Ingredients
- 1 sheet of 8.5 by 11 inch heavy white cardstock
- 1/2 cup of clean, dry leaves, grass, flower petals, and small seed pods
- 2 tablespoons of water-based white craft glue
- 1 small foam brush, about 1 inch wide
- 1 small paper plate or recycled plastic lid for glue
- 1 pair of child-safe scissors
- 1 pencil
- 1 sheet of plain scrap paper for testing glue
- 1 sheet of wax paper, 9 by 12 inches, for covering the collage
- 1 flat book weighing about 1 to 3 pounds
- 1 clean paper grocery bag or 1 small basket for gathering nature pieces
- 1 table covering, such as a washable cloth or 1 flattened cardboard box
- 1 damp cloth for wiping small glue spills
- 1 small pair of tweezers, optional for tiny petals
- 1 smock or old adult shirt for each child helping
Instructions
- Cover the table before you set out the materials.
- Gather only clean, dry plant pieces.
- Sort the nature pieces into small groups (broad leaves, narrow stems, tiny petals or seeds).
- Trim large pieces with child-safe scissors if needed.
- Make a dry arrangement on the cardstock.
- Use the pencil to add light guide marks if they help.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of white craft glue onto the paper plate.
- Dip the foam brush lightly and spread a thin coat beneath one small section at a time.
- Place the plant pieces onto the glued areas, pressing each one gently.
- Fix uneven spots without starting over using a tiny touch of glue.
- Check the collage from different sides of the table for loose petals or thick glue spots.
- Place the wax paper over the collage with the waxy side facing down and set the flat book on top.
- Leave the covered collage undisturbed for 2 to 4 hours or overnight for the smoothest result.
- Clean the foam brush and glue dish with warm water before the glue dries.
Notes
When collecting plant pieces, only take a small amount from authorized areas and avoid anything that cannot be identified or that is near treated lawns.
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
