But change is good too, is it not?
(you wouldn't believe how many tiny maple leaves I have from yesterday's post)
I've tried all kinds of different methods of adhering these puppies. And the one that, I think, gives the best results involves melting them ever so gently with the tip of a very low temperature iron (like so low that on the scale, it's below the first number). I just hold the leaf in place with the thumb of my left hand, while I maneuver the iron with my right.
I'm not gonna lie. You will get wax on it. You probably will want to use a separate iron (hopefully found cheap at a yard sale?) devoted to crafts for this project. (Heh hem, this is definitely a case of do as I say, not as I do. I just keep wiping the iron clean with a spare rag. Jeff hasn't complained that his shirts are covered in wax yet.)
Also the plants with the little leaves are really tedious to get stuck down.
(plants, left to right: sweet woodruff, catgrass, purple vetch)
(this guy in the front is maidenhair fern)
But despite all those cons, I think the results are pretty fun.
I like the look very much!
ReplyDeleteWonder if, it would have been easier if you had heated up a can of wax and decoupaged the leaves on. Or do you think it would have left to heavy of a coat of wax on the leaves?
Those are absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteBacklighting shows off the flora so well and the soft light that we get from candles just showcases them so sweetly.
ReplyDeleteI just love your luminarias. Definitely want to make some.
ReplyDeletejudysquiltsandthings, because I use a really high melt wax, it solidifies as soon as it leaves the pot; it's not really spreadable outside the pot.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks guys!
pretty! very pretty!
ReplyDeleteExtra nice! What about a hairdryer, or heat gun for setting? Use it to warm the wax a bit, then stick the flora on and warm a little more, smoothing with fingers?
ReplyDeleteAnna, the biggest problem (but kind of a necessity if you don't want these melting all over the place when you burn candles in them) is that it's high melt wax. This means that the wax does not stay soft for more than a few seconds, not long enough to work anything into it. I did try a heat gun, but not only did it not stay hot long enough, but it also messed up the texture of the surface all around where I was working.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a curling iron would give a lower temp?
ReplyDelete