Growing Gardeners: Leaf Printing

Leaf printing can also be used to decorate fabric T-shirts, aprons, and tote bags.

Leaves have evolved to maximize opportunities for plants to absorb as much sunlight as possible. Leaf printing is a great way to teach youth about leaf size, shape, structure, and surface. As youngsters work with the leaves, you can compare the features of different leaves and encourage the child to think about why there are so many different leaves, what features all leaves have in common, and to look for patterns in the leaves. Leaf printing can be used to create a leaf identification book.

• Shape. Some leaves are simple, and some are compound (made up of individual leaflets). Leaves can be long and narrow, short and wide; some have shallow lobes or deep indentations. Some leaves have margins (edges) that are entire or toothed.
• Structure. Leaves have veins, which are used by the plant to move nutrients and water in and out of the leaves, but the arrangement of those veins may be very different in different plants.
• Surface. The upper side of the leaf may feel very different from the underside. Veins are generally raised, so easier to feel and see on the leaf’s underside. Leaves may also feel rough or smooth, hairy, or wrinkly.

Leaf Printing on Paper

Materials

• Paper
• Acrylic craft paints (washable)
• Small paint brushes
• Scrap paper
• Paper towels (ones with less texture are better)
• Small disposable plates
• Water – only to rinse brushes as needed
• Fresh leaves
  • Many different kinds of leaves can be used. Some herbs that work well are sage, sweet woodruff, feverfew, tansy, parsley, and lemon balm. Ornamental trees and shrubs that work well include maple, ginkgo, nandina, rose, holly, bald cypress, and arborvitae. Experiment with different leaves to see what makes a good print.
  • The leaves should be fresh (not limp, not dried out) but not wet; and with petioles (stems) still attached.

Instructions

1. Choose a paint color and a leaf.
2. Prepare the paint. Put a small amount of paint on a small plate. (Adults might want to do this for younger children, as you don’t need a large amount of paint per leaf.) Do not dilute the paint with water or add water to the brush.
3. Coat the leaf with paint. Using the brush, carefully paint the underside of the leaf (where the veins are raised). Be sure to cover the entire leaf, including some of the petiole (stem), with a thin but even coat of paint. Use the brush to remove excess globs of paint before printing. If you leave part of the stem unpainted, you can hold on to that to lift and place your leaf on the paper.
4. Make a test print. You might want to test your leaf print on scrap paper first to remove extra paint which might obscure vein patterns and leaf shape details. After a test print, though, you may need to go over the leaf again to even out the coat of paint.
5. Make your final print. Carefully place the leaf, painted side down, on the paper (card, bookmark, etc.) where you want the print to be. Try not to shift the leaf once it is on the paper. Place a piece of paper towel over the leaf and use your fingers to carefully and firmly press the leaf all over to transfer the paint from the leaf to the paper.
6. Reveal your finished print. Remove the paper towel and the leaf, and voilà, a leaf print!

Tips

• Some leaves, such as sage, hold paint very well and can be used multiple times to make prints. Others, such as sweet woodruff, are more delicate and may be usable only once or twice.
• Reusing the same leaf can give you the chance to add different colors to areas of the leaf. However, you don’t want to mix a bunch of colors together, as you’ll end up with muddy brown.
• Some leaves may need to be flattened under a heavy book for a half hour or longer before they can be printed – for example, holly, ivy, lavender, or a parsley sprig.
• You can create “berries” on your design by using the round handle end of a paintbrush dipped in paint and then dotted on the paper or fabric.

Leaf Printing on Fabric

Materials

• Fabric – 100% cotton works best
• Acrylic craft or fabric paints
• Small paint brushes
• Cardboard or newspapers
• Paper towels
• Small disposable plates
• Fresh leaves (see notes above)

Instructions

1. Prewash the fabric. If needed, wash the fabric to remove sizing. Do not use fabric softener. Dry.
2. Prepare the fabric for printing. Place cardboard or newspaper inside or under the fabric, smoothing out wrinkles.
3. Plan your design. Select a variety of leaves and arrange them on the fabric in a design that pleases you.
4. Prepare the paint. Put a small amount of paint on a plate.
5. Coat the leaves with paint and test. Use a brush to paint the underside of the leaf. Be sure to cover the entire leaf, including some of the stem, with a thin but even coat of paint. Avoid excess paint on the leaf. You may want to test the print on a piece of scrap paper first.
6. Make your final print. Carefully place the leaf, painted side down, on the fabric. Try not to shift the leaf once you have set it on the fabric. Place a paper towel over the leaf. Use your fingers to carefully and firmly press on the leaf to transfer the paint onto the fabric. Continue with the other leaves and paint colors to complete your design.
7. Set the print colors. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours. Cover the design with a press cloth and hold a warm iron, no steam, on the design for 10 seconds. Check the label of the paint you are using for any specific instructions for that type of paint.
8. Wash your fabric leaf print. To wash, turn the item inside out and either hand wash or use the washing machine’s gentle cycle in cold water.