The ancient craft of making leaf skeletons is easy to love but difficult to master. This guide teaches you how to make them, plus a range of fun uses.

Rice said she used nearly 3,000 skeleton leaves, hand-glued together to create the look. Aspidistra leaves spray-painted gold make up the tall boots, and dyed corn husks were used to create the hair.

This article was originally published with the title “ Skeleton Flowers and Leaves ” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 21 (January 1858), p. 161 doi:10.1038 ...