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| Falling Leaves Mobile |
 catie writes, "Celebrate fall with your very own curtain of fluttering rainbow leaves."
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Materials:
crayons {papers removed}
old towel
wax paper
newspaper
white paper
iron
scissors
hole punch
small branch
twine
Directions:
1) Make the Shavings
Using a hand held pencil or crayon sharpener, have your child sharpen the crayons, making shavings in the colors they choose. We loosely filled an 8 oz yogurt cup with shavings to make one mobile.
2) Make the Melted "Leaf" Sheet
Fold an old towel to protect your ironing board or heat-proof counter. Next, layer some newspaper, then a long piece of wax paper. Have your child sprinkle the crayon shavings on the wax paper and spread them evenly. Place another long piece of wax paper on top of the shavings, then more newspaper. Place a few sheets of clean white paper on top of the newspaper {this will keep newsprint off of your iron}. Run a hot iron over the top of the layers, checking periodically to see if the crayon shavings have melted. Ironing is a grown-up's job, but have your child check the melting progress with you. Once the shavings are melted into swirly patterns, remove the extra layers and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
3) Make the Leaves
Using scissors, show your child how to cut a leaf shape. Give them advice about the size, but any shape they come up with will work beautifully. Have them cut every available piece of the melted crayon sheet. Use a small hole punch to make a hole in each leaf for stringing the leaves in the next step.
4) Make the Mobile
Find a small branch in your yard or at the park. Cut lengths of twine to about 3 feet and tie several to the branch. Help your child thread one leave onto a length of twine, sliding it up to the top. Tie a knot just beneath the leaf so it won't slide back down. Thread another leaf under the first one, and tie another knot. Continue to the bottom of the twine. String leaves in this way onto each length of twine. {Note: my son is 6 1/2 and this was just right for him to thread and knot each one with very little help.}
Hang your mobile in a sunny window and enjoy!
Catie Eyer
Artist, mom, and blogger at http://five-ten-fifteen.blogspot.com/
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Posted on Oct 29, 2011 08:45am.
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