Funny Uses for Dead Tree Leaves

Clothing

• Use dead leaves and other natural materials to make clothing for a scarecrow. Collect leaves by hand to avoid crushing. Sort the leaves by color or shape. You can sketch your design on paper or just begin building the outfit right away. Use short lengths of string or hot glue to hold the pieces together. This project can be completed on your own or as part of a fashion competition. Consider incorporating the project into a scout or youth group field day.

Fence Texting

• You can arrange leaves on a chain line fence to write out a message or make a line drawing. Use a chalk spray to draw out the design on the fence. Select leaves with long stems and then attach the leaves to the fence where the drawn lines are. Use the leaf stems like a string to knot the leaves to the fence links.

Modeling Paste

• Use the dead leaves in place of paper to make a versatile modeling paste. To make this material you will need a food processor or blender dedicated to craft projects. Blend the leaves so that there are no pieces larger than 1/2 inch square. Pour the leaves into a bowl.

  Mix 1 cup flour and 2 cups water in the blender. Pour the mixture on top of the leaves and fold the mixture with your hands or a spoon. Add 1/4 cup white glue to the mixture. Use the modeling paste to make plant pots or sculptures. Handle the paste like clay papier mache.

Art

• Dead leaves are as individual as fingerprints. They each have a different hue, shape, size and vein pattern. These properties make them excellent materials for two-dimensional art projects and book construction. Normally, you can use leaves as subjects for rubbings and paintings, but using the leaves as construction materials can expand the artistic possibilities. For example, collect flat leaves and sew them together to form a book. Paint on the pages to tell a story or leave the pages blank in the style of an artist's book.