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How to Make a Wreath from a Leaf Rubbings Craft

by Joanna Walker
August 1, 2024
leaf rubbings wreath featured

Turn a leaf rubbings craft into a colorful wreath that will last all season long! This easy fall project comes from Joanna of The Blue Barn.

Updated August 2024

I’m sure this activity is not new to many of you. But I wanted to take you through a simple invitation I left out for my children after school one day.  This activity grew and evolved into so many different projects that are great for all ages – all from a simple leaf.

To start with, here’s a highlight of the materials we used to create our finished wreaths. However, to begin with a simple leaf rubbing, you will only need a few items from this supply list.

How to Make a Leaf Rubbings Craft Wreath

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Prep supplies

    I began by setting this project up on a sunny fall day – you know the perfect day where you need a sweater, but the sun is warm and the breeze smells good.

    On a tray I place a few sheets of the white paper, oil pastels in fall colors and a few leaves to get them going.

    Materials for Fall Leaf Rubbings Wreath project

  2. Create leaf rubbing

    It helps to show kids how to take a rubbing from the back side of a leaf. Once they know how, they usually take off making print after print!

    Fall Leaf Rubbings Activity for Kids

    To make a good leaf rubbing, place a leaf bumpy side up under a sheet of paper.

    Then, taking an oil pastel, rub the side of the oil pastel over the paper where the leaf is hidden. Note:  It works best to remove the paper from the outside of the pastel first. 

    Making leaf rubbings

  3. Paint leaf rubbings

    Next, mix up a wash of black watercolor paint. You could choose a more fall like color (yellow, red, orange) but I like the colors to pop through for the kids, so I use black.

    Paint the sheets of leaves and watch as the paint runs off the oil pastels with the colors showing through.

    Painting watercolors over crayon leaf rubbings

  4. Make your wreath

    You can’t let all the pretty paper leaves go to waste, so while the leaves are drying, paint your cardboard hoops with acrylic paint.

    Then, once the leaves are dry, carefully cut them all out, tracing around the outside of each of the leaf prints.

    Fall Leaf Rubbings

    Finally, have your kids glue the leaves to their painted rings, creating a lovely fall wreath!

    leaf rubbing wreaths

Thank you for joining me, I hope you will go and enjoy some simple leaf art with your children. Let us know where it leads you!

Fall Leaf Rubbings Wreath
Photo by Joanna Walker

More Fall Craft Ideas for Kids

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How to Make a Wreath from a Leaf Rubbings Craft How to Make a Wreath from a Leaf Rubbings Craft

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