Almost any flower - from a fragile field to a luxurious garden rose, any leaf and blade of grass can become not only a part of the school herbarium, but also turn into an ikebana, a postcard for your beloved grandmother, material for decoupage, scrapbooking and a real picture that will become an excellent decor for your home . But for this you need to know how to properly dry the leaves and flowers.

There are many ways to dry plants and other natural materials to preserve their original shape and color. There is even a way to instantly prepare leaves and other raw materials for autumn crafts and herbariums. And he will help you a lot if you learned tonight that your child needs to bring this very herbarium to school tomorrow.

But sometimes you should not rush, especially if you want to create something unusual and unique from the gifts of nature. And then air or volume drying comes to the rescue, allowing you to preserve both the shape and color of beautiful delicate flowers. You just need to be patient so as not to spoil anything inadvertently.

And then real magic is born under your hands and the flowers continue to delight the eye when a blizzard sweeps with might and main outside the window.

Air drying without hanging

If there are no suitable conditions or places for hanging plants, then they can be wrapped with paper napkins (preferably rice) or other moisture-absorbing material, and then laid out in boxes or on top of cardboard.

Flowers usually dry out in 2-3 weeks.

This method is suitable for plants such as ammobium, periwinkle, heather, gypsophila, goldenrod, kermek (statice), lavender, echinopsis and the like.

Air drying in a vase with water

Some plants wither very quickly, so it is difficult to dry them in their original form. Therefore, a combined method is used for them: air drying plus water.

The tips of the stems must be cut diagonally and put the plants in a vase of water, submerging no more than 4-5 centimeters.

As the water evaporates, the plants will dry out.

After the buds have puffed up a little, remove the flowers and cut off the tips of the stems that were in the water to prevent mold.

Then dry the plants by laying them horizontally on cardboard or paper.

This method is suitable for such plants as artichoke spherical, heather, carnation (after full bloom), gypsophila, hydrangea, lavender, bulbous, yarrow, chicory and the like.

Air drying with hanging

Air drying is an indispensable method for large flowers and plants that are needed for crafts or winter bouquets.

For such drying, you need a dark (without direct sunlight), dry, cool room with excellent ventilation (pantry, attic, garage, attic).

Depending on the type and size of the plant, the drying process takes a different amount of time.

What flowers can be dried?

Using the air method, it is easy to dry ornamental herbs or spikelets of cereal plants (rye, wheat, barley, etc.), as well as medicinal or useful herbs (mint, St. John's wort, nettle, etc.).

Of the flowers - cornflower, hydrangea, decorative bows, poppy, rose, lilac (cut immediately after the lower flowers bloom), physalis.

Cereals

Harvest the ears a couple of days before flowering or after the spikelets become light straw in color.

After harvesting, collect the ears in small bunches, placing the tops of the plants at different levels.

Tie the stems tightly, but not tight, and trim the ends of the stems to align them.

Hang the bunches spikelets down on a stretched rope or wire, at least 15 centimeters from the ceiling. The gaps between the beams are 10-15 centimeters.

You can fix bunches of flowers on hooks, paper clips or clothespins.

Leave the cereals to dry completely.

Flowers

Cut flowering plants as soon as the flowers open. Remove the bottom pair of leaves, or all of the leaves if you only want the flower itself.

Tie the plants at the base of the stem, 5-10 per bunch. It is better to wrap every 2-3 stems, and at the end of the whole bouquet with a tourniquet, elastic band or twine, so that the flowers do not fall apart after drying.

But do not tighten the rope too tight and do not wind it excessively so that moisture does not accumulate in the ligation points.

Hang bunches of flowers or spikelets down on a stretched rope or wire, at least 15 centimeters from the ceiling. The gaps between the beams are 10-15 centimeters. You can fix bunches of flowers on hooks, paper clips or clothespins.

In a bunch, the leaves should be well ventilated, and the flowers should not touch each other.

Leave the flowers to dry for 15-30 days. If the petals are thick and dense, or there are no optimal conditions, then the drying time can be increased to 40 days.

When the flowers are completely dry, the petals will be hard and brittle to the touch.

General rules

Large flowers and flowering branches should be dried one at a time (hydrangea, peony, rose, lilac).

Thorns must be removed from roses.

It is better to bind different types of plants separately, because their drying time may vary.

