Leaf Bowl

We gathered birch leaves in all sorts of yellows and light greens for this little bowl.

I love how the colours look together, especially where the leaves overlap. It is a lovely project to do with children, choosing each leaf and gradually building up the shape. There is plenty of glue involved, so expect sticky fingers.

We used a glass bowl as our mould, covered in compostable cling film. You can also use a balloon, but I prefer using a bowl we already have.

You will need

Birch leaves, or other small, flexible leaves
A glass bowl
Compostable cling wrap
Yamato rice starch glue
A paintbrush for the glue
A battery-operated LED tealight, optional

Method

Gather your leaves and gently pat them dry if they are damp. Choose leaves that are still flexible, as very dry ones can crack when you bend them.

Turn your glass bowl upside down and cover the outside with cling film. This will help you lift the leaf bowl away once it has dried.

Brush glue onto the underside of a leaf, then place it onto the upturned base of the bowl. Gently press it into place and brush another layer of glue over the top.

Keep adding leaves, overlapping them so they join together. Work across the base and a little way down the sides, until you have the shape and depth you would like.

Add extra leaves over any gaps or thin patches. The overlapping layers will help hold the bowl together.

Leave it to dry overnight. If it still feels very soft or sticky, give it a little longer.

Carefully ease the leaves and cling film away from the glass bowl, then gently peel the film from your leaf bowl. Take your time with this part. An adult may need to help.

The inside will probably still be damp. Set it upright somewhere airy and leave it to dry completely.

Once dry, you will have a delicate little bowl made entirely from leaves.

Our favourite glue for this is Yamato rice starch glue. It washes off easily, which makes clearing up afterwards much simpler.

A battery-operated LED tealight inside gives the leaves a lovely warm glow and shows off their colours. Only use an LED light, never a real candle, as dried leaves are flammable.

The finished bowl is fragile, so find it a little spot where it can be enjoyed without too much handling.