It’s time to head outside and hunt for interesting leaves! Here are two great ideas for using fresh leaves as a canvas for embroidery or press them and draw fun animal friends!

I always have two or three projects to do on my kitchen table. Instead of finishing my felt finger puppets, I turned to embroidering leaves. I approach it like sketching: with a free and easy hand.

Drawing on Leaves
Leaves are great for drawing animals with ears, like foxes, cats, and owls. I recommend using leaves from tulip and maple trees or from a common grapevine.

What You Need

• Leaves, pressed in a book for a couple of days
• Markers, black and white

Take a look at the shape and color of your leaf—I’m sure there is an animal in there! You can even frame the finished project. I framed my little owl in a painted cheese plate.

Stitching On The Leaves
Have you ever tried to embroider a fresh leaf? It’s easy and fun! Find some fresh, tough leaves and get your needle and floss ready!

What You Need

• Fresh leaves work better than dry ones: I used leaves from a grapevine and walnut tree
• Blunt needle
• Scissors
• Embroidery floss

Take your leaf, thread your needle, and start sewing!

You might want to press the finished leaf in a book.

Eagle Owl Sewing Card
For little hands I made a sewing card for the eagle owl on a tulip tree leaf.

What You Need

• Printable eagle owl sewing card template (download here)
• A4 printer paper 90-120g
• Blunt needle
• Scissors
• Embroidery floss

Step 1
Download the printable sewing card template and print it.

Step 2
Take the blunt needle and carefully punch holes at the ends of the white lines.

Step 3
Cut out the template cards along the dotted line.

Step 4
Thread your needle and start sewing!

That’s all there is to it! Now you’re set with a couple of fun fall activities that will keep you and the little ones busy on a crisp, rainy afternoon!