To make a quick and easy keepsake of the season, grab a few of those fall colors while they are still available and get ready to have a little fun.

All you need is a collection of colorful leaves, a flatbed scanner, and (optionally) some plastic wrap.

Collect the Leaves
The first step is to go around your neighborhood and collect a handful of colorful leaves. If there are none nearby, go on a field trip to a local park or arboretum

Look for reds, yellows, and oranges. Pick leaves that are in good shape. Grab a few green leaves as well as the more colorful specimens - so that you have a nice variety to work with.

Prep Them for Scanning
Once you have an assortment, wash them off in cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Pick one or two of your favorites; these will be the main subject of your picture, the "star" of your show.

Lay them on the surface of your scanner face down, in any arrangement you like. I prefer to place all of the most intricate, beautiful, and whole leaves down first, with my absolute favorite on a Rule of Thirds axis.

Feel free to pack the leaves tightly together or leave large gaps in between each leaf. If you like the packed look, you can carefully cover any gaps in between each leaf with bigger, less attractive pieces. If you choose the latter option - with gaps in between, the spaces will scan as a deep black that contrasts nicely with the bright leaves.

Be prepared to scan them within a few hours; after about a half of a day, the leaves get too brittle to work with.

With Plastic Wrap
The last thing you want to do with your expensive scanner is to scratch the surface. So if there is danger of damage - if the leaves and stems are not soft - cover the glass with plastic wrap to protect it from the elements.

As you can see, this precaution can create very interesting patterns. The light reflects off the plastic to produce an usual assortment of highlights. If you choose to scan with the plastic wrap without creating this effect, simply stretch it flat and smooth it out. All it takes is a little patience :)

Without the Plastic Wrap
Without wrap, you get a much more straightforward look. The amazing colors of the fall foliage come through without distraction.

Either way, you will have a great time making a collection of colorful images to hang on your wall, send to friends and family members, or play with in an image editing program. Involve the kids for even more fun and a few more memories to remember the season by.

Enjoy!