Autumn leaves

Hello!

With all the leaves I see around me and  adding also those that my son is painting or gluing on colored papers, I finally fallen under their charm. This inspiration went well with the month’s Artbeadscene challenge, which is the following:

Autumn flowers

by Marguerite Zorach

1940

Colored Silkscreen, 16.5″ x 12.5″

Materials and tools used:

Gold color metal frame

Vanilla Fimo Effect Polymer clay

A pasta machine

a rigid blade

a craft knife

a polymer clay arrow end sharp tool

pastel chalks

alcohol inks

liquid Fimo

Fimo golden metallic powder

Leaf-shaped cutters

Gold metallic acrylic paint

Varnish

ball end findings

earrings findings

red crystal rondelle beads

1. I conditioned the clay (with my hands and then by rolling it into the pasta machine).

2. I rolled a medium thickness sheet of polymer clay. I started to cut out leaves using the leaf-shaped cutter.

3. I textured the leaves (using a sharp end tool, but you can use also the back of a craft knife).

I made a vein-like pattern.

Then I draw vertical curved lines.

I enhanced the veins.

Then I passed my finger over the design to clean up the excess little bit of clay.

4. I prepared the pastel chalks (shaving them with the rigid blade).

I started to color the leaves.

Using liquid Fimo, I placed them (superposing each other) on top of the bracelet frame. I decided I wanted to have only one side covered with leaves because I liked the pattern on the bracelet also.

I used the other side of the bracelet to cut the interior part of the bracelet ( I colored with chalks a sheet of polymer clay, applied it on the uncovered part of the bracelet and I cut with the craft knife along the sides of the bracelet). I removed it and applied it on the back of the covered side and I pressed well to bond the three pieces part together: the leaves  (with liquid Fimo on them), the gold frame and the inside colored layer.

I textured a little bit the interior part.

 

 

5. I baked it according to the polymer clay manufacturer’s specifications).

6. Time to add some more color. I started to add yellow and red alcohol inks.

7. I applied a layer of gold acrylic paint and then wiped it off with baby wipes.

I added a little bit of brown (I mixed brown chalk pastel with Fimo varnish).

8. I started to add more glitter. I painted the sides of the leaves and the sides of the bracelet with a mixture of Fimo gold metallic powder and Fimo varnish.

9. I applied varnish.

10. I decided to embellish it and thus to attach two red crystal rondelle beads in the front of the bracelet.

 

For the earrings. 

I used leaves made with the same technique. I folded a little bit the leaf and attached three leaves to each other (like an origami Chinese lantern).

I colored them with pastel chalks.

I put them in the oven.

I added more color with alcohol inks.

I covered the bead with gold acrylic paint and then wiped it out.

 

I painted the margins with Fimo gold metallic powder mixed with Fimo varnish and then I added the earrings findings (and a golden metallic bead).

I varnished them.

That’s all! I wish you a wonderful and creative day!

My best to you!

Mihaela