Oak leaves

I have been itching (not literally but you know what I mean) to blog this but as it was a present for a friend at work and I know Sarah does occasionally look at my blog I couldn't show you until she'd seen it.

I bought the Paperartsy oak dies at THAT event in February and I knew I wanted to us them to make a wreath, Sarah's birthday seemed an ideal opportunity to test the idea as she loves nature (a quick look in Brewers Dictionary of phrase and fable tell us that the oak was sacred to the druids so even more appropriate for Sarah)

I painted a square canvas with lots of green and blue and then  thin washes of white ove the top. I then added some some perfect pearl powders over a text stamp and used an old credit card to put some lines of paint on as well to give it the usual texture look.  Around the edge (which you can't really see, but trust me it is there)  I put some tissue tape and rubbed over some green and blue distress ink.

Then down to cutting the leaves, I selected some card in shades of browns and greens and started cutting, it was quite theraputic cranking that old machine (no vagabond for me - yet)  and I ended up with lots of them! 

Some I stamped with the corresponding stamps, some I inked with distress inks - but they still looked a bit "flat" So out came the embossing folders!  Yes that worked,so I added some more distress inks to empahaise the raised bits

I cut out a ring of corrugated card to act as the base and then started gluing the leaves down with the trusty hot glue gun, started with the large ones first and then moved on to the middle ones and finally the small ones.  When it was dry I sprayed some antique gold at a great height to lightly dust the leaves and then glued to the canvas.

Finally a raffia bow to complete, I ummed and aahed about adding a button in the middle of the bow, but in the end decided not to and I think it was he right decision

I think it was fair to say Sarah was chuffed with it and I really enjoyed making - want to make one for myself now!

jo
xx