Saturday, November 10, 2012

Fall Leaves 2



This week when my family got together on Sunday we talked about things we are grateful for.  It's so easy to get caught up in the negative that we forget to be grateful for the many things we have to be thankful for.  It was good as we went around the room hearing each others thoughts and comments.  I wanted us to remember those things we talked about, so I created a "grateful" tree.  Everyone was given five leaves to write down somethings they were grateful for and then glued them to the bare tree branches.  We had a fun time and hopefully we can remember those things especially though the Thanksgiving season.

To make your own 
Grateful Tree 
1. Cut branches from tree and insert in large vase.  Secure with fall colored beans, legumes, etc.

2. Cut leaves cut from pages of an old book using the Vagabond machine and the Tattered Leaves die.  I considered using cardstock, but I liked that the leaves looked thin and lightweight on the tree.

3. Color leaves with Distress Ink.  I did them a couple of different ways.  

Technique #1
Apply Distress Ink (I used Barn Door) to your Non-stick Craft Sheet directly from the Distress Ink pad.

Squirt inked area with Mini Mister filled with water

Run leaves though wet ink.  Apply to both sides of the leaves leaving blank areas.

You can do quite a few at a time.
Allow to dry.

To fill in empty areas repeat inking process with another color (I used Wild Honey).  


After applying Wild Honey Distress Ink it looks like this.  Love the vibrant colors and didn't mind if a few spaces were left uncolored.

Dry again using the Heat Tool

Technique #2
Stamp Wild Honey Distress Ink pad directly onto leaves.  
Tip:  Bunch a lot of leaves together while stamping to save time and ink.

Randomly stamp with a second color.
(Don't worry about the edge lines from stamp pad)

Spray leaves with Mini Mister filled with water.  
Colors will run together in some areas which is what you are going for.  

....and end up looking like this

Grateful Sign
I used grungeboard covered with old book pages to make the Grateful sign.
To make the letters, glue a page out of an old book to Grungeboard....
...and run through Vagabond Machine using the Word Play die to make the letters to spell out GRATEFUL.  Ink the edges of each letter with assorted fall colors.
Glue another old book page, this time a blank page to a piece of grunge board, mine was approximately 2.5" x 8".  This will be the base of the sign that the letters will be glued to.  I cut the piece to size, rounded the corners, inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress,
then applied eyelets to both sides of the sign and tied it to the vase with jute.
The Grunge board is heavy yet pliable, which allows it to wrap around the vase.

Extra leaves are sitting next to the tree so we can continue to add more leaves.

Grateful tree
(Please note:  There are three or four real leaves mixed in with the book page leaves)

One more thing....
You have to see the gorgeous fall garland made by clever girl Shelly Hickox using the Tattered Leaves die and coffee filters...check it out on her blog.

Have a great weekend,
deb


14 comments:

  1. This is absolutely beautiful and such a great idea for showing gratitude!

    Thanks too for the shout out - I was so surprised to read down to the end and see my name! :)

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  2. Beautiful! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing. Shelly's garland is beautiful, too!!

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  3. This is such a brilliant idea, you are right too, we should take time to remember the things we are grateful for and make a note of them. Love the way you have done the gorgeous leaves. Saw Shelly's wreath and it is beautiful too.

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  4. Gorgeous!!! Love your vibrant leaves, and this is a gorgeous project!!! Love the title piece as well!

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  5. This is a lovely idea. Going through hello here with Hurricane Sandy and finding it hard to remember my blessings, this would be a great idea at the moment, I don't have a die cut machine to make the leaves or the grateful sign, but I suppose I can free hand something and make it work. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  6. Beautiful, Deb! Since we don't really get changing leaf colors here in Florida, I'll take any sort of leaf color I can!!

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  7. What a wonderful idea and a great fall decoration!

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  8. I really like this and thanks for more die cutting ideas. I am wondering if I can do something similar with snowflakes...hmm.

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  9. Just Curious...do you have any If the 7 gypsies Christmas tree kits for sale?! I'd ABSOLUTELY LOVE one!!!
    Let me know!!
    dkhousehold@gmail.com
    Thank-you!!
    Debbie House

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    Replies
    1. Debbie,
      The Christmas tree kits have all sold.

      so sorry,
      deb

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  10. Wonderful decoration and a terrific way for families to share on Thanksgiving or anytime. I'm thinking that one could cut holiday ornaments and hang them on a barren branch or Christmas tree, too. TFS I'll be forwarding this to several friends. :)

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  11. I just found your blog via a pin on Pinterest & I'm so glad I did. Your Grateful Tree is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I look forward to following your blog.

    Smiles,
    Carol
    http://carolsheirloomcollection.blogspot.com/

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