Volumetric drying of flowers in a wrapper

Absorbent cotton

In addition to powder drying using bulk substances, absorbent cotton wool can be used. In this case, the petals also retain their shape and color well.

Place all petals, including the most central ones, with pieces of cotton wool. Hang the plant by the stem on a hook or rope.

The flower head usually dries up in 5-6 days, but the cotton wool can be removed only after the stem has completely dried.

Toilet paper

Drying flowers with toilet paper flattens the calyx and leaves marks on the petals without falling apart.

The flower is shifted with paper in the same way as with cotton wool.

Waxing fresh flowers and leaves

Fresh flowers can be covered with paraffin, including a bouquet presented for the holiday. Almost all types of flowers can be treated with paraffin.

Dip the brush in melted paraffin, then carefully and delicately work the petals and leaves.

It is better to start from the extreme and move to the center of the bud.

After the petal is completely dry, you can move on to the next one.

Autumn dresses the trees in golden and crimson clothes, covers the earth with carpets of incredible beauty. Orange, yellow, burgundy leaves, collected in bouquets, can enliven the interior in every home. They make great crafts. But how to keep this beauty?

The leaves collected in the park quickly lose their chic appearance, wrinkle, darken, crumble at the slightest touch. So after a few days you have to throw them away. And so I want them to stand in a vase all winter. But these masterpieces of nature can be saved if a simple technology is applied.

The easiest ways

I have always used three proven methods. With their help, you can save autumn leaves until spring. They are suitable for a herbarium, and for a bouquet, and for interesting crafts. Their bright autumn leaves can even create paintings and decorate the walls of the house with them. Here are the ways:

• dry the leaves in the book;
• use the microwave
• apply decoupage material.

Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. Now I will tell you more about them.

Dry in the book

Even a child can use this method. He will need an old thick book and beautiful autumn leaves. They can be picked up from the ground or torn straight from the tree. It is important that they are free of any defects - holes, rotting areas, breaks.

It is better to take an old book that is no longer useful. The fact is that the sheet, in the process of drying, releases the juice it contains, which stains the pages. You can also use a stack of last year's newspapers. You just need to make sure that they do not change their position while the leaf dries. Otherwise, it may be deformed or crumble into small pieces. The sheet must be placed between the pages. It is important that it is well pressed down. If this is not done, it may rot.

If there are no unnecessary books in the house, take any. Only in this case, place paper towels or napkins on top and bottom of the leaflet. They will absorb the juice that stands out, and the pages of the book will remain clean. If you have several pieces of paper, arrange them so that there are at least 40 pages between them. Then they will not deform each other during the drying process. You have to wait 2-3 weeks.

This method is good for its simplicity. With it, you can dry any leaves that fit in the book. However, at the same time they become faded and not so beautiful. In addition, the leaves dried in the book are very fragile. They break easily from careless touch. You can use them for herbarium or creating applications. In a bouquet, they do not look very impressive.

in the microwave

This method is also very simple. It is good because the material for crafts can be obtained in a few minutes. The microwave helps out if in a kindergarten or at school they suddenly demand to urgently bring a herbarium.

Despite the seeming simplicity, it is not necessary to entrust the child with drying the leaves in this way. The fact is that the drying process should take only a couple of minutes. If the sheet is overexposed in the oven, it will turn black and wrinkle. It is difficult for a small child to count the right time, so it is advisable that an adult do this work.

Before sending the leaves in the microwave, they need to remove moisture (if any). Several leaves can be dried in the oven at the same time. So that they do not stick together, you do not need to place them next to each other. There should be a small distance between the sheets.

It is required to put them on a paper towel folded in two layers. Top with another layer of paper. Gently place this design in the microwave and turn on the device for 30 seconds. During this time, the leaf will not have time to become completely dry. Therefore, further it will be necessary to turn on the oven several times for 5 seconds. The maximum amount of time a sheet should spend in the microwave is only 3 minutes. If it is overexposed, it may even catch fire. That's why this work should be done by an adult.

If you really need, then the leaves prepared in this way can be used immediately. However, it is better to give them a little more time for the final drying. After microwaving, put them overnight in a dark place. It's even better if they dry out for a day or two.

If you notice that the sheets are becoming faded, immediately treat them on both sides with an acrylic spray.

