Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration! I found Cassie Stephens’ version of a leaf rubbing or relief technique HERE. Definitely check it out because she has some BEAUTIFUL pieces. She’s an art teacher and teaches this to her students.
I changed it up a little. I didn’t have any matte board, so I used a scrap piece wood.
Directions:
1. Decide which side of the wood will be your top. Cover the wood with plain white glue – top and sides – not the bottom (or back).
2. Put your leaf, veiny side up, on the glue and put a layer of glue over the leaf.
3. Take a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side up, and lay it over the leaf. Carefully rub it down over the leaf and down the sides of the wood.
4. Burnish (rub) the foil on the leaf with your fingers, until the pattern of the leaf shows in the foil.
5. Trim off any excess foil.
6. Allow to dry for about an hour.
7. Spray paint the block with the black spray paint, in a well ventilated area and allow to dry.
8. Take the steel wool and gently rub until the leaf pattern begins to show. Don’t rub too hard, or you will tear the foil.
9. You can leave it as it is. As an option, I printed out the word Life on regular paper. I glued it to a piece of scrap construction paper and glued the whole thing to the plaque.
You can stand it on a side table, give it as a gift, or drill a hole in the back and hang it up.
Here is one of the beautiful pieces that Cassie Stephens posted on her site:
I think I will be trying more in the Spring, when I have more leaf choices, or in this case a dandelion!!
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!
Mona