WOW, Mike, neat colors. Haven't tried that brand, keep us posted on how the stain works for you.
Mike you want to do leaf imprints or leaf castings? I know some here make plaster of paris castings and silicone castings. I make leaf castings all during our growing season and just stock pile them. In the winter I use broadleaf evergreens (magnolia, azalea, rhododendron,holly) for castings but I love making the tile imprints in the Winter of conifers. If it's imprints many conifer work well but not all. The finer detail gets lost so I look for thick needle like yews and some chamaecyperis. You can even remove some of the needles so it's not so muddy looking. Less is more. Keep us posted. Billie

" I am frantically trying to collect leaves before they are gone."

UGH. -18 deg. C (-1 deg F sounds so much better!!) & snow here today. I'm going back to my knitting now... sniff...

Don't forget about the grocery store! There's is usually leafy produce available during the winter. Sure, it's not the big flashy leaves but you can make some awesome leaf castings from greens,cabbages and lettuces. And if you don't like the casting you get you can always eat the leftovers. :-)

Some firm leaves can be preserved by soaking in a glycerin solution. Use about half or two-thirds boiling water added to glycerin, then stirred well & allowed to cool. I mix in a spaghetti pot, then pour into a plastic sweater-type plastic box with a lid when cool. (The lid really helps to keep the cats out of it...)

Sycamore leaves come out really well. Soft-bodied leaves don't work so well.

Too late for this year, but something to remember for next year.

Sue