I have a perennial outside my back door that has heart-shaped leaves (it's called houttuynia, pronounced like petunia). As I walked by it this afternoon inspiration struck, and I stopped to pluck a few leaves. Here's a little peak of the finished project, all thanks to a heart-shaped leaf, some paint and a dash of creativity...
Now, back to those leaves....
Heart-shaped, right? (I was already thinking ahead to Valentine's Day and what I could make with this technique!) (But I'd have to do it now because in a few weeks these leaves will be gone.)
This is a very simple technique, and you can do it with any shape leaf. I used a paint dabber, but you could also use a foam brush to apply paint to the leaf....
I worked on a non-stick craft sheet for easy clean-up. Once your leaf is covered with paint, turn it over and stamp it onto your paper by pressing with your finger. Or, stamp onto a clear sheet of acetate - that would look pretty and you could see it from both sides!
When my stamp was dry, I used Making Memories clear gloss glaze and painted over the heart shape...
While that was still wet, I sprinkled a fine crystal glitter over the top...
Then I shook off the excess.
I cut out the heart shape, distressed the edge and set it aside while I worked on the mini notebook that I wanted to put it on.
I beefed-up the cover by adding a bit of chipboard to the front and back. I selected a pretty fall brown paper (from Basic Gray)...
...and made a cover for it, just like you would for school books....
Then - the fun part - decorating!!! I had a few things in mind - my home-made glittery heart accent, a Prima flower, a picture from a Pottery Barn Fall catalog (reuse recycle create!) and some 7 gypsies journal jewelry corners....
I added some vintage orange seam binding as a closure and a few 7 gypsies stickers...
And of course, the back (I always have to do a little something there as well!)....
I hope you are inspired to get creative with those gorgeous fall leaves! You could make place cards for Thanksgiving.... decorate a picture frame.... stamp on clear glass jars and fill them with fall flowers and tree branches loaded with colored leaves...
P.S. remember - inpsiration can be right outside your back door! :-)
