Watercolor Leaves

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 140 lb. watercolor paper
• Watercolor paints [we used a variety of yellows and ochres, raw umber, sepia, deep red cadmium, and titanium buff]
• Paintbrushes [flats, rounds, and linear brushes]
• Dropcloth or old newspapers
• Scissors or an X-Acto knife and cutting surface
• Three found sticks
• White gel pen or white paint [we used the 1.0 mm uni-ball gel impact pen]
• Glue gun
• Spray mount [optional]

DIRECTIONS:

1. This project creates seven watercolor leaves, four watercolor leaves with white designs, and fifteen smaller watercolor leaves to attach to three natural sticks. This project is so easy and beautiful; once you have the materials and start painting, it’s hard to stop.
2. Print the leaf patterns provided. Cut out leaf shapes to use as templates.
3. Using watercolor paints, paint large washes of color on the 140 lb. watercolor paper. Blending the hues to make autumn colors you prefer.
4. After the paint has completely dried, use the templates, trace, and cut out leaf shapes.
5. Use a white gel pen or white paint to draw patterns on several of the larger leaves.
6. Use a glue gun to attach five smaller leaves to a stick in a random placement. Repeat.
7. Display.

JOANN HACKS:

• Spray mount the printouts of leaf shapes onto heavier paper before cutting out the template. The heavier paper makes the template more durable and easier to trace.
• If you have a printer, print or copy our print leaf pattern directly onto your watercolor paper. Paint on the opposite side of the template. Cut leaves out after your paint has completely dried.
• Watercolor leaves are ideal for decor, papercrafting, or use as dining place cards.