Leaf Printing

Leaf Printing is a fun and creative art activity for kids of all ages. Using just a few basic supplies, children can explore the shapes and textures of real leaves while making artwork that celebrates the beauty of the season. It’s a hands-on way to bring nature indoors and enjoy a classic autumn craft.

You can also try leaf printing on fabric to make bright Leaf Printed T-Shirts for unique, wearable art.

Leaf Printing Art

One of the best things about leaf printing is that it connects kids to nature while encouraging creativity. Children notice textures, practice observation skills, and enjoy the calming process of making art with simple materials.

In my outdoor activity book, Sticks and Stones, I shared how to do leaf printing on stones. This blog post idea came from a happy surprise in my garden—a pumpkin plant that sprouted from my homemade compost. I didn’t plant it, so I can only assume it grew from last year’s pumpkin scraps. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to revisit leaf printing with a seasonal twist—perfect for September and October. We quickly discovered that the young pumpkin leaves were soft and fuzzy, unlike the older ones that can be sharp and prickly. And the best part? That unexpected plant even gave us two medium-sized pumpkins!

Why You’ll Love This Craft

Leaf printing isn’t just a fun fall activity—it’s a hands-on way for kids to explore art, nature, and learning all at once. Here’s what makes it so special:

• Encourages artistic expression – Kids get to play with colors, patterns, and leaf shapes, creating prints that are always one-of-a-kind.
• Inspired by nature – Using real leaves helps children notice textures, shapes, and the changing seasons.
• Builds fine motor skills – Rolling paint, pressing leaves, and arranging prints all help strengthen hand-eye coordination.
• Simple and low-prep – With just a few supplies, this activity is easy to set up, fun to do, and quick to clean up.
• Versatile and creative – Leaf prints can become cards, bookmarks, collages, or even additions to a nature journal, giving kids plenty of ways to showcase their artwork.

Art Supplies Needed for Leaf Printing

Before you get started, gather your materials. Having everything ready makes the process smoother and more fun:

• Leaves – I used pumpkin leaves.
• White card stock – I cut ours into 7 ½ by 10-inch sheets.
• Black cardstock
• Acrylic paint
• Tray or paper plate
• Rubber brayer roller
• Double-sided tape

Directions for Leaf Printing on Paper

Leaf printing is easy to set up and fun for kids of all ages. Here’s how to do it:

STEP 1: Gather your leaves. Choose leaves that are flexible and not dry or crumbly. They can be fresh from the garden or fallen leaves from outside. For this project, I used pumpkin leaves, which worked beautifully, but you can also try maple, oak, birch, or coleus leaves for fun shapes and textures.

STEP 2: Prepare your paint. Squeeze a small amount of acrylic paint onto a paper plate or tray.

STEP 3: Load the brayer. Roll the brayer through the paint until it’s coated in a thin, even layer.

STEP 4: Paint the leaf. Use the brayer to roll a thin layer of paint onto the underside of your leaf. This side usually has the most texture, which helps create a clear and detailed print.

STEP 5: Make the print. Quickly place the painted leaf onto white cardstock, press down gently with your hand, and then peel it away to reveal the print.

STEP 6: Let it dry. Set the cardstock aside until the paint is completely dry.

STEP 7: Mount the artwork. Use double-sided tape to attach the beautiful leaf print to a piece of black cardstock for a polished finish.

Take It Further

Once your leaf prints are finished, there are lots of ways to expand the activity and keep kids engaged:

• Mix paint colors: Layer two or more colors on a single leaf for a multicolored print. Try blending autumn shades like red, orange, and yellow, or go bold with unexpected combinations.
• Create a leaf collage: Arrange multiple prints on one large sheet of paper or cardstock to make a seasonal mural. Overlapping prints can create interesting textures and patterns.
• Add extra details: Once prints are dry, enhance them with markers, glitter, metallic pens, or small stickers. Kids can outline the leaves, add stems, or create whimsical designs and doodles around their prints.
• Use prints in other projects: Turn your leaf prints into cards, bookmarks, gift tags, or framed artwork. They also make a beautiful addition to fall-themed bulletin boards or classroom displays.
• Add a watercolor wash: Paint a full sheet of paper with a soft watercolor background before leaf printing. The prints will pop against the colorful wash, creating a layered, artistic effect.
• Include prints in a nature journal: Glue your leaf prints into a journal and add notes about the type of leaf, where you found it, or observations about its texture, color, and shape. This is a great way to combine art with science and record seasonal changes.
• Explore how leaves work: Encourage kids to examine the veins, edges, and shapes of leaves before printing. Talk about how leaves help plants capture sunlight, transport water, and make food—turning your art activity into a mini science lesson.
• Pair with a book: Connect the craft to fall-themed books about trees, leaves, or the changing season.

More Fall Leaf Craft Ideas for Kids

If your children enjoyed this leaf printing project, here are some other fun, leaf-themed activities to try:

• Leaf Spray Painting – Fill spray bottles with diluted paint and create colorful leaf prints on paper. Kids can mix colors, layer shapes, and explore different spray techniques.
• Leaf Scribble Art – Trace leaves or use outlines, then let children fill them with doodles, patterns, or scribbles for a lively and expressive art project.
• Melted Crayon Leaf Suncatchers – Melt crayon shavings between sheets of wax paper, then cut into leaf shapes for bright, window-catching decorations.
• Fall Leaf Hedgehog Craft – Glue paper leaves onto a hedgehog outline to make a fun, spiky seasonal character.
• Leaf Nature Art – Arrange real leaves into patterns, pictures, or collages for textured, autumn-inspired creations.

Save This Craft

Save this craft on Pinterest using the image below!