Watercolor Autumn Leaves Craft Project

Materials:

• Watercolor paints (non-toxic if children are involved)
• Paint Brush
• Cup of water
• 8 1/2"x11" Sheet of watercolor paper (found at most arts and crafts departments)
• Scissors 
• Pencil
• Leaf Templates PDF (printed on stiff paper or card stock and cut out)

How to:

Dip the paint brush in water and wet the paper by "painting" it with clean water.

Then (this is the fun part!) dip your brush in the watercolors and cover your paper with paint.  Let the colors drip and swirl together.  The object is to cover the entire paper with paint.
Let the paper dry completely.

When the watercolor paper is completely dry, cut it in half the long way.  

Fold each long rectangle in half.

Lay the leaf template on the watercolor paper, lining up the folded edge with the straight edge of the template.  You should have room for 2 leaves on each rectangle of paper.Trace around the templates using a pencil.

Cut out the leaves.

Ideas for Your Leaves:

• Make a tree trunk out of brown construction paper and have the kids tape their leaves to the tree.
• Write a family member's name on each leaf and use them as place cards for Thanksgiving dinner.
• Attach them with yarn to a hanger to make a falling leaves mobile.
• Or tie them to a piece of yarn and make a pretty autumn garland.