Mix the plaster (according to the directions on the box) in the disposable container. Using the stem on the leaf as a handle, coat both sides of the leaf with the paint brush. You have to work pretty quick, this stuff starts setting pretty fast. Use the wax paper to lay the wet leaf on. The wax paper makes it super simple to get up too, when they are dry. After they are dry, measure out 2 yards of jute twine. Find the center and tie a leaf on, work your way out from there...I used 9 all together. I put a little spot of glue on the knots, just so they won't slip off.
I love how simple the garland looks with all the other color.I've been plastering so many leafs, I created 2 additional garlands that are for sale in my Etsy Shop. They really are beautiful in real life, the pictures don't so them justice!
I'll be seeing what else I can plaster too!!
Apartment Therapy features a great method for using plaster on flowers as does Marianne of Songbird for some great ideas for doilies
Thanks for stopping by ! I hope you're inspired!
Posts
beautiful
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea and love the difference in each leaf.
ReplyDeleteThat turned out gorgeous! Definitely going on my to do list. :)
ReplyDeleteI just spray painted some leaves with white spray paint yesterday! Pretty sprinkled on tables. Love the look and your's are way cooler!
ReplyDeleteThis looks wonderful! Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteoh wow what a wonderful thing.. I cannot wait to do this.. already thinking white holly leaves for Christmas and then for spring I think we could try to do a flower.. I love the way these look!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, they are gorgeous. I'd love to do this, but I feel like every large/tall surface in my house is white/cream/beige. I love the contrast against your hutch. I keep looking for the perfect one. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea! I need to find some plaster. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery fun, I'll have to try it. Love your Fall header, btw!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this! You better believe I'll be making one!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable idea! I love how classic they look and seem to add just the right amount of texture to the already colorful palette. Thanks for sharing, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteI love this. It's been years since I've worked with plaster. I'll have to pick some up and try this! So festive.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great "do-able" project and I love the white. I have the leaves already...just need to get the plaster and dig out a gnarly (love that!) paintbrush!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle!
michelle- i love this project! i love the white leaves... what a great idea!
ReplyDeleteWhite leaves! What a brilliant idea! I have beachy colors in the living and fall colors kind of clash, this is a perfect way for me to reconcile the two!
ReplyDeleteTotally inspired! Love the elegance of these. Stopping in from the TT&J Weekend Wrap Up.
ReplyDeleteLeaves are one of my favorite things and these are just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the white - what awesome textures :)
ReplyDelete~Emily N. from "too Blessed to Stress"
Thanks for linking to my doilies project (funny that happened after I had found out how to plaster roses :-) ).
ReplyDeleteI think I'd better get my Fall decorating going over here, I haven't got anything out yet.
This is gorgeous and I can't wait to make one to decorate my quilt shop in October!!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteI posted one of the pics with a link back to you in a post I made today - Plus posted this post to my Focal Point FB "like" page wall... You're awesome Michelle!
Thanks for sharing!!
:D Lynda
This is awesome! I'm now your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteSO inspired! I definitely want to try this one ...
ReplyDeleteFabulous!
ReplyDeleteI love this project! How did you think of that??
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful!! Great job.
ReplyDeleteSeriously SO creative!!! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love it.... I have not used plaster; but it looks easy. I may have to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Oh...this makes me want to go dig my autumn decor out right now. I've never plastered before, but this is stunning! I might just have to give it a shot. Found your blog through Under The Table and Dreaming...and following!
ReplyDeleteI love Plaster creations. This is one of the cutest I have seen. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCool idea! I haven't used plaster since I was in grade school- might have to try it out again after seeing this. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteFound this project from the Nester--what a great idea!! One of the best fall projects I have seen and I'll definitely be giving it a try!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, This is a fabulous project! Love the final look - fantastic idea. I featured this today. Hope you are enjoying your weekend! ~ Stephanie Lynn
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and love it! You have inspired me with all of your great stuff.
ReplyDeleteDid you make the pumpkin drawing/art too?
such a beautiful idea! With the colors in my home, I am leaning more towards nature pieces that can be white! love this!!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is such a cute idea! I love that the leaves are so simple! You are very talented. I am going to now go browsing your older posts and am going to follow your blog from now on!
ReplyDeletePop in at mine too some time if you can:
www.veronicahurly.blogspot.com (aka Pixels and Paperie)
What a great idea!! I'm going to have to try that - I love the look! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! Is it alright that I feature it on my blog tomorrow!?!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!!
Tasha
www.dotdotdotthis.blogspot.com
Yes Tasha, go right ahead, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful! They look so beautiful! Gotta try it myself now.
