Create vibrant artwork with this simple mandala leaf printing technique! The bright, block colour backgrounds have a pop-art look about them, and a group of these together would make an effective wall display. Mandala leaf printing is a great Autumn or Fall art activity for older kids, while younger kids would also enjoy the process of leaf printing but it might be easier for them without the mandala patterning.

Mandala pattern-making is a good way to learn about and practice symmetry which will help kids in maths as well as creativity and art.

Unorganised as ever, this is an activity I did back in Autumn and meant to share with you a while ago. Meanwhile, it’s almost Spring and allergy season is in full swing in our house. Luckily for our readers on the other side of the world your Autumn/Fall is not far away, and you can do mandala leaf printing with green Summer leaves too. Aussies, we have so many evergreen tree species we can create these ANY time of year.

First of all you’ll need to get outdoors into nature to find your leaves – physically going outside and collecting the them is fun. I miss the days when my kids would dawdle along picking up interesting-looking sticks, rocks and leaves to bring home. For this activity I had to collect some all by myself one morning after walking the girls to school, and it just doesn’t feel the same.

Here’s a video of the leaf printing I’ve created which includes a time lapse of the mandala above, or scroll down for step-by step instructions and the materials list.

Mandala leaf printing technique

You will need:

• Bright coloured scrapbook paper, I’ve used card stock. Here is a link to a nice selection of colours, although it doesn’t appear to have the nice textured affect of the paper above
• Acrylic paint – this paint is good for gaining a bright, opaque colour against the equally-bright background. Poster paints or a good quality kids paint would also work well.
• Paintbrushes – a soft, wide one is best
• Leaves in assorted shapes and sizes

How To:

Add some colour to a leaf using your paint brush
Press your leaf onto the paper, somewhere near the middle but slightly off-centre so you can create a mandala pattern. Rub the back of the leaf with your fingers in order to get a better and more detailed print.
Slowly peel the leaf away.
Repeat, using different leaves, in a circular and symmetrical mandala pattern.

Tips:

• It may help to lay the leaves out in the pattern of your choice before you print it to ensure it fits and works well in the space
• You can use the same leaf multiple times if using the same colour

See, super simple! I love how bright and colourful they turned out.

Nature Art and Craft Printables Pack

If you like this mandala leaf art idea, you’ll love this nature printables pack by my talented blogging friend Penny from Mother Natured! There are 30 creative and fun printable ideas inside to get kids outdoors, using their imaginations and having fun.

If you are interested you can see more details and buy your copy here.

More nature art ideas kids will love

• Create outdoor nature art using materials from your garden
• Use chalk and nature to create drawings outside
• Make your own ochre paint from rocks
• Head to a nearby beach (or sandpit) and create earth art
• Here are 20 ways to create art from nature by some of my favourite creative bloggers from around the web