Leaf pressing art is a calming autumn craft that works beautifully for adults. It’s been a simple pleasure for generations, but I’ve found it can be an especially mindful activity for adults and loved ones with dementia, great if you’re not particularly crafty like me!
I love that it’s a way of bringing nature indoors and I don’t need to have a lot of expensive equipment to make it work.
The results can be surprisingly beautiful. You can create something worth framing or gifting just by collecting a few leaves and giving them time to dry.
This article is all about how to make Leaf Pressing Art.
You’ll Need
- Varied autumn leaves – fresh and flexible work best
- Heavy books or a flower press
- Plain paper – to protect leaves and pages
- Watercolour paper or canvas
- PVA glue or spray adhesive
- Paints and brushes (optional)
- Tweezers (optional for delicate handling)
Step 1 – Collect Your Leaves
I like to take a slow walk and notice what’s on the ground and still clinging to branches. Look for leaves in different colours, shapes, and sizes, choose a dry day to help with the pressing. Maple, oak, and sycamore are some of my favourites. Avoid any that are too damp or damaged. This part can be a gentle sensory activity, especially as a mindful activity, notice the crunch underfoot, the smell of the air, and the way the colours shift as the light changes.
Step 2 – Prepare the Press
Discard any leaves that have started to shrivel and remove any insects with a cloth. Place each leaf between two sheets of plain paper faced down to make them press flat better. This protects both the leaves and your books or press, you don’t need the plain paper if you have a plain book for pressing purposes.
For the pressing, if you’re using books, stack them together and add a few extra for weight. A flower press will give you more even results, but books work just fine if that’s what you have.
Step 3 – Press and Wait
This is the part where patience matters. Leave your leaves in a dry place for 4-5 days or up to 1–2 weeks depending on the size and moisture levels. Resist the temptation to keep checking them, the less you disturb them, the better they’ll hold their shape and colour. I sometimes set a reminder on my phone so I don’t forget when they’re ready.
Step 4 – Arrange and Mount
When they’re ready, gently lift the leaves using tweezers if they feel delicate. Lay them out on your watercolour paper or canvas until you find an arrangement that feels right. Fix them in place with PVA glue or spray adhesive. You can leave them as they are, outline them with a fine pen, or add a light watercolour wash.
Or you can decide to use the leaves in other craft projects and then you might want to preserve them by sealing them with mod podge or Liquitex Matte Medium, just make sure that they dry well before adding more layers.
Step 5 – You Get To Decide to Display or Gift Your Leaf Pressing Art!
Once your design is set, frame it or clip it to a clipboard for a simple seasonal display. These also make thoughtful autumn gifts for friends or as a decorative piece in a care setting.
What to Do if It Goes Wrong
- Curled leaves – re‑press them between fresh paper for a few more days. Try to press the leaves the day you bring them home otherwise they tend to curl up.
- Brittle leaves – glue them down slowly in small sections to avoid snapping.
- Mould spots – sadly, there’s no saving these. Start again with dry, clean leaves.
Try This Variation
Make a set of small framed collages instead of one large piece. Use a single leaf in each frame and add a touch of metallic paint for contrast. Arrange them together for an eye‑catching autumn display.
If you enjoyed this, you might also like simple gardening activities with dementia or a mason jar indoor herb garden to keep nature close all year round.
That’s it, a simple autumn craft for adults – leaf pressing art. Hope you enjoy doing it.