Leaf banner -- fun project with kids!

I did a fun project with my kids today, and it was so fun that I wanted to share it so you can do it too.

Now here 's my criteria for a really fun project:
cheap
entertaining for at least an hour
kids learn something
accessible for a wide range of ages

And I have to tell you that this one hit all the marks!

For this project you will need:
a package of coffee filters
washable markers
drying rack
water sprayer (old windex bottle or similar)
needle and thread

 Buy yourself some coffee filters.  Get them for cheap at the dollar store.

 Iron them flat.  You can do 8 or 9 at a time.

 Cut them into leaf shapes, again 8 or 9 at a time.

 I made 2 different shapes.  I was going for a regular leaf and an oak leaf.  My kids called them hearts and stars.  oh well.

 Let the kids color on them with WASHABLE markers in fall leaf colors.  (If they are not washable, they won't work)

 Get a water sprayer (like an old windex bottle) and spritz them.  Better yet, let your kids spritz them.

 When they get wet, the colors will run together like a watercolor.

 Hang them up to dry.  Be warned, this is messy.  They drip.  But it's washable marker, so if you do it on tile, it will wipe clean easily.

They turn out pretty!

 Here's an example of how the spritzing changes them from this....

 to this!

 Once they are dry, thread a needle and run it through the stem part of each leaf.

and you will have a beautiful fall leaf garland!

My daughter enjoyed it so much that she drew a heart on on our hands "because we did a good job."