By Melanie Linn Gutowski

Hunting for colorful leaves is a great way to enjoy the fall weather with your nieces and nephews. Help them preserve their best finds by pressing the leaves for use in later craft projects.

What You'll Need:

-leaves (only those you've found on the ground - no picking, please!)
-sheets of wax paper or parchment paper
-thin cardboard or thick posterboard
-two large, heavy books or a leaf/flower press

What To Do:

1. Collect your leaves, being careful not to crush them before getting them back home. Thinking about what you'd like to do with them later will help you in choosing leaves. Will you make a bookmark? A collage? A paper weight? The possibilities are endless!

2. Prepare your leaves for pressing. Place leaves one by one on a sheet of wax paper, being sure that they don't touch (they will stick together if they're touching, so think about whether this will work for your future project or not before pressing). Place another sheet of wax paper on top, and then a sheet of cardboard. Continue these layers until all of your leaves are covered. Sandwich your finished layers between two last pieces of cardboard.

3. Go to the presses. If you have a leaf or flower press, place your stack inside and screw the cover down as tightly as it will go. If you don't have a press, you can make one using two heavy books. Place your stack in the middle of one book, ensuring that all parts of it are inside the book. Place a second book on top of the first. (Always be sure that the books you are using won't be damaged during this process.)

4. Wait. Your leaves will need at least a week to dry in the press. Leave your press in a place where it won't be disturbed during that time.

5. It's craft time! After a week or more, remove your leaves from the press. They're now ready for use in a variety of fun crafts - use your imagination, Auntie!

Melanie Linn Gutowski, Savvy Auntie's Associate Editor, is a proud Godmother and ABC.