. Help your child decorate the frame with autumn leaves, where he will then place his favorite photo.

For crafts you need:

• thick cardboard;
• glue;
• leaves you like;
• pencil;
• scissors.

How to make a frame:

1. Cut out a square or rectangular frame from cardboard right size. The center of the frame, where the photo will be placed, needs to be cut out a little smaller size a photo.
2. To wrap the frame with leaves, pre-soak them in hot water, so they will become softer and will not tear and break in the process.
3. Glue the leaves to the frame.
4. Wait for the product to dry.

When the frame is ready, insert a photo into it, securing it with glue or tape.

Applications from autumn leaves

Applications are one of the simplest types of crafts made from dried leaves. Using leaflets different forms and sizes, you can create real paintings, which will then become the decoration of your home. You can make a whole series of panels united by a common theme. These can be animals, landscapes, etc. Next, several small workshops will be presented on making applications in the form of an owl, a Firebird, a fish and a lion.

Owl

To make an application with the image of an owl, you will need:

• small leaves brown tones(for this you can use oak, willow, birch);
• colored paper;
• a small branch of thuja;
• a sheet of cardboard;
• a bunch of rowan berries;
• any branch of a tree;
• glue.

Before starting work, the leaves and berries must be dried. Once all the materials are ready, it's time to proceed to the most important thing:

1. Cut out an owl from cardboard along the contour.
2. Birch or oak leaves will depict the ears and legs of an owl, glue them in the right places.
3. For feathers, use long, narrow willow leaves.
4. Cut out eyes and a beak from colored paper and glue them on.
5. Glue your owl onto a tree branch to serve as a craft stand.

For additional decor you can use moss or thuja twigs. You can also use mountain ash as owl paws. The product is ready.

Firebird

For the application with the Firebird you will need:

• paper;
• leaves of linden, birch and wild rose;
• pumpkin seeds;
• thuja branches.

And here is what the process looks like:

1. A lime leaf is glued to the place where the body of the bird will be.
2. Birch leaf - head.
3. Rosehip leaves are glued individually on the tail.
4. Whole rosehip branches will serve as an additional decoration of the tail.
5. Glue birch leaves to the body, these will be the wings.
6. From pumpkin seeds eyes are made, as well as decorations for the body and tail of the Firebird.
7. The final stage is a crest from a thuja sprig or any other suitable plant.

The firebird is ready.

a lion

Children love different animals, so it will be especially interesting for them to make one of the familiar animals.

What you need for a lion cub:

• rounded linden leaves yellow color;
• black marker;
• ash seeds;
• horse chestnut(nuts);
• glue;
• a small pine branch;
• scissors;
• a sheet of yellow paper;
• a sheet of orange cardboard.

Having collected all necessary material, it's time to start making crafts:

1. Draw a lion's head on yellow paper or print the image on a printer, cut it out along the contour.
2. For the mane, use linden leaves by gluing them around the head.
3. Draw the lion's nose and glue a chestnut in its place.
4. Pine needles will go to the mustache.
5. The ash seed will represent the tongue.

As soon as the craft dries, it will be completely ready.

Rybka

What kid doesn't know about the wish-granting goldfish? Making crafts with your own hands will be very entertaining for the baby.

To make a fish craft, you will need:

• dry leaves of quince and linden brown and yellow, respectively;
• glue;
• marker;
• ash seeds;
• acorns;
• paper scissors;
• sheet of blue paper.

How to do:

1. Draw the outline of the fish on blue paper and cut it out.
2. Make scales from linden leaves and glue them to the body of the fish.
3. To decorate the tail, use brown leaves quince.
4. Use acorn caps to draw the outline of the fish's head.

Everything real gold fish ready.

Multi-colored leaves delight the eye every autumn, falling to the ground. This beauty quickly fades under the rain, turning the leaves into a solid brown mass. However, there is a way to preserve the beauty and brightness of autumn leaves - dry them or skeletonize them and use them to make various gizmos from children's crafts to interior decorations. This activity will appeal to both children and adults.

75 photos of leaf craft ideas

Leaves and fruits that have retained their color and texture due to processing using a special technology will give a special presentability to bouquets of dried flowers. From fresh fruits and freshly cut leaves create beautiful compositions. But these components can also be used as an addition to bouquets of dried flowers, from which they differ so much in texture, shape, and color. Leaves and fruits are especially good in the golden season, when the fading sad beauty of flowers is replaced by bright colors of autumn.

