Friday, 5 October 2012

A leaf is a leaf is a leaf...

Simon Says Stamp and Show want to see real leaves used in our projects, so here comes mine!
I am also entering The Artistic Stamper Creative blog October challenge with this project.

Well, the poor leaves had to endure a lot of "treatments" I admit. It almost felt, like I was violating nature. Naah, ...almost ;)


It was a bit difficult taking a picture of the whole project, because it is quite huge, but I hope you can see enough. Close-ups are coming up anyway.

First I sprayed the leaves with Glimmer Mists and let them dry. Then I gave them a coat of white Gesso, doing this twice, as the first always mixes up with the sprayed on colours. But the second layer ( a thicker coat this time) always becomes lighter, when you provide sufficient drying time between each coating.I also made sure that the edges of the Gesso layers blended with the areas I left without Gesso.

Into the almost dried Gesso I printed the Tim Holtz "fallen leaves" stamps with Distress ink "rusty hinge" - so I got a print and a relief as well.
Around the printed images I gave some areas a treat with patina, to get a look of decay and rotting with some visual quality.

While the patina did its' working, I prepared the background and the labels, which are meant as a quotation of Magrittes paintings, un-naming things ("Ceci n'est pas une pipe") while showing them in the painting, and Getrude Steins later "A rose is a rose is a rose".

Why are we so touched by fallen leaves every autumn, although we know it is a sign of decay (and rebirth as well)? When does a leaf stop being a leaf? Is it still a leaf, if I print a (non-real) leaf onto it and thus make it a background for an image of a leaf? Is it twice a leaf then and thus even more "leaf"? ;)


But back to the project:
I wrote the words with a black brush tip pen, tore the labels using a firmly held down acrylic block,  and blended the edges with "peeled paint" Distress ink.

For the background I took a piece of corrugated card and gave it a coat of white Gesso first. Then I blended "peeled paint", "broken china" and "vintage photo" onto some areas and dry-brushed some more white Gesso with a hard brush onto some of these areas to get a little more texture. Some of the edges were embossed with aged copper embossing powder for a little bling.

Two holes, some wire for the hanging, positioning the leaves and glueing them onto their spaces - wallaaah!

Here are the promised close-ups:




27 comments:

  1. einfach traumhaft schön.. ganz meins! Ich liebe sowas! ich könnte mich hier eingraben wie in wabi sabi....


    das hier ist pure Schönheit!

    superklasse liebe Claudia!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Danke schön, liebe Susi!

      Ich war bei dem Projekt auch sicherlich von deinen inspiriert!!! Die gefallen mir nämlich alle, durch die Bank! Freut mich umso mehr, wenn dir meins auch so gut gefällt!

      Dickes Bussi,
      Claudia

      Delete
  2. Schöööön!!!! Ich finde es immer so toll, was du alles mit Farben machst, das ist wirklich klasse!!!!

    LG!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Danke recht herzlich, Turwen,

      für deinen lieben Besuch!!!

      Bussi,
      Claudia x

      Delete
  3. Ooh wonderful texture on your creation, love love the corrugated background against the leaves. I love the leaves too, they look so crisp and textural just like they would in their natural environment. Thanks so much for joining in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. Tracy x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank YOU very much, Tracy,

      for stopping by and leaving this awesome laud with me! :))

      HUgs,
      die amelie xx

      Delete
  4. Oh, das ist ja so wundervoll......schwärm.....ich habe es auch schon im Forum bewundert, aber ich möchte es sehr gerne auch hier nochmal schreiben. Das ist eine ganz bezaubernde und vorallem sehr wirkungsvolle Deko....Wenn ich es mir so anschaue, dann kommt richtig schöne Herbststimmung bei mir auf.

    Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende,einen ganz lieben Gruß von Andrea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, wie freu ich mich über deinen Besuch hier, Andrea!

      Das ist so lieb von dir!! Danke!!! Ich freu mich, dass dir der Wandschmuck so gefällt! Auch dir ein schönes WE!!!

      LG,
      Claudia xxx

      Delete
  5. What a great Fall project, luv the textures and shape.
    Thanks for sharing, Love your blog header too. Ü
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Barb!

      So glad, you like the project AND the header! :)

      die amelie x

      Delete
  6. Beautiful piece! I love the rustic chic look you have produced :)
    iz x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Izzy! :))

      die amelie xx

      Delete
  7. Die Blätter sind so Klasse und auf der rustikalen aber beglitzerten Wellpappe sehen sie echt Klasse aus, gefällt mir sehr gut!
    Wünsch Dir einen schönen Sonntag,
    lG Anja

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Herzlichen Dank, Anja! :)

      Auch dir ein schönes Wochenende!

      LG,
      Claudia

      Delete
  8. Das ist ja unglaublich!! Sensational piece of work Claudia... I'm entranced by the textures on your leaves, by the beauty of the colours, by the glorious corrugated cardboard. Your best ever, maybe, I think?!?
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  9. So excited that I even forgot to mention the wonderful re-quoting of Gertrude Stein... and the philosophical enquiries going on - brilliant, thought-provoking post.
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love to provoke thoughts, Alison!! ;)

      So glad, you gave it some attention! And even more glad, that you like the project so much! :))

      Have a wonderful weekend!
      Claudia xxxx

      Delete
  10. I love this. I love corrugated card used in projects.. and i love the use of colour on the leaves. its very simple but stylish... not an easy look to achieve. thanks for including it in the artistic stamper challenge.
    Z x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for this awesome laud, Zuzu!

      I am really glad, you like it!

      die amelie xx

      Delete
  11. At first look it is very simple project, but closer look show you all that great little details! Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So wonderful, you stopped by, Ana!

      Thank you for the lovely visit and the laud!
      die amelie xx

      Delete
  12. Stunning detail to this project. I love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ui....wie schööön. Ich hänge so sehr in Arbeit und in Gips, das ich mit dem Kommentaren gar nicht hinterher komme. (:o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In Gips? Herrjeh, Elly,

      ich hoffe, nichts allzu Heftiges!!! Danke für den lieben Besuch und alles Gute!

      Claudia xx

      Delete
  14. Love the texture you have created here....makes a great wall hanging ;)
    Thanks for playing along at The Artistic Stamper this month.
    xoxo Sioux

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Artyjen,

      for the visit and the wonderful laud! :)

      Hugs,
      die amelie x

      Delete

Thank you so much for your visit and especially for taking the time to leave me a short comment! This is highly appreciated! xxx