Getting the most from the Leaf Punch

I was inspired last year by a framed wreath tutorial. I think it was by Mikaela Thitheridge using the sprig punch, and had LED fairy lights wound around inside it. It was beautiful and although I purchased and read her tutorial I never got around to making it, ( and now I can't find it lol....)  but I have been wanting to create a few items using the leaf punch as I will be using it in an upcoming class and wanted to show how versatile it is.

So this is my small version.
I used one complete A4 sheet of 5 different greens:
Call Me Clover   Shaded Spruce   Mint Macaron   Garden Green   Soft Sea Foam
and punched as many leaves as I could from each sheet.

I put all the leaves in a clear plastic storage case and simply made a tossed salad with them and scrunched up handfuls so they were mixed and a little distressed.

I used a cereal bowl as a template and cut out a circle of thick card, and a circle of Soft as Suede a good bit larger, then I cut out the middle of the circles of both to create 2 donut shapes. Completely freehand and not even, the cardboard was about 3cm wide, the soft suede about double the width of the card. I glued the soft suede to cover the cardboard, it was rough and definitely not flat. I used the inside piece of soft as suede, cut into a spiral and wound that around the covered disc just to make it a bit more uneven.( just trying to create some dimension like a wreath base would be)
Next I wrapped some heavy jute string around the disc. Not sure how long but I had a length of about 1m, and needed to add a bit more. This was not wound too tight, but helped to hold the soft suede in place and was just firm enough so I could easily slip some leaves under it.

I picked up 2 or 3 leaves at a time, dipped both stems in a puddle of tombow and adhered the stems onto the card base. sometimes the leaves slipped under one of the pieces of wrapped Soft Suede, sometimes under the twine, and sometimes just laying on top of the previous bunch. Sometimes I twisted 2 or 3 stems together. All the leaves lay in the same direction and at intervals I slipped the twine back over the stems to anchor them - if that makes sense. I covered the whole width of the disc working from side to side.

At the end I didn't have too many leaves left over.

Using the Perennial Flower Punch I simply cut 2 Whisper White flowers and joined them together using the small slit and twist technique I saw on Pinterest, and stitched a crystal button as the centre.

The background paper is from the Pressed Petals Suite and is cut to 9x9" to fit my frame.

I'm really happy with the finished product and will definitely make some more, and although they do take quite a few hours, they are a labour of love. It's the punching that takes the most time, and you have to wash the glue off your fingers quite regularly.

If you would like to purchase either of the punches you can find them by clicking on the image below to take you to my online store

Leaf Punch

[144667]

$28.00

Perennial Flower Punch

[149522]

$31.00

and if you would like a pack of the necessary cardstock and glue please contact me for a kit at
 lillylovespaper@gmail.com.au

I hope you have a creative week and remember, 

"don't just post online,

 post something pretty!"

cheers, Liz

Product List

Leaf Punch

[144667]

$28.00

Perennial Flower Punch

[149522]

$31.00

Soft Sea Foam A4 Cardstock

[147012]

$15.25

Garden Green A4 Card Stock

[108605]

$15.25

Mint Macaron A4 Cardstock

[138344]

$15.25

Call Me Clover A4 Cardstock

[146992]

$15.25

Shaded Spruce A4 Cardstock

[147006]

$15.25

Soft Suede A4 Card Stock

[119982]

$15.25

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

[106549]

$17.00

Linen Thread

[104199]

$8.75

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$7.00