Playing with leaves and file folders

I've gathered a few green leaves that are left in my yard, along with some I "borrowed" from my neighbor's tree
because I want to use them for stamps.

Now I confess, I'm not a very good stamper on GOOD days.  And that is when I have a mounted stamp and ink.  But today I started with these beautiful leaves, a sea sponge, old file folders, and some fluid acrylics.  I was going for those colors that were most indicative of autumn.

I loaded the damp sea sponge with two colors of paint and determined the position of the leaves on the file folder.  My plan is to eventually cut these to make books to give as Christmas gifts.


Silly me!  I didn't take into consideration the fact the sea sponge would make such a mess and I wouldn't be able to place all three leaves on one side.  I also stuck my hand in the paint, which is evident by the mess I created in the bottom left of the page.

It was also at that time I got my first bit of paint on my new camera.  I can't believe I've gone this long and not got paint on it before.


I decided it was time to rethink this project.  I placed the sea sponge in water so it wouldn't get stiff, then grabbed my old scruffy brush I love so much.

This time it only took a few minutes to paint the back side of the leaf, then print it.  The ghost print (second printing of the leaf) is on the left.  I was thrilled.

I next added two more prints (one painted, one ghost) to the other end of the file folder.

As I was trying to turn the next leaf into a mask, a lightbulb came on in my head.

I immediately flipped the file folder over and created another image.  How I wish I had actually checked the inside of the file folder before I did this.  But it was too late now, and I knew I was just playing and experimenting, anyway.

The ghost print was faint, possibly because I took time to photograph the first image before pressing the ghost print in place.

I flipped the file folder around and created two more masked images.  I really liked how they overlapped each other.  After all, I was just playing around.

I wanted to change brush colors, but didn't want to waste too much paint.  Originally, I started to make swirls around the leaf, then another light bulb came on.  This was easy.  And after spending so many frustrating hours several days ago working with file folders, I was thrilled.

If you look closely, you can see I've laid the first file folder on the anti-static mat on my craft room floor.

For the back side, I first laid down yellow, then added black.  Now I know You don't have to remind me that yellow and black make green, so I tried to keep some of the black out of the yellow paint.  After the black and yellow had been added, I finished the file folder off with a small amount of green.  Once again, I could not have been happier.

This is Day 10
of AEDM.  We are 1/3 the way through this month.  Hope you are having as much fun as I am.  I want to thank Leah, our gracious host, for this month long event.  Today I painted both sides of two file folders, then pressed the remainder of the leaves I didn't use.