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Post by tracey on Nov 29, 2017 16:07:26 GMT
I hand make a few Christmas cards and I have made cards using shop bought skeleton leaves, but I thought a nice touch would be to make my own leaves using ones from my garden to felt onto cards. Not over Christmassy but a change!
I am following a method that suggest a waxy leaf such as Gardenia, Magnolia, Hydrangea etc. Probably not the best time of the year to collect leaves but I have managed Camellia, Cotinus and Hydrangea, as they seem waxy. They are now simmering away in washing soda for about 1.5 - 2 hours, then they are put in cool water and you brush the remaining pulp away.
Another experiment, and if it fails, I have shop bought ones still to play with. I'll report back.
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Post by Shepherdess on Nov 29, 2017 16:36:24 GMT
Interesting to see if the leaves work. I don't think anyone had much luck when they tried a couple of years ago. Perhaps your type of leaves will work better
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Post by MTRuth on Nov 29, 2017 18:34:46 GMT
Do let us know how it works out and I'd love to see photos.
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Post by Pandagirl on Nov 30, 2017 0:06:11 GMT
Tracey I tried that method. I hope it works better for you than for me. Please keep us posted.
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Post by tracey on Nov 30, 2017 6:59:51 GMT
I'm afraid I've joined the failed club. The leaves I hoped would definitely work (Cotinus) just disintegrated, and the Camelia showed no change after an hour. Oh and for that full hour my house had been smelling of boiled cabbage! Nice! I had a go though
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RobinG
Junior Member
Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 42
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Post by RobinG on Nov 30, 2017 8:25:26 GMT
I was hoping you'd get good results. Sorry it didn't work out.
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Post by tracey on Nov 30, 2017 15:01:44 GMT
I was hoping you'd get good results. Sorry it didn't work out. Thanks Robin! No matter, at least I tried.
Here is a card I made with commercial skeleton leaves. I looks a bit too dayglo orange in the photo!! I sold this at a craft fair.
www.dropbox.com/s/3auegpylrkpw56t/20170531_082826.jpg?dl=0
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RobinG
Junior Member
Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 42
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Post by RobinG on Nov 30, 2017 18:45:01 GMT
I like that card, Tracey!
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Post by MTRuth on Nov 30, 2017 20:33:49 GMT
Lovely card Tracey!
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Post by tracey on Dec 1, 2017 6:11:45 GMT
Can you remember what type of leaves you used Marilyn?
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Post by halay on Dec 1, 2017 7:31:47 GMT
My experiments failed too. I've used shop bought skeleton leaves for felting and it worked well.
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Post by lyn on Dec 1, 2017 20:27:15 GMT
The card looks great Tracey.
There's a silver lining to every failure cloud ... now that you know you're better off with shop-bought skeletons, you'll have more time for felting and, bonus, no cabbage smell!
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Post by tracey on Dec 2, 2017 6:21:51 GMT
Thanks very much Lyn! Yes boiled cabbage is not really a smell we associate with this time of year, there are far nicer ones!
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Post by zed on Dec 3, 2017 22:52:25 GMT
At least you didn't have a pan of boiled glue like Kazza who tried it a few years ago did! Eucalyptus, I think
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Post by Pandagirl on Dec 3, 2017 22:55:21 GMT
I'm afraid I've joined the failed club. The leaves I hoped would definitely work (Cotinus) just disintegrated, and the Camelia showed no change after an hour. Oh and for that full hour my house had been smelling of boiled cabbage! Nice! I had a go though That was pretty much my experience along with the smell!
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