Fall Thank-You Cards

When I was young I remember gathering wild flowers with my mom, pressing them for several weeks between the biggest books we could find, and then making beautiful cards with the pressed flowers. I wanted to try that with my kids, only with the colorful fall leaves that cover the ground. After trying to remember how to make the cards, several phone calls to my mom, and quite a few mistakes we did it and the cards turned out great! It is so easy (when you know what you are doing), and Kaylee and Aaron loved to help. Nathan loved crumbling the leaves all over the floor...I should have waited for nap time for this project!

Here's what you need:

• colorful leaves/flowers
• paper towels
• iron
• wax paper
• tissues (divided so that it is one-ply)
• Elmer's glue diluted with water - 1 part glue to 1 part water
• paper, ribbon, etc for the center of the card

I sent Kaylee and Aaron outside to find the best, most colorful leaves.

I didn't want to wait for weeks to press them so we put a paper towel on top and bottom and pressed them with the iron until they were flat and dry (about 2-3 minutes).

Next, cut the wax paper to the size that you want the card. Lay the leaf on the right half of the wax paper so that when the card is folded the leaf is on the front. Lay the divided tissue on top making sure that the tissue covers the wax paper. Using a paint brush, softly dab the diluted glue over the entire area and 1/2 inch border around the wax paper, being careful not to tear the tissue.

Cover with a towel and iron until dry...about 3 minutes.

Carefully tear off the extra tissue around the edge of the wax paper.

Fold the card in half, cut paper to fit the inside, punch two holes on the folded side of the card and tie a ribbon through the holes to secure the paper.

This is a great way to preserve those beautiful Fall colors.

This would be a festive way to give thanks to someone by making your own Fall Thank-You cards!