Saturday, November 9, 2013

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.


20 thoughtful remarks:

Nan G said...

Cool! You've got some neat backgrounds ready for projects. Love the large leaf (hand shaped) folder experiment. Hugs

Helen said...

Loving your leaf stamping, that takes me back to my childhood! You have some great results with the file folders, the colours are lovely!

Vicki Miller said...

One of my favourite things is printing leaves! yes I love these and your colour scheme is great! I have been printing them on my gelatin/silicone mat and there is tons of detail when you do, but yes, you need to print the ghost very quick with acrylic. You could add a bit of gel medium to slow the drying. sometimes that helps.
In answer to your qn about rusting fabric, Yes and since my hubby is a fitter and turner, there is always something rusty lying around to use.

Vicki Miller said...

in answer to the beading compliments, you are altogether too nice to me. I get very bored very easily and so things take ages to finish. I find your blog to be a breath of fresh air and Bluebeard is so gorgeous that I have to keep coming back

Karla B said...

You always have something to teach me and I simply adore what I have been learning. Love your stamp. Wonderful effects. Have a magical Sunday, my friend!

Linda Gibbons said...

Love the beautiful colors of your leaf prints.

Michelle LaPoint Rydell said...

Your leaf prints are beautiful! Very interesting to see the difference once you switched to the brush from the sponge! Thanks for sharing!

~*~Patty S said...

your leaf prints are so lovely showing the special veins in each unique leaf!

grinning about getting paint on the camera...comes with the territory doesn't it ;)

you make me want to play with paint E ! :)
oxo

Janet said...

How fun to take time to just play! I seem to always have an end goal in mind! Although I guess laying down the background in my art journal might qualify as "playing." So happy to be reconnecting through AEDM!

Anonymous said...

Leaf prints are so much fun. You picked some of my favorite colors to use as well...you are moving right along on your gift making. xox

Jo Murray said...

Just goes to show...play CAN be productive

Taexalia said...

I love what you have done with the leaves, I'm just a little envious that your leaves are still green and on the trees!

Thanks for sharing :)

Taexalia

Unknown said...

Clever idea for decorating your folders! Leaves are a perfect theme for this time of year. I hope the rest of your weekend was just as fun.

Dawn said...

Gorgeous makes sweetie, I love the leaf images, beautifully done.
Huge hugs x x x x

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Looks like you had a lot of fun playing in, I mean with, the leaves!

Maron said...

Just messing around can be almost as much fun as having a "plan"!!

creatorme said...

Oh I especially like those ghost prints of the leaves. Great colors.

Rita said...

The scruffy brush worked waaay better! I love the skeleton prints the best. :)

Darla said...

Your stack of file folders is growing. It will be fun to have so much to go through them when you are ready to create something.

Darla

Halle said...

The masked prints are really cool!!