ReplyDeleteI love the look of this garland! So simple and pretty!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have been seeing more and more great crafty ideas with plaster, and this one is one of my favorites. Thanks for the tutorial, it is very informative, and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteA few questions... I tried this but don't think i did it right. So first question, did you use a specific type of plaster? Mine was pottery plaster...for ceramics. Second question, did you only have to do one coat? Mine was not covering my leaves very well. Im sure it could have totally been user error but want to make sure I am working with the correct materials. I am so excited about this craft and can't wait to hang it across my mantle!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I used Art Plaster, from Michael's, it doesn't seem like it would matter as long as it is plaster....I worked with a different type of leaf today, and I know what you are talking about, I plan on trying a second coat when they dry, but if they are still not covered enough I plan on painting them (white craft paint). Also, it seemed like if I got the plaster too watery, it was kinda "running" off the leaf. I hope this helps, I'll comment again as soon as I do the second coat.
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Thanks so much for your response! Were your first leaves more cloth like or plastic like? That may totally be the difference. I will be excited to hear how your next ones turn out!
ReplyDeleteThe leaf seems to be the same, but just taking the plaster differently, we'll see.
ReplyDeleteI tried a second coat and did NOT like it! I switched containers and did more of a dipping method, that is working better.
ReplyDeleteI did this project and used Plaster of Paris. It flaked off the cloth like fall leave I used. I put a couple coats on it but it still chipped off. Any ideas? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Kara,
ReplyDeleteI am using "Art Plaster" from the kiddie section at Michael's but I think any plaster should work. I had very minimal chipping and that was just around the stem. The only thing I can think of is that maybe you should thicken up the plaster. It should be the consistancy of yogurt. I've switched to a bigger container too, to dip the whole leaf into, for maximum coverage. It's really goopy!! :)
I hope this helps,
Michelle
Ok thanks. I'll see what happens. I think once it gets thick enough on the leaf it will be fine. I'll try the dipping method. Thanks for your quick response. I'll try these out today!
ReplyDeleteI used regular plaster of paris and the brushing DID NOT work for me--but had more successs with swiping it across a puddle of plaster on a paper plate. I'm going to try dipping the whole leaf--hoping that gives me smoother edges too. Thanks for sharing this idea--I just discovered your blog and was crafting the first day!
ReplyDeleteOkay that is seriously stunning! I have never worked with plaster, but I'm going to have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the coolest things I've seen in blogland! So creative!
ReplyDeleteif you dont want the plaster flaking off of the leaves, mix some elmers wood glue in with the plaster . Mix well and continue with your painting . THis is also good ( depending of mix ration of glue to plaster for raised relief on wood or furniture . You can use a cake decorator to squeeze the plaster out to make ornaments. They will harden up and not flake either . Painting them is then possible too. I made a set of night tables with raised wisteria on them from this kind of mixture.
ReplyDeleteHow much glue to plaster? Would love to do on many other items. LOVE IT.
ReplyDeleteHi Anon,
ReplyDeleteI did not use glue in my project. Maybe the commenter before you could answer.
Hi Michelle! Can you help me figure out what I'm doing wrong here? I've done two coats of plaster on my leaves and I can still see the colored tint through. Did I not mix my plaster properly? Also, mine seems to be really flaky. Were you able to coat both sides in one coat? This seemed so easy, but I'm not having a lot of success :( Any thoughts? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Estephania, how thick was your plaster? It sounds like you may have gotten it too thin. I didn't have any flaking. If some color is coming through try using some white craft paint after it is all dry, that should do the trick. It seems that some leaves have more dye than others...hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriends and I tried and tried with this project and could not get the plaster to stick to the leaves like this pictures. We did figure out that dipping worked better but you have to work REALLY fast. One of us stirred while one dipped and even then some of turned out while half did not. We were joking that she made them look so nice so we would all run to her etsy shop and just buy them!! HA!
ReplyDeleteI like to take leafs that fall from trees and paint them different colors. Them put them together and frame them. I have created beautiful art this way.
ReplyDeleteI just found you off of pinterest - via this pin. What a great project - I'm a 4-H leader and this is something I think my kids could do. I am also a new follower. I write a blog as well - Dicky Birds Nest. I look forward to following you.
ReplyDeleteHello Michelle, the garland you made is so beautiful. What do you think about using natural dry leafs, that are falling now, here in Portugal? The shapes are so amazing. If you had already used this, please let me know if it works. Thank you for the nice tutorial.
ReplyDeleteCristina Baptista
For the Family of Michelle
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry, only today I saw in the blog that Michelle passed away.
Please take my condolences.
Cristina Baptista
Oh, I arrived at Michelle's blog post about plaster leaves via another blogger that followed her tutorial in 2012 and linked back to this post. Michelle's legacy lives on in the wonderful blog posts that she created and folks are still following. I know her family must miss her terribly. She sounds like a wonderful, creative, lady that did not want to give up on life.
ReplyDelete