..jpeg "Crepe Paper Spring Leaves Tutorial")
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.jpeg "Crepe Paper Spring Leaves Tutorial")
.Spring cleaning gets me into trouble...
I unearth things I have forgotten about, the Muses jump into action with ideas, and the next thing you know, Deb is busily crafting something instead of cleaning something. Anyone else out there fall victim to this malady?!
As I pulled a box off of the shelf in my closet studio, a roll of bright chartreuse green crepe paper fell on my head. (The Muses are not concerned with niceties when they want my attention.) I sat it on another shelf, turned around, bumped a small branch lying on the closet floor - and the roll of crepe paper fell off of the other shelf to land right next to the branch. I kid you not!
The unruly Muses put an idea into my head, and I gave up on cleaning to give that idea a tryout. It worked, was FAST, and so I'm sharing it here in this unplanned blog post! (It's the first day of Spring, which I assume is why the Muses are in action)
I unearth things I have forgotten about, the Muses jump into action with ideas, and the next thing you know, Deb is busily crafting something instead of cleaning something. Anyone else out there fall victim to this malady?!
As I pulled a box off of the shelf in my closet studio, a roll of bright chartreuse green crepe paper fell on my head. (The Muses are not concerned with niceties when they want my attention.) I sat it on another shelf, turned around, bumped a small branch lying on the closet floor - and the roll of crepe paper fell off of the other shelf to land right next to the branch. I kid you not!
The unruly Muses put an idea into my head, and I gave up on cleaning to give that idea a tryout. It worked, was FAST, and so I'm sharing it here in this unplanned blog post! (It's the first day of Spring, which I assume is why the Muses are in action)
Here's the completed project on display in my studio...
Simple to create, easy to arrange and display, and a fresh nature-inspired vignette to look at while I am on my computer.
Simple to create, easy to arrange and display, and a fresh nature-inspired vignette to look at while I am on my computer.
Materials:
𑁦 sharp scissors
𑁦 bare branches (these are about 24" high)
𑁦 any color of green crepe paper
𑁦 clear glue
𑁦 a vase or plant pot to hold branches upright
𑁦 bare branches (these are about 24" high)
𑁦 any color of green crepe paper
𑁦 clear glue
𑁦 a vase or plant pot to hold branches upright
Method:
Cut a length of crepe paper about 6" long from the roll, and fold it in half lengthwise - then fold in half again.
Holding the paper with one hand, cut leaf shapes of varied sizes with the scissors. This produces leaves much faster than cutting them all one at a time. Repeat as many times as needed to have enough leaves for your branches.
Sort the cut leaves into similar sizes. Then pick up each leaf and fold it lengthwise down the center to replicate a real leaf's shape.
Arrange your branches securely in a vase, or a plant pot filled with soil or styrofoam covered with moss.
First we'll attach the smallest size of cut leaves to the end of each branch...
Use one small drop of clear glue on one end of each leaf, then place it at the end of each branch. Wrap the base of each leaf around the branch end and hold for a second while the glue starts to dry:
Holding the paper with one hand, cut leaf shapes of varied sizes with the scissors. This produces leaves much faster than cutting them all one at a time. Repeat as many times as needed to have enough leaves for your branches.
Sort the cut leaves into similar sizes. Then pick up each leaf and fold it lengthwise down the center to replicate a real leaf's shape.
Arrange your branches securely in a vase, or a plant pot filled with soil or styrofoam covered with moss.
First we'll attach the smallest size of cut leaves to the end of each branch...
Use one small drop of clear glue on one end of each leaf, then place it at the end of each branch. Wrap the base of each leaf around the branch end and hold for a second while the glue starts to dry:
.jpeg "Crepe Paper Spring Leaves Tutorial")
.jpeg "Crepe Paper Spring Leaves Tutorial")
Continue in the same manner, working your way down each branch with each size leaf. You can see in this photo that the leaves get larger closer to the base of each branch.
As for placement, I've glued each leaf to the 'nub' where real leaves appeared on this branch when it was on the tree - this helps give the faux leaves a more realistic appearance.
By pulling a few of the paper leaf ends downward, you can make them look more realistic.
As for placement, I've glued each leaf to the 'nub' where real leaves appeared on this branch when it was on the tree - this helps give the faux leaves a more realistic appearance.
By pulling a few of the paper leaf ends downward, you can make them look more realistic.
That's all there is to it! It took me five minutes to cut out the leaves, and about ten minutes to glue them all on my branches.
Arranged in my studio with some pierced ceramic vases and a green cane placemat in a leaf shape (I got mine at Daiso!), they are a lovely 'spring' moment to enjoy:
Arranged in my studio with some pierced ceramic vases and a green cane placemat in a leaf shape (I got mine at Daiso!), they are a lovely 'spring' moment to enjoy:
.jpeg "Crepe Paper Spring Leaves Tutorial")
There's a detail here you might miss, so let me point it out...
.jpeg "Crepe Paper Spring Leaves Tutorial")
It's a styling tip I've used for decades, both at home and in my retail display styling work:
When using faux florals and foliage, you can make them look much more realistic by 'dropping' a few leaves or flower petals on the tabletop or floor beneath your arrangement. I made two extra leaves for this project so I could place them beneath the vase of branches, giving the appearance that these are real leaves on real branches.
When using faux florals and foliage, you can make them look much more realistic by 'dropping' a few leaves or flower petals on the tabletop or floor beneath your arrangement. I made two extra leaves for this project so I could place them beneath the vase of branches, giving the appearance that these are real leaves on real branches.
Ok, the Muses have had their say - and now Deb has to get back to work cleaning! Happy Spring!
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.jpg "Ribbon Spring Leaves Tutorial")
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spring, tutorial, paper crafts, paper, vintage paper, inspired by nature, DIY, diy decorating, decorating, crafting, spring leaves
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