How do I skeletonize leaves?

Question

PLEASE HELP ME. It's this crappy project we need for school. We have to skeletonize a minimum of 3 leaves. Here's our directions:

1) Get leaves, soak in 1liter of water, 2 tbsps of bleach and 3 tbsps of washing detergent for two hours

2) Wash leaves

3) Soak again in a new mixture but with same amounts

4) Boil for one minute

5) Wash again

6) Brush off the green parts gently and leave out the skeleton

[the coloring instructions here]

OK, so I DID EXACTLY WHAT IT SAID, BUT NO MATTER HOW I BRUSH IT, I DON'T GET THE RESULTS I WANT. if I brush it too gently, the green parts don't come off. if i brush it a bit harder, the leaves tear and break! >:( the result we need are like the leaves here:

http://www.leaflines.com/

please, i need a better procedure and a more effective one!

thank you to those kind souls out there ready to help.

Answer 1

Maybe try a different kind of leaf.  Some leaves are waxy and thicker than others (harder to break down).  So, this procedure may be easier on soft thin leaves.