A few simple folds and snips and you can learn how to cut a paper leaf garland!
What do you need to cut a paper leaf garland…
This is an easy paper craft that requires little beyond paper, scissors, and a pencil.
The length of your paper will determine the length of your garland, obviously. A long skinny piece of paper will result in a long garland but even a standard 8 x 11 piece of paper can become an adorable short string of cut paper leaves!
We used this brown craft paper that comes in a roll. I purchased two years ago and still regularly grab it for crafting and art projects- so handy!
Lightweight paper will work best for this since you’ll be cutting through multiple layers of paper at a time.
How to fold your paper….
You’ll want to start with a long skinny strip of paper. The size is up to you. I encourage you to make more than one and experiment!
The important thing is that the paper is folded in an accordion fashion. Determine how big each “leaf” in your garland will be. Fold the strip of paper back and forth making sure each face is the same size.
Drawing the leaf shape….
Draw a leaf shape that goes off of all four sides of the paper. It is most important that it has plenty of connection on the two sides that are folded. Those are the connections that will hold your leaf shapes together when the paper leaf garland is unfolded. I find it easiest to encourage kids to stretch the leaf shape to fit the entire space!
Cut your leaf shape out…
Leaf shapes can be as simple or as realistic as desired. Just remember you’ll be cutting through multiple layers of paper. The more layers the trickier it becomes to make intricate cuts. If the leaf garland is many layers thick stick with a super simple leaf shape.
Unfold you paper leaf garland…
This is the magic moment, the moment when you unfold the cut paper leaves and see the long garland!
If your “garland” unfolds into a pile of individual leaves don’t be discouraged- it’s just paper. Fold another strip of paper and make sure that plenty of your leaf shape goes off of each side!
Adding color to your paper leaf garland….
Personally, I love these paper leaf garlands as is, done in plain brown craft paper. But I also knew they’d shine with some added colors!
We used cake watercolor paints like this Crayola set. You could also use oil pastels to draw details like veins and then do a watercolor wash over top!
More leaf art ideas….
- Use crayons to create a remarkably realistic leaf rubbing!
- Create rainbow leaf prints with washable markers
- Go on a nature walk and collect real leaves to use in a nature mandala