Painted Leafies! — Painted Sidewalks

Textile-inspired painted leaves- perhaps the easiest project to do this season with little ones! Nothing cures the grumps like a few strokes of paint, and the prints and pattern ideas are endless. Click through for more tips on creating your own cheap and cheerful little "Leafies."

Step 1: FORAGE! It's helpful to gather around this time of year- when leaves are first starting to change and you have an array of colors. Both trees and decorative shrubs shed some nice shapes- try to retain tiny steps if possible for little hands to grasp during the painting.

No Pantone can beat Nature's colors of the season!

Step 2: Pick a color story. Acrylic pastels are fun- and even true whites and blacks add nice lines. We usually tear off a piece of Parchment Paper for a workspace. A glass of water to clean separate brushes for each color and a kitchen towel for dabbing dry all keep your work tidy.

how could these colors NOT be on your mind?

Step 3: Paint! Play with symmetry and scale! Let your littles make their own or collaborate by having them paint the base and you detail on top after it dries.

Step 4: Let them dry a few hours and you are done. Frame them. Tie-on packages. Make pairs and play memory "card" games. Keep them in a decorative basket for some table-top curiosity.