Leaf Art

Collect colourful leaves and make art! Here’s how to make a simple ‘sun catcher’ to hang in your window:

YOU WILL NEED:

- A paper plate

- scissors

- string

- pen

- contact plastic (like we use to cover school books)

- leaves (or flowers). 1 Cut the centre out of your paper plate, tuning it into a picture frame. You might want to paint it, or leave it plain. 2 Cut two circles of contact plastic. Trace around the inside of the plate with a pen. Make one circle the same size as the hole, and the other circle about 2cm larger than the hole. 3 Peel the backing paper from the largest circle and stick it to the back of the plate to make a window, with the sticky side facing to the front. 4 Stick your leaf or leaves to the plastic, then place the smaller circle, over the top (sticky side down). 5 Attach the string and hang your sun catcher in the window.

Be patient! It takes quite a long time for the compost to turn into humus - black, soft and crumbly. A year or more. Use pressed leaves to decorate a special gift. Press your favourite leaves for making cards and pictures. Simply place them between layers of newspaper with heavy books on top.