How to Make a Leaf or Nature Prints Garden Stone

This project is a fun way to remember a nature walk. Our family started doing this as part of our Home Schooling adventure. It's a fun project that requires just a little of adult supervision.

First, start with your nature walk. You can travel with your children to a nearby park or conservation area, or just wander in your own yard. Look for interesting leaves, rocks, feathers; anything that your children like, or that they collect, will work for this project. Take this opportunity to discuss what kind of leaves they are or what kind of bird dropped their feathers and so on.

Once you get home, lay your collection in an aluminum pie plate with the 'good' side up. For instance, if your leaves have all the veins showing on one side, put that side up. If your leaves are very fresh they will still have a kind of plant oil on them that will keep them be 'non-stick'. If your leaves are dry, (or if any of the other items you collect are dry), you can put a thin coat of petroleum jelly on them to keep them from sticking later on.

Now you will need to mix up some plaster of Paris. This is the part you will want to have an adult for. When you add water to mix the plaster of Paris it creates a chemical reaction, which can get very hot. Also, you want to make sure the children don't ingest the plaster of Paris, or breathe the dust prior to mixing.

Mix your plaster of Paris according to the directions on the packaging, and carefully pour it over all the items you have collected and laying in the aluminum pie pan. Leave it alone to dry. It will at least take over night to dry and harden completely.

Once your plaster of Paris is dry, turn the pie plate upside down and carefully de-mold it You will have a circular solid plaster mold, (usually with your items still stuck to it). Carefully peel away your items so that only the impression of them is left in the plaster of Paris.

You can leave your mold just as it is or you can add paint or chalk to the grooves to accent the impressions. If you rub paint over it, and then use a cloth to wipe away the excess paint, it will only remain in the lowest grooves. Use acrylic paint if you want it to be waterproof. Give the paint an opportunity to dry completely and then choose a place to display your nature walk memories.

Even if you choose not to add color to your mold you can add a coat of clear acrylic just to make it waterproof. This will protect it if you decide to set it outside. They make lovely garden stones! If you have several children, mark each mold on the back with the child's initials and the date. Consider doing it every season so that you can pick up different items as the year progresses.

Please click on the author's name (above the article) to read more of her work on Associated Content.

.