Fall Crafts
Angela posted Message 300 in the NatureCrafts BB
Dated : October 16,
Subject: What a great time of year for crafts!!!
FALL!!!!
So many great things to work with, grapevine, leaves, etc etc
I saw an idea on cityline last week I thought you might like.
The lady on the show used preserved oak leaves because the leaves hadn't changed enough there yet but the idea was that you should use real branches with leaves attatched.
She took a styrofoam ball and pushed branches in it (not too long around 4 inches) with the leaves attatched and just filled the ball with the
leaves so you can't see the ball at all.
This is then a topiary ball that she stuck on a really big cinnimon stick (I think a sturdy interesting branch would be nice myself) and I think she used plaster to attach the stick in the pot.
This was then a really nice table or floor decoration depending on the size.
Now what I was wondering is will it get all crumbly when the leaves dry thoroughly? Would soaking in water and glycerine keep the leaves soft (like for pressed flowers) anybody know??? and would the leaves fall off???
I think I will do one anyway and if it only lasts for a while that would be ok but I would rather have it last longer. And is there any way to preserve evergreen leaves so that they don't fall apart when dry (needles dropping).I just hate the way the fake stuff looks. Once I
dried cedar "leaves/needles" in my food dehydrater for christmas potpourri and they dried quite nicely, but I broke them up on purpose
so I don't know how they would have lasted.
Here is another idea I think I will try as well this year. I hope I can explain these things so you know what I mean. They are a prickly plant that gets many spiky dried kind of an egg shaped "burrs" on them. I have noticed them everywhere lately (Ontario) since the foliage has dried. The burrs do not catch on things and are not sharp but the stems have prickles on them.
Anyone know what this is called?
Anyway quite a few years back I saw someone had stuck these burrs into a styrofoam tree shape and covered it completely and then sprayed with gold paint. Looked great, but I would suggest gloves.
Posted by Angela on October 16,
Well I showed one to my Grandmother today and she said they were Russian Thistles.
They are a
purple weed before the foilage dies.
The thistles look like ordinary burdock burrs but are bigger
and elongated but don't have little hooks to catch on things.
At this time of year all of the foilage has died and they are very noticable.
Anyway I remember making a little mouse out of one in public school added tail eyes ears and when I showed it to my mouse phobic aunt, she jumped
about a foot!!