As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been spending a lot of time weeding and mulching. When I finish weeding I take all of the weeds down to the bottom of our property which is a wooded area. On the edge of the “bottoms” are several sassafras trees. Every time I take loads down there I admire the leaves. When I think about leaf printing I think about fall leaves, but why not go ahead and print some of these now?
If you would like more information on leaf printing, check out my tutorial HERE. I’ll attach the link to my You Tube tutorial at the end of this post.
I usually use Jacquard Textile Paints. I love how they look on fabric. For the first several pieces of fabric they worked great. However, I had purchased some Artistic Artifacts Fluid Textile Paints awhile back and decided to see how they would do. I was concerned that they might be too thin, but I was wrong.
I liked how I could squirt they right on my palette. And the colors were beautiful. I loved how the colors blended depending what paint was left on the leaf.
When printing I wasn’t concerned about the placement on the fabric. All I needed was enough room to sew each leaf and then cut out.
I let them dry overnight and then ironed on interfacing. I tried several and decided I liked Pellon SF101 best. It gives the leaves stability, but they aren’t real stiff.
Then it was on to the sewing machine. I added a Supreme Slider to my machine to help with the free motion action. I also like using those gloves. I chose gray thread. I wanted the thread to show the veins, but not stand out.
I sewed some of the leaf veins and then outlined them.
Then cut them out.
I had so much fun doing this that I had another printing session.
So now I have this big bunch of leaves!
I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them. I could make them into a wreath, add them to a hat, purse or shirt, make them into a scarf, or add them to an art piece. For right now I’m just enjoying them and listening to see where they want to go.
Here is that video I made awhile back on leaf printing. If you are reading this blog via email, you will need to come to the blog to watch it.
So much fun!
I’m linking up today with Off The Wall Friday and Finished or Not Friday. Check out the link for other creativity!
Love the leaves!
Angela, Thanks!
Great tutorial! They sure are pretty.
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I love them. Wreath, I see a wreath!
So pretty. Lovely work.
thank you for this idea. I have done some leaf printing in the past and am going to do a 100 day project starting on june 11th and am going to do a leaf a day. leaving myself open to what I want to do regarding a leaf. I can print, stamp, sun print, gel print, applique, fmq, photograph, sketch – as long as it had to do with a leaf. I like the idea of backing with interfacing so they can be cut out – although the interfacing shows as white, if you cut out like you did, the white outlines the leaf anyway so it blends.
BTW, if you have any interest in doing a 100 day project I am setting up a facebook page for a place to share and would love to have a few people to do this together. I have no rules really, start when you want, if you miss a day I’m not the project police. I just wanted a place to help keep me accountable and to share my progress. you can search for 100 day project for quilters and find the group if you are interested.
What fun. I love them. Thanks for sharing your process.
Gwyned, Thanks.
Hi Carol, Thank you for dropping by and commenting. I love your idea of 100 days of leaves!! You could also pound them, or use Solarfast. Regarding the interfacing, what is showing around the leaves is the fabric. You could always cut real close to the stitches, zig zag the edges instead, or paint the edges!! So many ideas; not enough time!!
I’ve thought about 100 day projects and have even tried one but didn’t last but a couple days. However, I may have to change my mind about that. Thanks for the invite.
Dolly, Yep, great idea!
Karen, Thanks!
The colors you achieved from the paints are wonderful! Really nice…I did send you an email…not sure if the email address I had is good…justy fyi!
Hi Robbie, Thank you! Yes, I did get your email.
Your leaves are lovely. I did quite a few last year on T-shirts for a fund raiser. I do like your quilted versions.
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Hi Norma, Thank you. I bet they looked lovely on the t-shirts.