Nature Prints

by Christine Dvornik

Age: Preschool through elementary
Time: 30 minutes or more
Type of activity: Nature Craft Activity

Spend some time collecting spring leaves and blossoms to make a piece of earth art!

Materials needed:
· Leaves, flowers, feathers, fruit, and other natural materials
· Paint, markers, or a stamp pad
· Paintbrush
· Newspaper
· Construction paper

What to do:

Step One: Cover the area you'll be working on with newspaper in case of spills.

Step Two: Collect the natural materials that you'll use for your prints. Flat objects (like leaves, cut pieces of fruit, or feathers) will work best.

Step Three: Next, decide how you'll make your print. You can choose between markers, stamp pad, or paint. Follow the instructions below for the option you would like to use:

Make a print with markers:

Step One: Color one side of your leaf (or other nature sample) completely.

Step Two: With even pressure, press the leaf (colored-side down) on the paper.

Step Three: Carefully lift the leaf off the paper and voila – you have a print!

Make a print with a stamp pad:

Step One: Lightly press one side of your nature sample on the pad. Be careful not to press too hard, or you'll have too much ink for your print.

Step Two: Carefully pick up your sample, and place it ink-side down on the paper.

Step Three: With even pressure, press the sample down on the paper.

Step Four: Carefully lift the nature sample off the paper. Presto – your print is ready to dry.

Make a print with paint:

Step One: Paint one side of your nature sample. Be careful not to use too much paint, or it will ruin your print.

Step Two: With even pressure, press the sample (painted-side down) on the paper.

Step Three: Carefully lift the sample off the paper and let dry.