Texture Plate Fall Leaf Rubbings

Instead of making traditional leaf rubbings

(which we do plenty of this time of year)...

We decided to try an old-school art favorite

and did some texture rubbing.

We used my set of texture plates,

place them bumpy-side up under your drawing paper

or printed out coloring sheet,

peel a crayon or use a

home-made crayon

and start rubbing.

Here's the link for the printable leaf coloring sheets we used.

You can get texture plates from teacher supply catalogs,

art supply catalogs,

and if you scrapbook they sell plenty of these

in the crafting/scrap-booking aisle of your local craft store.

If you don't have texture plates at home,

have no fear you can also go on a texture hunt

around the house!

Materials to gather or look for:

Mesh (from produce or tangerines) works wonderfully,

bubble wrap,

brick (our fireplace hearth and patio),

wood or tile (floors, deck, boards in the shed, shower walls),

rough concrete sidewalks,

tree bark (in the backyard)

the possibilities are endless!

After you make the rubbing with crayon

you can go over it with colored markers

(we used our scented set -- nummy)

or watercolors for a resist effect!

This would be a great kid's table activity

at Thanksgiving dinner...

so would this great leafy project over at

Filth Wizardry or these cute leaf rubbing fairies

(you could make leaf turkeys)!

If you don't have leaves to rub you can

always hop over the the Let's Explore blog and shop

and order a set of her wonderful leaf rubbing plates!

Happy Coloring.