Autumn Leaf Sculptures

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope you are enjoying these 

beautiful Autumn days. 

Thank you so much for your sweet visits! 

xoxo

Today I would like to share with you a craft 

that I previously posted way back in 2011

when I first started blogging - Leaf Sculptures. 

I have enjoyed these leaf sculptures every year since, 

as you can see by these photographs that I took this morning :)

I thought these were worth sharing once again......

Imitate Nature by crafting decorative leaf sculptures.

This is an idea from a vintage Martha Stewart Living Magazine. I love that magazine and have had a subscription since the very first issue. I have always wanted to make these, but they looked difficult. I am happy to say, they are very easy. I would not recommend this craft for young children, as there is oven baking and sharp craft knives involved, but older children might enjoy it with parental supervision.

Go outside and select a variety of sturdy leaves with prominent ribbing on the undersides.

Roll out a piece of craft clay (the kind that can be baked in the oven - I used 'Sculpey'. One 794g - 1.75 lb box.) Roll clay approx. 1/4 inch thick. Protect your surface and rolling pin with waxed or parchment paper. Place a leaf on the clay, cover it with waxed paper, and roll evenly until the leaf makes a clear impression in the clay.

Remove waxed paper. With a craft knife, carefully cut the clay along the outline of the leaf. Allow extra width around thin stems.

Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Roll a piece of aluminum foil into a tight tube. Curl the tube into a loose ring or horse shoe shape. This serves as a support for the leaf as it bakes, giving it a more natural, undulating shape.

Bake the clay according to manufacturer's instructions. (Approx. 15 min.)

Once completely cooled, you can paint the leaves, giving them beautiful Autumn hues. The directions in the magazine called for water-based transparent lacquer, but I couldn't find that in my craft store. So I used acrylic water-based craft paint, the kind that comes in the small bottles. They come in many different colors. I chose subtle Autumn colors of True Ochre (gold), Burnt Sienna (reddish), Golden Brown, and Timberline Green ( a soft mossy green).

I watered down the paint, approx. 50-50 for the first coat. I brushed on the gold as an undercoat on all the leaves. Don't forget the undersides and the edges. I used the foil covered baking pans and rolled tubes to set the painted leaves upon.

Once I was finished with the base coat, I let that dry about 30 minutes and then I mixed the rest of the colors with water, but used a little more paint this time in the ratio. A little goes a long way, so only use one good squirt of paint at a time, about the size of a quarter and a tiny amount of water.

I then added color from the edges inward. I used the darker Burnt Sienna around all of the edges. I used the Golden Brown to fill in the middle. The watered down paint will softly fill in the lines and creases, giving it a 'true to nature' look. I used the Timberline Green on one small leaf.

When the leaves were thoroughly dry, (I left them to dry overnight), I gave them a final coat of Acrylic Matt Varnish. (Not Glossy) This is also water based, but don't water it down. You can find this where the craft paint is sold. It seals the leaves and allows you to gently wipe them down with water to clean them. (Do not submerge in water)

When you are done, you will have beautiful leaf sculptures to display on your mantel or table. The larger leaves can be used for serving nuts, candy or crackers.

I hope you try making these easy Leaf Sculptures 

some rainy Autumn day! 

xoxo

Today I am linking with:

Cooking and Crafting with J&J

Won't you join the fun?