Decoupage varnish

This method is a little more difficult than the previous two, but an older child can handle it too. For work you will need:

• beautiful leaves;
• sponge brush;
• decoupage varnish;
• unnecessary newspaper.

Do not take too dry leaves, because in the process they will twist in the corners and sides. A sponge brush and varnish can be purchased at a store that sells art supplies. Some masters use PVA glue instead of varnish, but the result is much worse.

It is desirable to start processing on the day the leaves are collected. The work process is very simple. It is necessary to carefully cover the leaves on one side with varnish and lay them out to dry. To do this, you can use not only a newspaper, but also any other paper, for example, pieces of wallpaper left after repair.

When the varnish is completely dry, you need to apply it on the other side of the leaves and lay them out on paper again. This technique allows you to completely preserve all the shades of autumn leaves and makes them more durable. Most of the time I save them this way. I like maple leaves. They are large, with carved edges, have a long petiole. I make amazingly beautiful bouquets of them that delight the eye all winter.

We use wax

Recently I learned that there are other ways to preserve the autumn beauty. One of them is the processing of leaves with wax. This method is also quite simple, but only adults should use it.

You need to prepare the following materials and items:

• leaflets;
• an old frying pan or saucepan that you no longer use for cooking;
• a candle;
• a sheet of waxed paper (you can also use clothespins).

It is better to take a white candle, because colored wax will slightly change the shades of the leaves you have collected. First you need to carefully sort them out, throw away all the torn and twisted ones. The rest needs to be wiped off if they are wet.

Next, you need to melt the wax. To speed up the process, the candle can be cut into pieces. Melt the wax not on fire, but on a water bath. When it becomes liquid, you need to take a leaf by the tip of the petiole and dip it in wax. It is recommended to do this 2-3 times to get a thicker layer.

Next, the leaf can be placed on wax paper or hung by the petiole on a rope using a clothespin. Paper should be taken exactly waxed, because wax can stick to any other. This method allows you to perfectly preserve all the shades of the autumn leaf.

Using wax paper

In this case, we do not need a candle. This method is not very difficult, but requires attention. Need to prepare:

• beautiful leaves;
• scissors;
• iron;
• two sheets of waxed paper of any color.

Leaves brought from the street should be carefully examined and wiped if there is moisture on them. After this preparation, place them between two sheets of wax paper and iron them.

The heat will melt the wax on the paper and stick to your leaves. The steam function cannot be turned on. Keep a hot iron on a piece of paper should be no more than 3-5 minutes on one side and the same on the other.

After ironing for 5 minutes, try the sheet. If it is still not completely dry, repeat the procedure again. When the wax on the leaf hardens, you need to take scissors and carefully cut off all the excess.

We use glycerin

This method seemed to me the longest, but it helps to save not only individual leaves, but also entire branches. Of course, you do not need to break the tree. Often twigs remain after autumn pruning. Sometimes they themselves fall from the trees. The leaves on the branch should hold on very tightly.

Need to prepare:

• glycerin - 530 ml;
• water - 2 liters;
• leaflets;
• a hammer;
• dishwashing liquid (it should be odorless and colorless);
• deep container.

Glycerin must be diluted with water, add a few drops of detergent to the solution. Some masters advise to put twigs in water for several hours. However, you can do without it.

Their edges must be beaten off with a hammer so that the liquid can easily reach the leaves. Now you need to immerse the branch in the solution for a period of 3 to 5 days. During this time, the leaves should be saturated with glycerin. After 5 days, the twig can be removed from the solution, allowed to dry and used for further creativity. This method not only preserves the color of the leaves, but also makes them more saturated, bright, beautiful.

Choose the method you like and create with pleasure.

Add to bookmarks:

Autumn leaves are the highlight of the season. Colorful leaves can be even more attractive than flowers. Be that as it may, in order to decorate the house with autumn foliage, you first have to compress or preserve them. Luckily, it's extremely easy and there are 4 basic ways to preserve and preserve the colors of autumn leaves.

Selecting Leaves to Save

Whichever method you choose, your leaves will perform at their best if you follow these guidelines when choosing them:

1. Choose leaves that are relatively flat and not curled.
2. Look for leaves that don't have spots or bumps.
3. Don't be afraid to use leaves in different stages of color change.
4. Leaves with a low moisture content are best dried under pressure. More elastic leaves, like magnolia or rhododendron, are good candidates for glycerin or silica gel.
Choosing leaves to save is a fun activity for kids. And since they are closer to the ground, they often have a better view to choose from.

