Creating Art with Nature!

Hello friends!! Check out these fun ideas using NATURE to create ART!!!

Check out the Video Tutorial below:

I have always loved the LOOK of leaves!! And I have always wanted to capture that look and feel with an entire LEAF impression. I had only ever done Leaf-Rubbings as a kid and never really explored the idea of printing with leaves until the last couple years.

Check out this REALLY FUN and actually VERY EASY idea!!!

You can take either fresh leaves from outside OR fallen leaves that have been soaked in water (so the leaves are soft)
I used the Versafine Clair ink to apply a layer of ink to the VINE side of the leaf.
I flipped it over onto the paper and then laid a paper towel on top of the leaf and pressed evenly across the entire leaf image
When I lifted the leaf away, I saw how BEAUTIFUL the impression was!!!

Check this out… I realized ANY Pigment Ink would work!!

Next thing I did was do the same thing as above but with Distress Oxide Inks!!

Check this out… if you apply the ink to the leaves, press them on the paper and then leave the LEAVES IN PLACE and use spray inks to apply a soft spritz of ink across the paper.

The leaves act as a MASK and a STAMP!

This next idea is not only SO FUN it is also VERY COOL!!

I used a paintbrush and applied a soft layer of PVA glue to the vein-side of a leaf
I put the leaf vein-side down and then put a paper towel down on top of the leaf and pressed down on the leaf so that that the leaf impressed on the paper evenly
I removed the leaf (it’s not important to safe the leaf) and allowed the glue to dry for about a minute
Then I brushed on 2 colors of Pearl-Ex Mica Powders and watched as the leaf is REVEALED.

Not only is the leaf AMAZING, I am loving the look and TEXTURE this technique brings to the leaf impression!!!!

Now this is an idea I came across about a year ago… but if you haven’t considered it yet, you have GOT to do die-cutting with Fallen Leaves!!!!

Use a large Leaf
Back the leaf with a piece of Copy Paper so the leaf has a solid carrier for running through a die cut machine
Be very careful when removing the die-cut to keep it from breaking
Spread Happiness EVERYDAY!!