Materials
& tools:
- A drawing or
a traced image of a leaf (I used an oak leaf design)
- Sharp scissors
- Work gloves (when
working with metal gloves will protect your hands from nicks and cuts)
- A stylus
- A soft foam square
sheet (the kind used for children's crafts)
- Masking tape
- Vitrail translucent
paint colors for glass and metal by Pébéo (I used the following
colors; Yellow 14, Orange 16, Crimson 12, and Dark green 35)
- Artist paintbrushes
in assorted sizes
- An awl punch and
a hammer
- Wire cutters,
round or needle-nose pliers (all 3-in-one craft pliers are available several craft
stores)
- Copper craft
wire in 22 gauge
- Raffia
(Materials for
this project are available at arts and crafts stores.)
For a fabulous
fall wreath, infuse it with copper foliage painted in bright autumn colors. The
wreath is garnished with organic shaped oak leaves made out of copper foil; they
are then embossed, and painted to bejewel and glow. The decorative foil leaf accents
are painted with translucent yet vibrant Vitrail solvent-based paint colors. When
dry the colors become translucent, permanent and remain brilliant. The colors
will not fade or scratch, they are UV resistant and ideal to use and add color
to metal or glass outdoor decorations.
Vitrail paints are traditionally used to re-create the look of stain glass onto
glass surfaces, where cerne relief nozzle outliners or self-adhesive lead strips
are incorporated into a painted design. In this project we are using the Vitrail
paints on copper in a free-flowing style to create a welcoming wreath with a modern
artisan look.
This wreath totally
captivates the essence of the fall colors with its many style options. It’s
adaptable for the entire fall season; simply add a turkey or a pumpkin painted
foil insert shape at the center for Thanksgiving and a cat, or bats for Halloween
week.
Start by drawing or tracing a basic leaf design, such as an oak leaf, onto paper,
in the size needed. I made large leaves measuring 4 inches long, and smaller leaves
at 3 inches long.
Unroll the copper foil, cut a length to fit as many leaves as you need. Remember
to wear gloves. Place a piece of soft foam on a hard, flat work surface. Place
the foil sheet over it. Place the paper designs over the foil piece and attach
them at each end with tape in order to keep your work stable. Trace over the basic
leaf shapes using a stylus (or pencil) to transfer and emboss the motifs onto
the foil. The foam helps create deep and clear embossing outlines in the foil.
Cut out the leaf shapes using sharp scissors.
Apply extra freehand designs with the stylus such the center lines along the center
of the leaves if you wish.
Once the foil leaves are embossed, to really make them come alive with style apply
Vitrail paint colors using assorted artist paintbrushes. Apply one color at a
time, starting with the yellow, then orange, crimson and then the dark green.
They will slightly blend and merge into one anther, which thus give the leaf a
true life-like appeal. Leave some of the copper exposed around the borders for
extra panache. Or you can opt to let each color dry before applying the next color.
The translucent colors dry to the touch in about an hour. Let the paints colors
air-dry to fully cure for a 24 hour period before exposing them outdoors. Once
they dry, make a hole at the stem part of each leaf using an awl and a hammer.
The hole is to insert the copper wire in order to affix the painted leaves around
the wreath.
Cut copper wire
lengths of 8 inches, one for each leaf. Thread a wire copper length halfway through
the steam hole, twist to secure the wire to the leaf at the back. Add a spiral
curl shape to the front tail ends. To create a wire curl, simply wrap the wire
end around a pencil or paintbrush tip several times. Secure the leaf to the wreath
with the other wire end by twisting the end around a branch. Repeat steps for
each of the remaining leaves.
Add decorative raffia at the top base of the wreath and display your creation
on your front door, porch or fence. This colorful seasonal wreath is sure to add
pizzazz to your front door, from early fall right through to Halloween week.
Variations; This
is a wreath with many style options; add a turkey or pumpkin foil insert shape
for thanksgiving and cats or bats for Halloween. Simply add color to the cut-out
shapes using the Vitrail translucent paints in the same manner as per described
above. Let air-dry and apply the festive shapes at the center of the wreath using
copper wire.
Since the Vitrail translucent paint colors can be applied to both metal and glass
items, they can also be used to add wondrous fall colors to various outdoor (or
indoor) decorative items; such as lanterns, galvanized buckets, glass globes etc…
Tips:
Vitrail paints can be mixed together to create your own unique colors. There are
over 26 brilliant colors to choose from, and 10 new colors were launched this
season. Vitrail paint color can also be combined with special effect mediums as
by Vitrail such as the new matt, glitter and crackle finishes. Simply add to the
medium to the color of your choice. The lightner medium is used to create lighter
tones without reducing the quality of the color nor making it more fluid.
Water-based Vitrail
paints are now available for kids; look for them in the children’s craft
section at stores near you.
Objects decorated with Vitrail colors are intended for decorative purposes only
and should not be considered for practical usage, such as dishes or glassware;
they can also be use on metal and foil items.
Press
release
Copyright MaddyLane
Designs/Miy Decorations © 2008
No portion of this article is to be copied or published without permission.