Weight pressing is the easiest method to preserve autumn leaves.

Pressing autumn leaves under weight is the easiest way to preserve, but these leaves will not last as long as canned leaves. To dry the leaves with a press:

1. Choose relatively flat and thin leaves, with low moisture content.
2. Lay the leaves between sheets of newspaper or wax paper.
Then pick up a few of your heaviest books and move on to step two...

Weighting the leaves

To keep the leaves from curling, you need to apply considerable weight.

1. Put paper with leaves inside a thick book. You can also add some books or a rock on top to add weight.
2. Keep the book in a dry place and check back in about a week. Make sure the leaves are dry and not rotted. You will probably need to weight the leaves inside the book for another 1-2 weeks before they are completely dry and ready to use.

Tip: If you have denser leaves, soak them in a diluted fabric softening solution before drying. Or try covering the surface with a thin layer of Vaseline.

Design Ideas:
. Scatter the pressed leaves on shelves or tablecloths.
. Make flower arrangements by filling a basket with your pressed leaves.
. Pressed leaves can be used for table decoration. Make an arrangement of leaves on a table or tablecloth and cover with a transparent cloth or cellophane on top.

Saving leaves in wax paper is a great activity for kids

Perhaps this is one of the few activities when children are happy to pick up an iron.

1. Choose thin, low moisture leaves that have not yet begun to curl.
2. Make a "sandwich": Place the leaves between two sheets of wax paper.
3. Cover your ironing area with a piece of old cloth so that you do not stain it with wax.
4. Place your sandwich on top of the old fabric.
5. Cover your sandwich with another piece of old cloth.
6. Heat the iron to maximum, BUT do not use steam.
7. Slowly move the iron back and forth over the fabric. Don't press too hard at the beginning or you may move the leaves. Once the paper starts to seal, use the full weight of the iron and hold it for 4-5 seconds on each spot.
8. Raise the rag to check if the wax paper has melted and sealed. The leaves will show up much better as the wax grows.
9. Let the sandwich cool, then cut out individual leaves. Leave a small edge around the leaves to keep the waxed paper sealed.
Such leaves can persist for several months.

Design Ideas:
. The waxed leaves are good for children to play with and can be assembled into collages to hang.
. Pin individual moldings to curtains or glue to lampshades for an autumnal feel.

Drying leaves in the microwave

Microwaves are a great quick way to preserve just about anything. You can use the microwave alone, or you can speed up the process with silica gel, as discussed below.
1. Select leaves that are still fresh and moist. DO NOT use dried fallen leaves.
2. Make a sandwich by placing individual casts or flat sprigs with leaves between two paper towels.
3. Put the sandwich on a tray and place in the oven.
4. Turn on the microwave for 30 seconds and then check the leaves. The thicker or more moisture content the leaves, the longer it will take you.
5. If the leaves are still wet, continue to dry at 30 second intervals and check until the leaves are dry.

Warning: Leaves can catch fire, just like any other item that has been left in the microwave for a long time. So keep watching. DO NOT wait for the leaves to crumble or curl. They can retain heat and continue to dry for a few seconds out of the microwave if you don't want them to dry out.

Application of Silica Gel to Preserve Autumn Leaves

Silica gel is a white, salt-like powder that you can find in small bags in shoes. Silica gel perfectly absorbs moisture and significantly speeds up the drying process. You can buy a pack of silica gel at any craft store, or you can collect and save the little packs you see everywhere.

1. Choose leaves that are still damp and pliable. Silica gel allows you to dry thicker leaves too.
2. Sprinkle silica gel about 2-3 cm into the bottom of the microwave dish.
3. Lay the leaves on top of the silica gel layer, leaving space between them and up to the edge of the dish.
4. Cover the leaves completely with another layer of silica gel.
5. Place the uncovered dish in the microwave and turn it on at medium power for about 2 minutes. It is very difficult to determine the specific time for drying, as it depends on the size of the dish, the number of leaves, the amount of silica gel and the power of your oven. It is better to periodically check the condition of the leaves at short intervals.
In my experience, 3-4 sheets on an 8 x 8 dish with 3-4 cups of silica gel takes about 2 minutes on medium power.
6. Let cool and remove the leaves.

