Make Jelly Leaves

Create peelable, colorful window clings using clear glue, dish soap, and food coloring.

 

Materials you'll need

• Clear glue
• Liquid dish soap
• Food coloring (yellow, red, orange)
• Small mixing cups
• Stirring stick
• Paintbrush
• Leaf coloring page
• Plastic sheet protector or clear plastic pouch

 

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1: Pour 2 tbsp of clear glue into a small cup.

Step 2: Add 1/2 tsp of liquid dish soap and 1 drop of yellow food coloring to the glue.

Step 3: Stir the mixture thoroughly using a wooden stick until uniform.

Step 4: Repeat the process in separate cups to create red and orange variations.

Step 5: Slide your leaf coloring page inside a clear plastic sheet protector.

Step 6: Use a paintbrush to fill in the leaf shapes on the plastic surface with your glue mixture.

Step 7: Allow the glue to dry completely, then gently peel the jelly leaves off the plastic.

Step 8: Stick your peelable jelly leaves directly onto a sunny window!

Learn more

Clear glue is full of long, microscopic chains called polymers that float around in water. When your painted leaves sit out and dry, the water turns into invisible vapor and disappears into the air. This leaves behind a stretchy, rubbery web of squishy plastic! Adding a tiny bit of dish soap keeps the glue soft and flexible so it doesn't snap when you peel it off. Once it's dry, the flat side of your jelly leaf can press super flat against smooth window glass, creating a cool window sticker that lets the sunlight shine right through!

Still in the mood for more leaf art? Nature Walk Lantern encourages kids to explore the nature in their own neighborhood and search for flowers and leaves to create unique lantern shades.