Leaf Artwork with Polymer Clay

Materials

• Leaf samples
• Polymer clay (we used Sculpey)
• Waxed paper

• Bowl, lid, or glass with a wide base
• Toothpick
• Tweezers

 

Instructions

1. Collect leaf samples from the trees and large bushes in your yard or on a walk. Use a guide to identify each one.
2. At home, form clay into balls. Sandwich one between two sheets of waxed paper, then use the bottom of the bowl to press the clay into a disk. Peel back the top sheet, place a leaf on the disk, replace the paper, and flatten the clay with the bowl to a 1/4-inch thickness. Flip the clay over.
3. Use a toothpick to carve the tree's name into the clay. Flip the clay over again and remove the leaf with tweezers.
4. Bake the tokens leaf-impression side up according to the package instructions.
   
   Fun Tree Facts
   There are more than 865 species of trees in the United States.
   
   New York City has 5.2 million trees. Every year, they remove 2,202 tons of pollution in the form of ozone, sulphur dioxide, and other gases.
   
   Oak trees don't start producing acorns until they are about 25 years old