Tip: The leaves will last longer if they are coated with an additional layer of acrylic resin.

Ideas for Use: These leaves are the same as the press-dried ones and can be strung or arranged for fall arrangements.

Using Glycerin to Preserve Leaves

Preserving the leaves with glycerin is the best way to keep them supple and they can stay that way for years. You can save individual leaves or even whole small twigs this way.

The most difficult part of the process is buying glycerin. Now glycerin is very hard to find. Sometimes it is found in stores on the shelves next to hand lotion. You will have to search. You can also ask in pharmacies.

To save individual leaves

1. On a flat tray, make a solution of one part glycerin and two parts water.
2. Place your leaves in the solution.
3. Cover your leaves with another dish so that they are completely in the solution, as shown below.

Leaves in glycerin solution

Setting a smaller dish on top of the leaves will help them soak well in the solution. And it also means that you can use less solution.

Start checking in 2-3 days. The leaves should become soft and plastic. If the leaves are still dry to the touch, leave them in the solution for another 2-3 days.

When they are saturated, remove them from the solution and wipe off the stains.

Preservation of small branches in a solution of glycerin:

1. Cut off small branches with leaves and immediately immerse the stems in a container of 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 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 sprigs from the water container, and break their ends with a hammer so that a large surface can 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.

Design Ideas: Glycerin leaves can be used in all kinds of creativity. They are especially well suited for wreaths and garlands, as well as table decorations, napkin rings and large dishes.

Preservation of pressed and canned leaves

No method will allow you to use leaves forever. Even leaves sealed in wax paper will eventually dry out and crumble. If you want to extend the existence of your masterpieces for a little longer, use a variety of floral preservatives.

And of course, next year there will be other leaves, and every year your skill and creativity will only develop.

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 the environment better. Collecting a herbarium for crafts is an excellent opportunity to teach your child to distinguish between different tree species. 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. Preparation of leaves takes a 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 the craft, they can be placed in a spacious container (for example, a large wicker basket) and left in the 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 the leaves in the prepared solution 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 the 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 from maple leaves, you will need to perform several steps:

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.

Topiaries can be made from a variety of materials. You can often 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 decoration.

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 the desired number of leaves into the ball. 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 the 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. From cardboard, cut a square or rectangular frame of the desired size. The center of the frame, where the photo will be placed, needs to be cut a little smaller than the size of the photo.
2. To wrap the leaves around the frame, soak them in hot water first, so they become softer and won't tear or 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 leaves of different shapes and sizes, you can create real paintings, which will then become a decoration for 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 of 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 of 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 the 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. Use brown quince leaves to decorate the tail.
4. Use acorn caps to draw the outline of the fish's head.

Everything, the real goldfish is 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

Autumn crafts - no doubt, these words are very familiar to the mothers of schoolchildren. And that feeling is also familiar when a child, having come from school, says that dried leaves or handicrafts from them should be brought ... tomorrow. How to quickly dry the leaves so that they are ready as soon as possible? The most convenient and affordable way for everyone is with an iron.

Yes, yes, we will iron the leaves as if they were some kind of shirt. But, as in the case of fabric, you must carefully set the temperature so as not to spoil it. Too hot iron will cause the sheet to lose color.

Step 1. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth - you will be surprised how much dirt accumulates on them. Especially on those taken from trees growing near roads. It is not necessary to wet the leaves, we do not recommend rubbing too hard.

Step 2 Lay a clean sheet of paper on the ironing board, spread the leaves on it and cover them with another sheet of paper. Newspapers can also be used (they are often recommended in tips on how to quickly dry leaves), but letters and photos from newspapers can be imprinted on the leaves (checked).

Step 3 We make sure that there is no water in the iron (we will dry the leaves, not steam them) and set the minimum temperature. If the iron doesn't seem hot enough, increase the temperature a little, but don't overdo it. It is better to iron the leaves longer with a not very hot iron than to spoil them at maximum temperature in one fell swoop.

Step 4 We iron the leaves. After ironing once, remove the top sheet of paper and check the result. Turn the leaves over, cover with paper again and iron. We do this several times until the leaves become dry and brittle.

As you can see, drying the leaves with an iron is not so difficult. The main thing is not to make it too hot.
And in the end, we offer you examples of crafts from autumn leaves found on the Internet: