Marbled Fall Leaves

This fun activity features a technique using shaving cream and food coloring to create a marbled effect on some pretty paper leaves for fall. It also leaves the paper smelling nice, too!

  1. Ages: 3 - 11

  2. 30 minutes - 1 hour

  3. Messy

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Materials you'll need

Step-by-step tutorial

  • Step 1

    Start by printing out the leaves printable on cardstock. Next, cut out your leaves (V.'s not quite old enough for scissors yet--but of course this is a step that slightly older kids can do on their own). Then gather all materials and tools for the project.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 1

  • Step 2

    Squirt shaving cream in your tray. (This is a fun but messy part to let your child do). Have your child use the cardboard or spreader to spread out the shaving cream so it covers the entire tray.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 2

  • Step 3

    Next, have your child squirt the food coloring onto the shaving cream. Use all the colors covering the entire shaving cream canvas with drops. This was a favorite of V's; She loved squirting the colors on the shaving cream canvas.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 3

  • Step 4

    Using the skewer or toothpick, have your child swirl the food coloring around the shaving cream to create swirls of color. V loved swirling together all the pretty colors.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 4

  • Step 5

    Next, have your child place the leaves down into the shaving cream.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 5

  • Step 6

    Be sure to press down all the corners so that the paint gets on the entire leaf.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 6

  • Step 7

    Once the leaves have been pushed down, covering one side of each leaf, carefully remove them from the shaving cream.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 7

  • Step 8

    Lay out leaves (shaving cream side up) on a paper towel. Have your child hold down the leaf and then gently wipe off the shaving cream from each leaf.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 8

  • Final result!

    And this is the best part - the beautiful marbleized effect that appears under the shaving cream! V was super excited to see the final result. There was lots of oohing and aahing!

    Photo reference of how to complete step 9

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