Glycerin Helper

The processing technology based on the use of glycerin helps to preserve the beauty of autumn leaves: their colors will become brighter and richer, a glossy sheen will appear. After such treatment, the leaves can retain their color for several years.

leaf preparation

If there are lower leaves on the stem, remove them. Cut the bark from the woody stems (5 cm). Lightly break their ends with a hammer or split sharp knife crosswise so that the solution is quickly absorbed.

Making a solution

Stirring constantly, dissolve 1 part glycerin in 2 parts boiling water, then bring to a boil over medium heat and cool slightly. Pour into a heatproof container, cover and shake to mix the solution well. (If any excess diluted glycerin remains, it can be cooled and stored for later use in a sealed container.) Slowly, slowly Dip the stems of the plants into the hot solution: it should cover them by at least 8 cm. Place the container with the plants in a cool place, protect from direct sunlight and leave until the solution is completely absorbed. The appearance of moisture droplets on the leaves indicates that all the glycerin has been absorbed. (The soaking process can take up to three weeks.) Check the blanks regularly because the stems of some plants absorb the glycerin solution more quickly. If the liquid has dried up, but the droplets did not appear on all the leaves, add an additional portion of the solution to the container (it should be hot, but not boiling). When the leaves have completely absorbed the glycerin, remove them from the container and wipe with a dry cloth. Before using the blanks, dry them for two weeks by hanging them on a rope. Blanks coated with waterproof varnish can be used to make bouquets of fresh flowers. (Such mixed bouquets are safely placed in water.)

Preserving large leaves

Large leaves of some plants such as fig tree and Japanese aralia (Fatsia), cannot be completely saturated with a glycerin solution, so their edges become brittle. These leaves

canned otherwise: separated from the stem, then placed simultaneously 2-3 leaves in a shallow container with a solution. When they change color and the edges are not brittle, the process can be considered complete (this will take about one to three weeks). The leaves are removed from the solution and laid out on blotting paper to dry.

Leaves garden trees collected in dry weather. Damaged or diseased leaves are not suitable for conservation.

The leaves of evergreens are harvested at any time of the year, and the rest of the plants - at the end of summer.

Philodendron leaves are very beautiful, but they are not preserved: in the process of processing, they can change color.

Do not use young spring leaves: they will wither if they fail to withstand processing.

Autumn canned "" leaves are stored between the pages of the book, but they are handled with care, because many of them become brittle.

Perfectly tolerate preservation in a glycerin solution, corn leaves, which can then be wound on a stick (drying, they will take on an unusual shape).

Attaching the leaves

Put each sheet on a thin wire, masking it with matching tape.

When to preserve fruits? Fruit processing takes much less time. It is best to preserve them in late summer - early autumn, although this can be done at any time of the year. Such canned food, looking very impressive, will serve as a wonderful addition to any composition.

Glitter in a hurry

Apply clear varnish to the skin of the apples. Pass a piece of wire through the tail of an apple and connect its ends: such a fruit is successfully used in compositions. Choose several apples of different colors.

Bright gourd family

Representatives of the gourd family are usually grown from seeds in open ground, in a well-lit area. Original fruits appear in autumn various shapes(round, oval), which can be small (up to 5 cm in diameter) and the size of a plate (up to 30 cm). The peel of pumpkins is ribbed, smooth. The coloring is unusually varied: creamy white or orange, green and greenish white; there are also striped fruits. Harvest fully ripe pumpkins late autumn before the first frost. The fruits are picked, keeping a small stem, cleaned, dried in the sun for a couple of days, and then stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Ripe pumpkins are varnished, but they look more impressive in their in kind, so you can limit yourself to polishing the peel. Under trees and bushes, you can find leaves devoid of green tissues (that is, their skeletons). They resemble lace and can become indispensable element future composition.

Raw material

Particularly picturesque are the skeletons of magnolia leaves, which, if necessary, are bleached or tinted. In specialized stores, you will be offered ready-made lace, but you can make them yourself from ivy leaves, laurel or holly.

weaving lace

Pour in 225 grams of any detergent in 1 liter of boiling water. Put the leaves in this solution and, stirring with a wooden spoon, boil them for 30 minutes. Rinse the leaves under cold running water and lay them out on paper to dry. Remove the green tissue of the leaves with a brush in the direction from the central vein to the side. Rinse the leaves again, dry and spread between sheets of blotting paper to dry.