Recycled Madness: Project - Love It Or 'Leaf' It - Wall Plaque

Walking outside recently I noticed bright red and deep brown leaves with an almost leathery texture. They were so beautiful that I was compelled to gather them for a project. At first I thought of laying them out under glass in a frame and that is certainly another option, but the red made me think of hearts. 

Supplies needed: Colorful leaves, they must be fresh (not yet dried out) and pliable to work with. Hot glue gun.  Craft paint for the back. One picture hanger.

A wooden heart or any shape desired. (Another option for the form is to take the heavy cardboard that comes under any frozen pizza and cut your own shape out of it (recycling). Or buy one wooden form and use it as a pattern to cut the rest out of the pizza cardboard.)

How to:  Start by painting your form - back and edges only. Once dry, hot glue the picture hanger to the back side. Once that is dry test it to be sure it stays on. Next comes the fun part…you simply start by layering one leaf on top of another, work from the outside border in and make sure your outside leaves overlap the form edge all the way around. Variations: You can blend different types of leaves…for example in the middle you could glue a large maple leaf. Or think outside the box and add other nature elements such as a small pine cone, seeds, or fresh flowers that have been pressed flat. (put the flower in a paper towel and place a heavy book on top or put inside the pages of a thick book.) You could also spray paint the final piece if you wanted a specific color, but I found that the natural color of these particular leaves was just perfect.

The funny part of this project is that the leaves came from a neighbor’s yard so it seemed only right that they should be the first recipient of this creation. When I presented it, my neighbor gave it a long look then with a sober expression said, ‘You must really be bored!’  I had to laugh.  It was definitely not the reaction I expected. As I walked away I wondered if my neighbors now think of me as the crazy lady that is gluing leaves to everything!

Well, that brings us back to the beginning, nature art may not be for everyone. 
All I can say is...
"Love it or ‘leaf’ it!"

Recycled Madness: Project - Decorative Mobile ~ Ceiling Art

Ceiling art is no longer limited to baby's room.  Colorful shapes and materials have now come together in artful expressions that accent environments and amuse adults as well. This project was made from things I had on hand, but the concept can be easily adapted to create your own decorative mobile, from a single strand (as shown) spread out to various levels and layers. Let your imagination soar!

Materials Used: silver beading wire .3mm, 4-5 stones with holes, beads or large decorative buttons, 3-4 small silver based rhinestone buttons, silver wire card holders such as those found anchored in gift planters (or if you cannot find those, use a heavy duty wire that can be shaped and bent to your desired design or try reshaping large paper clips), several large silver rings. Needles nose plier, and a wire cutter. 

In this case, I happened to have some predrilled stones on hand.  The large silver rings were actually from the back of an old summer dress ~ the dress wore out in the 80's but I cut out the rings and saved them thinking I would use them for something someday.  The swirling wire pieces were from gift planter card holders.  Three rhinestone buttons finish off the bottom adding sparkle in lower lighting and drawing the eye toward the mobile. 

How to: Cut a piece of beading wire about 1' in length and tie off around first ring on one end. String the rest of the line through a bead and tie off onto the next ring.  Take the wire card holder which is swirled on top and snip off half of the long straight end piece.  Bend the end piece with needle nose plier around the next ring. Now your mobile should be starting to take the shape of ring, bead, ring, wire swirl, bead or ring, and so on repeating the pattern of your choice.  When you reach the bottom or last bead, string wire through three or more silver rhinestone buttons, run the beading wire back up though the last bead and tie off on the last ring above it. 

Now take a long length of silver beading wire .3mm or plastic fishing line cut to your desired height and hang your mobile from a hook inserted in the ceiling, cabinet bottoms, side wall hooks or indoor tree.   You can also hang your mobiles outside from patio covers or in trees, just be sure the materials you use are adapable to outside weather conditions, weatherized or weather proof.  Stainless steel and brass are great for outdoor projects and brass tends you get a nice patina over time.  

Anyone can purchase materials to make a mobile, the challenge is to use materials from around the house that may be sitting unused or on their way to the trash bin.  Be eco-creative.  Look at your discards with new eyes.

Your creative effort has produced a work of art to embellish a small space in your private world by reusing materials you have also saved a little of your outer world.