| Paints, oils, and watercolor are traditional media for | | | | leaves in the vessel and pour over the baking |
| art. Over the ages, artists have used them to create | | | | powder solution. After boiling for half an hour, set |
| stunning pictures that captivate the mind. | | | | aside to let the leaves cool in the solution. Take the |
| There is also another genre of artists that do not | | | | leaves out and scrape the green surface with a knife. |
| use traditional media. Instead, they use other | | | | Once this is done, you will have a nice shape of a |
| nonstandard materials to make beautiful art. For | | | | feather. |
| example, some may use butterfly wings to make | | | | Make a solution of two tablespoons of chlorine bleach |
| beautiful artwork. Some use coins to create an | | | | per quart of water. Place the leaves into the solution |
| interesting mosaic. | | | | and set aside for an hour. When the leaves turn |
| Some of the easiest nonstandard materials to work | | | | white, take them out and rinse thoroughly with cool |
| on are leaves. Leaves come in an infinite number of | | | | water. Gently dry the leaves with a washcloth. Once |
| shapes, forms, colors, and sizes. These factors make | | | | dry, place the leaves between paper towels and |
| leaves a perfect art material. | | | | press or weigh. Place wires on the leaves for stems |
| Here are some wonderful art ideas that you can | | | | and wrap it with florist tape. You can then frame the |
| make easily. | | | | leaves. |
| 1. Paint spatter silhouettes | | | | 3. Iron-on leaf designs |
| To protect the surface you are working on, place | | | | Choose nicely shaped leaves of different sizes. Then |
| some old newspapers on it. Now take a large poster | | | | choose the substrate, the material to transfer the |
| board. Place your leaves on the poster board and | | | | design to-be it cloth dinner napkins, T-shirt pocket, |
| arrange it to your liking. Any number of leaves is fine | | | | stationery, or a hanky. Color the back of the leaf |
| but it is best to restrict the number to around two | | | | with a bright colored crayon; then colored side on the |
| or three. With the leaves in place, dip an old | | | | material. |
| toothbrush into a color medium; enamel paint usually | | | | Cover the leaf with a thin cotton cloth, and press a |
| works best. Hold the brush near the leaves, and run | | | | warm iron on it for a few seconds. |
| your finger across the bristles, flicking the paint. You | | | | 4. Leaf prints |
| can do this process several times with different | | | | Here is another good leaves wall décor for |
| colors. When dry, lift the leaves carefully; you will see | | | | any room in your house. Lay the leaf on a surface. |
| a wonderful bare leaf outline around color splatters. | | | | You can use poster board, but you can be creative |
| Frame the board and you will have an interesting | | | | by using an unusual material such as papyrus or |
| leaves wall décor for your home. | | | | recycled brown paper. Use the side of a crayon to |
| 2. Angel feathers | | | | rub over side of the leaf. You can use as many |
| Magnolia leaves are best used for this project. Start | | | | colors as you like. When you lift the leaf off the |
| of by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda for one | | | | material, you will be left with the shape of the leaf. |
| quart of water in a porcelain boiling pan. Lay the | | | | |