DIY: Fall Leaves on Canvas
September 18, 2009
Five years ago, Mr. CG and I toured New England in mid October. We started in New York City, drove through Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod, and ended our trip in Boston.
Boston. October 2004. Ring a bell ? Imagine trying to get a room in Boston in October of 2004 when the Red Sox faced the Cardinals in the World Series. Ooops, didn’t see that one coming in my advance travel plans. For hours, we dialed every hotel in town. We lost count of how many operators said to us, “You do realize the Red Sox are playing in the World Series at Fenway tonight”.
Sinking further into stupidville with every call, again and again I replied: “Yes, we are aware. **Sigh** Do you have any rooms available?” But like Mary and Joseph, we were turned away. There was simply no room at the inn(s). At one point, I even begged, “I have an eight month old baby. Take pity on me.” After several hours, and a crazy stroke of luck, we finally found the very last hotel room in town at the Hyatt. Exhausted, we watched the fourth and final Fenway game from the lobby bar. Reinvigorated by the beers, we became Red Sox fans. Well, just for the night. I’m a little off topic. Where was I ?
Oh yes. Throughout our New England tour, we were privileged to witness the fall foliage show. Amazing aspens. Magical maples. I loved it all. And let me just digress again. You New Englanders seriously know how to prepare some chowda and lobstah. I must have gained five pounds on that trip, between the New York bagels and the chowda.
While we were touring Newport (I heart Newport), we ran right into John Ratzenberger. Wait, Kate. Stay on topic ! Okay, while in Newport, I picked up one of my favorite Christmas ornaments: a maple leaf covered with gold. It was the source of inspiration for this next fall themed art project.
Some of you may recall that I have a bit of an eyesore in my foyer, known as the alarm control. Over the summer, I designed what you could call a ‘James Bond’ approach to disguising this eyesore – hiding it behind a homemade painting. Summer’s version was turquoise blue with cherry tree branches.
So for fall, I decided to make two new seasonal canvases, again inspired by nature, but this time I wanted to add a textural element. I went outside to my yard, and picked three kinds of leaves from a bush, a tree, and a hedge. I really really like it when supplies are free.
Overnight, I pressed the leaves mostly flat between wax paper and heavy books.
Then I gathered these supplies from my craft cabinet: two discount canvases from a craft store, leftover acrylic paints, some metallic Mod Podge and metallic glaze.
First, I mixed up some shades of green, one bluish green, one lemongrass, and painted them on the canvases. Don’t ask me how I achieve these colors. I just keep blending and mixing and adding white till it looks right. There is simply no method to my madness.
When dry, I applied my flattened leaves to my canvas with the silvery metallic Mod Podge.
When all the leaves were attached, I used some bronze glaze to add shimmer, and highlight the already beautiful colors in these leaves.
I experimented with some swoops and accents to mimic a blustery day.
Then I mixed some burnt umber craft paint with the bronze metallic and played around in an abstract way.
I let them dry and then hung them on the wall.
Up close, some of them are pretty darn gorgeous.
Me likey texture.
My girlfriend dropped by, and asked the question that under any other circumstances a woman never wants to hear, nor answer.
“Are those real?”
“They’re real. And they’re spectacular.”
(Bonus points if you get the reference.)
I dub thee Blustery I and Blustery II.
Fancy in form, and functional too. They make a great disguise for the alarm control.
And a seasonal backdrop for this week’s yard clippings.
Fall leaves on canvas.
Pretty. Simple. And pretty close to free.
.
Hi…You are very talented, I love all of your projects and you have given me great ideas for the Swedish style headboard I want to create………BUT
Please come back and REALLY tour New England. It sounds like you missed most of our wonderful little corner of the Northeast …Massachusetts (The Berkshires are incredibly beautiful), Vermont, (the most beautiful place on earth), New Hampshire (sigh!) and the breathtaking coast of Maine.
Newport and the Cape are a tiny fraction of what we have here and for foliage you have to go North.
The Red Sox were on FIRE that year, but the best part was when they squashed the dreaded Yankees!!!
I LOVE these! I definitely want to try this project! Autumn is my favorite season, and I can just picture a canvas like that in my living room. Great job!
Kate,
Those are freakin’ GAH-geous! (Likey me Boston accent?!)
Ahhhh October 2004. By far, one of the best days of my life. Next to getting engaged and married and finding out we’re pregnant. But World Series Champs after over 80 years of pain? Priceless. You SHOULD be a Red Sox fan after experiencing that night IN Boston. There are lifelong fans who weren’t even in the city that night. Ahem…. =)
Also, sidenote – I went to college in Newport at Salve Regina University. If you got to see the Cliffwalk or Bellevue Avenue, you probably saw some of the buildings! Newport is fab… Glad you liked!
-Tina
WOW… WOW.. These are beautiful!!!
I just got back last night from a cruise to the New England area…gorgeous. I had never been to that part of the country. We actually toured Fenway Park. Amazing history in that city. Anyway I had to check at what one of my favorite bloggers has been up to. I totally love this Kate. I may have to rip it off and try it myself. Gorgeous. I am a bath girl myself. However I just have the standard ole tub. I am saving my pennies for a master bath overhaul…can’t wait. Meanwhile I will live vicariously through you.
Bonus points for me, then, because I can practically see Teri Hatcher saying it in Jerry Seinfeld’s face. Oh, the 90s…
I absolutely adore this canvas, and I hope to have a chance to make some soon. Not only do I love all things leaves-and-trees, but I just bought my first home and I want to show it off!
[...] Anyway, the pumpkins were on sale, two for $12 dollars, and they came home with me to receive the royal treatment. Other varieties I picked up at a quick stop at the local pumpkin patch. I enhanced some of the Cinderellas with some bronze metallic glaze that’s been sitting in my craft cabinet. The same glaze I used for these fall leaves on canvas. [...]
ooh ooh ooh! I love this idea. Would look fabulous hanging on the front porch wall for autumn, too. Thanks for sharing your great ideas. Leaves are among my favorites things – but glazed, sparkly leaves…that’s over the top. Love it.
I loved this when I saw it. Unfortunately, it’s not working for me. My leaves are not sticking to my canvass with the Modge Podge. Any tips???
I love this way of exhibiting fall leaves while covering something ugly projecting out on the wall..I’ve always loves fall leaves but unfortunately maple trees do not exist in India where i live, so I make them with paper. I recently made a fall inspired glass candle holder, and now can’t wait to do this one…thanx!!!
i LOVE this! And I have the same eye sore…that darn alarm control! Can’t wait to hide it with this beauty!!! New follower by the way :) Came across this old post of yours via The Whimsy Pumpkin and I’m so glad I did!
I love this idea!! I am going to try it this weekend! And I didn’t notice in any of the other comments…..but didn’t Elaine say that??
Amazing project! By the way, the quote was from Teri Hatcher who played Jerry’s girlfriend on Seinfeld. ;)
I stumbled upon your site by accident, I will not every leave, girl you have a lot of ground here for me to cover. Anyway, as silly as this sounds, the third to last picture here you can see in the background your staircase, I think I see a paisley type print, is that wall paper, stencil or what? Now I have to go to the store to get another reem of paper so I can continue to print out stuff on your site.
Jenn
This is so pretty and awesome! It seriously looks likes something you paid a lot of money for.
Seinfeld! Woo-hoo!
And this project is fabulous! Beautiful work.
! Ahaha “theyre real. And theyre fantastic” haha terry hatcher in Seinfeld. Beautiful artwork:)