Sunday, September 15, 2013

Leafy Luminary

Hi again, I'm back with my mid-month post for Our Creative Corner.  Can you believe it's already the middle of September?  Is it fall where you are?  This will be our first fall in Gainesville, Florida, having moved here from Miami last December.  We are greatly anticipating the arrival of some cool weather.  We actually had two mornings last week when it was 68 degrees - first time it's dropped below 70 and I enjoyed having coffee on my screened patio.  

You probably already know that fall crafting (and home decorating) is my favorite.  Our challenge theme this month at Our Creative Corner is Forgotten Things, as in forgotten stash.  So I pulled out several tools and supplies that haven't seen any use in a good long time.  My Tattered Leaves die is one of my all-time favorite dies but I don't use it much until fall comes.  Then it seems to get quite a workout.  I LOVE making vintage style leaves.  So I decided to use some of my leaves to decorate a candle.  I had some thick black wire (I think it is 22 guage) which I painted with Aged Bronze Vintaj Patina paint (from the Ancient Coin Collection).  The leaves were cut from plain white card stock and stamped in Jet Black archival with Tim's Ultimate Grunge stamp set (another forgotten thing).  The leaves were all sponged with two colors of Distress Ink using colors including Rusty Hinge, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint, Barn Red and Aged Mahogany.  Then I spritzed them with water, crumpled them up a bit and dried them with my heat tool.  Once they were nice and crisp again, I sponged the edges with Vintage Photo DI.  Then each leaf got a light misting with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls (another forgotten thing).  Glue dots were used to adhere the leaves to the wire.  
The candle is battery operated so I didn't have to worry about flame or fire.  It made a lovely fall home decoration piece which is also a luminary.  


The products below used to make this project can be purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique where Tim Holtz/Ranger products are always 20% below MSRP.

12 comments:

Redanne said...

Hi Linda, I love this gorgeous creation! The treatment you have given to the tattered leaves is wonderful and what a wonderful piece of home decor you have created. Fall, or Autumn as they call it here is just around the corner, we have much cooler temperatures than you! Hugs, Anne x

Paper Profusion said...

Aren't you the lucky duck with temps above 70 lol! This is gorgeous Linda - either by day or night. Nicola x

Words and Pictures said...

This is so stunning, Linda - as a fellow autumnal crafting fan, I'm just blown away by it... and it looks so wonderful with the candle alight too - gorgeous!
Alison xx

Maryanne said...

This is a fantastic fall decoration. I'm with you as far as decorating and making things for fall is concerned. This is such a great idea and I love your leaves!

Viv said...

Fab project! x

Astrid Maclean said...

Love you beautiful Fall/Autumn leave luminary Linda, the leaves look fantastic their way they wind themselves around the candle, beautiful deco piece!

Jenny Marples said...

An incredibly clever idea Linda. Love that it looks as good in the dark as it does in the light. Hugs, Jenny x

marda said...

I just love your leaves. The ones you recently sent in my little gifty bag I used on some Fall themed birthday cards. Fall leaves have just so much color to work with. Love this idea.

Julia S-W said...

I'm like you Linda, I love this die but it usually only comes out to play at this time of year!
Your beautiful luminary is stunning and the fact that you've included wire appeals to me even more!
We don't decorate our homes in the Autumn like you do in the States but having seen this, I wish we did!
Juliaxx

Barb Cady said...

Autumn is my favourite time of year! I love how you have made this especially as battery lights are easy to find now and so much safer. I must dust out my tattered leaves die, thanks for the inspiration. Barb x

Conniecrafter said...

very cool, love it!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Those leaves are delightful with the stamping! Love it all lit up!

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