Quick & Easy Fern Leaf Art using a Photocopier

Long before I discovered free printable botanical art prints, I’ve been a fan of botanical art.

Years ago, I got the idea of making my own botanical prints using real fern leaves and our computer scanner.

Rather than doing leaf printing art with paints, I was inspired by the idea of pressed flower art and decided to try a much quick and easier wall art idea.

I simply laid fern leaves on our home photocopier and printed them!

A collage of images of fern leaf print art being made and hung on the wall

How to Make Quick Fern Leaf Printing Art without any Paint!

Supplies

  • Real fern leaves
  • Home photocopier
  • Cardstock

Simple step by step instructions

Typically, leaf printing art requires painting the leaf and then pressing the painted leaf on paper to make a design like a stamp.

Another way to make art with real leaves is to press and dry them, and then modge podge them onto paper.

This wall art idea is so much easier!

  1. Cut fern leaves to be the size you would like for your art print.
  2. Position it on your photocopier top that has been cleaned of all dust and spots.
fern leaf on a photocopier window
No paint or modge podge is needed for this simple leaf printing art. Just set the leaf on a photocopier!

3. Place a white sheet of cardstock over the top of the leaf, close the lid and press copy.

Ta Da!  5 minute art!

Print of a fern leaf on white cardstock
Print the fern leaf on heavy cardstock for beautiful leaf printing art.

Create a gallery wall using different prints.

I did 6 different little ferns and placed them in simple black {$1.00} frames.  Just a warning about the frames, though.  I was thrilled beyond words when I found them for $1.  However, they were the craziest frames Iā€™ve ever worked with!  I actually had to break the frame apart to get the glass outā€¦  Next time Iā€™ll be more careful before buying a ā€œbargainā€.

3 framed fern leaf printings hung on a shiplap wall
Hang the fern leaf prints together on the wall for a botanical art gallery wall feel.

To see the whole bedroom makeover, click here

A cottage style bedroom with three fern leaf printings hung on either side of the bed on creamy white walls.
Pretty, fresh green fern art prints make it feel like there are fresh plants in the room at all times!

Other variations of this fern leaf printing art idea

  • Use different varieties of fern leaves and do more than one per print. Add the botanical name at the bottom in pretty handwriting using a fine tipped black marker.
  • Use your computer printers scanner device and scan the leaf image into your computer and digitally edit and enhance it to get the look you’d like.
  • Rather than using fern leaves, use any colored leaves from the Fall season for beautiful Fall leaf art.

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How To Make a Fern Leaf Printing using a Photocopier

How To Make a Fern Leaf Printing using a Photocopier

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Decorate a bare wall quickly and easily by making a quick & easy fern leaf printing using a photocopier.

Materials

  • Real fern leaves
  • Home photocopier
  • Cardstock

Instructions

    1. Cut fern leaves to be the size you would like for your art print.
    2. Position it on your photocopier top that has been cleaned of all dust and spots.
    3. Place a white sheet of cardstock over the top of the leaf, close the lid and press copy.
    4. Place your new fern art prints in a frame and hang them on the wall!

    Did you make this project?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

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    5 Comments

    1. We are kindred spirits! I always say I could kill a silk plant; so any way that I can get greenery into a room without risking the life of some poor defenseless plant, I’m all for it. Then top it off by making it easy-to-do and you can consider it done! Thanks for sharing your photocopying technique. I have the frames, a place to put them and the copier; now to find the ferns!

    2. Oh Rita you have to be the most clever person ever! What a great idea!! We have frames, photocopier, and I know where to get ferns. This will be just perfect in our room and for a friend who is redecorating on a dime…

      I have to admit we have houseplants but only of the heartiest variety!! Thank you for reminding me… I need to dust off my fake plants though.

      Have a great day! I off to make a new pillow case for our bedroom. šŸ™‚

    3. Great idea to photocopy them. I took some ferns, flattened them between paper towels under stacks of books for several days and framed them. They looked great…..until recently I noticed they are turning brown now after about two years šŸ™ I did notice some very expensive framed vintage botanicals recently at a specially store that were very brown on the edges as well so I guess mine are now vintage šŸ™‚ and they were much cheaper! I believe my frames were like yours too as I recall having difficulty getting the glass out..mine were two pieces of glass but no backing more like a shadow box.

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