This is a wonderful Fall craft that was created by Meadowsweet of @circlesofseedlings - with a delightful classroom of creative kids. Their first activity was a walk through the woods to collect leaves, sticks, moss and anything that could create texture by stamping into paint.
1. Collect Materials:
- Fabric Squares (we used hemp fabric) or Heavy Stock Paper (optional natural dyeing step - see end of tutorial)
- Natural Earth Paint
- Paint brush
- Leaves of different sizes
- pine needles, thin sticks, moss (or fine brushes) for painting details and textures
2. Mix Natural Earth Paint with Water
3. Place Supplies on table for the group
4. Each child picks out 2 leaves (preferably different shapes)
5. Paint the underside of the leaf with Natural Earth Paint - (the side with the prominent veins)
6. Press the leaf down on the top right of the flag - then re-paint that leaf and press down again on the opposite side. To make the top 2 wings of the butterfly!
7. Pick another leaf (or the same one if you like) and press to make the bottom 2 wings
8. Use Pine needles or sticks or fine paint brushes to paint the body of the butterfly, antennae and any dots or details in the body
9. Get Creative! Use anything you find in nature (moss, etc.) to dip in the paint and create textures. This is where the kids can let loose, get abstract and do whatever they like to make the flag complete.
10. Grab a colored Sharpie and write on the back of the flag what you're most grateful for! (Un-pictured)
11. Clip all flags to a rope or twine and hang! (Un-pictured)
Optional Preliminary Step: Dye Your Flags first!
With Purple Corn Husks or Any Natural Dye (Turmeric, Beets, Spinach, purple onion skins, etc.)
- Boil a large pot of water - Place in purple corn husks (or colored vegetable of choice) - Boil for 45 min.
- Turn off heat and place in hemp or fabric squares for 20 min.
- Remove and dry outside in the shade
Follow @circlesofseedlings and SEEDS Sustainable Earth Education Stewardship to learn about Saving the Applegate Oregon Forests, connecting children with wild nature and more.
Happy Painting!
