Zentangle Leaves for Fun and Beauty

If you follow me on Instagram, you know how in love with Autumn leaves I am.

Obsessed even.

I stop and pick up every beautiful or interesting leaf I see on my daily walks, coming home with a new stack of red, orange, yellow, brown, and green everyday.

I admire and photograph autumn leaves. I gush over their colors, patterns, veins, transitions, meaning.

My kids and I craft with the leaves. Draw and paint autumn leaves. And draw and paint on the autumn leaves.

Last weekend, I had a friend over for an evening of talking and doodling, and we made some Zentangle leaves, using the book, One Zentangle A Day for inspiration.

Later my kids joined in the leaf tangle craziness.

The kids have been going just as crazy with the zentangle leaves!! The each have a respectable pile. I think we’re going to have to make something with all these!

A photo posted by Jean Van’t Hul | Artful Parent (@jeanvanthul) on Oct 18, 2015 at 2:55pm PDT

Zentangle Leaves

MATERIALS

• Autumn leaves*
• Metallic Sharpie markers
• Mod Podge (optional)
• A Zentangle book for inspiration (optional)

*A note about the leaves :: You can do these on pressed and dried leaves or on fresh Autumn leaves. If you use fresh leaves, you may wish to press them for a few days after drawing on them, so they dry flat rather than curling up.

INSTRUCTIONS

Protect your work surface with a mat or piece of paper (in case your permanent marker wanders off the edge of your leaf). We like to use black paper, because the metallic Sharpies look so good on it and we tend to doodle on the paper, too.

Choose a leaf and doodle designs, images, and words on it with the metallic Sharpies.

Use a Zentangle book for inspiration if you like or create your own repeating patterns and designs.

You can do different designs in each leaf section…

…or on each leaf half if you desire.

Or an all-over pattern.

Or a mandala.

Set your finished Zentangle leaf aside and start a new one.

Continue tangling and doodling until your leaves run out and you feel the need to go outside to get more.

If desired, add a coat of Mod Podge to the top of the Zentangle leaves.

This brings back the vibrant color and also makes the leaves more supple. You can do the same to the back, and I used to, but I find that one coat on the top is enough unless you’re hoping to save the leaves year after year.

6 Ways to Use Your Beautiful New Zentangle Leaves

• Make an Autumn wreath
• String the leaves into a garland
• Use as part of a tablescape, mantle decor, on a fall nature table, or even on the wall
• Decorate gifts
• Make an ethereal bunting
• Add a loop of string to make ornaments

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