Falling Into Autumn

Air dry clay is our go-to at Smudge since we don't have an oven, but any clay will work. Hand out trays or plates so the clay can be rolled, warmed, and played with before the “real” making begins. Rolling, patting, even giving it a few firm thuds against the table softens it up. Do not overwork it or it will fill with air bubbles, though honestly a few cracks feel perfectly in keeping with crunchy autumn leaves. Collect a basket of leaves with strong veins and the more variety in shape and size the better!

Roll the clay into a slab, just a little bigger than your chosen leaf. Place the leaf vein side down, then roll over it firmly with a rolling pin or even a glass jar. Peeling it away to reveal the print is always a moment of pure magic! The delicate lines suddenly pressed into the clay forever. Sometimes leaves rip or crumble, but that only adds to the experience, and picking out the little pieces is oddly satisfying. Trim around the shape with a butter knife, leaving a border if you want the edges to curl upwards into a shallow dish. Everyone (including me!) loves seeing how each leaf behaves differently; a bold oak leaves one kind of memory, while a fragile fern leaves another.

Stamp words, letters, or tiny patterns into the clay before it dries. Curl the edges into bowls for treasures, or keep them flat as tiles. Once dry, paint or seal the surface with Modge Podge (or similar), or leave it plain so the shadows of the veins stay sharp. You could scatter the finished pieces across a shelf or windowsill and the space suddenly feels like it has its own indoor forest floor.

Falling Into Autumn

Clay Leaf Prints

Curtain Of Colours

Fall Collage

Ghost Leaves

Leaf Resist Paintings

The Set Up

The Making

Variations

Painting Fallen Branches

Pinecone Sculptures

Spin Art Leaves