Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Sculpt Your Own Foliage!


Today, something small yet sooo useful.  Just look at these happy little leaves....


They are sleek and curvy and look almost real.  And I made them with a simple repurposing of these spiky faux holly sprays.


Read on for the thrilling, radical, soul-searing DIY!  (I know, I know, it's just some leaves.  But this is the sort of thing that revs me up.)




Maybe you remember how I made starburst jewelry from the berries?


That was so fun, I strip-mined all the berries and made a whole bunch more.  Which left me with approximately one gajillion plastic holly leaves.


Nice as they are - beautifully molded, photorealistic and very sturdy - I know I won't really use them.  Maybe an occasional Christmas project, I dunno.  No.  I really don't need one gajillion plastic holly leaves.

But a couple of snippety-snips later...


These darlings I will use.





Oh, yes, I will.  All the time!

I sense you are skeptical.   Wanna see?

For jewelry -

(Click here for the bracelet tutorial!)





Accessories.



Even home decor.


So next time you go thrifting, keep your eyes peeled for some plastic holly.  Or really, any bargain-priced foliage!  (Dollar store, anyone?)  Call upon your inner Edward Scissorhands, and create exactly the leaf your project needs.

Note: you can do this with silk flora, too!  Look how these ivy leaves become delicately tropical, with just a little sculpting:


Hope you liked this idea!  Now make like a tree, why doncha?


14 comments:

  1. Love the jewelry, especially the bracelet. Is the bracelet elastic or does it have a clasp?

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    1. Hiya, Amy! I made mine with memory wire, but elastic would work great, too. I thought it would be best without a clasp - it might be hard to find in the underbrush.

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  2. I will never look at dusty plastic leaves the same way again. You've just caused the price of cheapo yard sale floral arrangements to skyrocket.

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  3. Well that's really clever! I could think of a ton of ideas for this!

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  4. Great reuse!! When seeing your post about the berries, I actually wondered what would happen to the leaves. Knew you wouldn't dissappoint. :) BTW, when looking at the uncut leaves in pic #4, I see potential tiny bat wings. Guess I've got Halloween on the brain already. :D

    Keep up the awesome cleaverness!

    Mieljolie

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  5. All the things you made out of the plastic leaves look really great! I also especially love the look of the bracelet, it is a surprising one! :)

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  6. LOve all of them...I always love green and now this really widen up my mind on green stuff that don't have the shape I prefer! Thanks Mich...you did it again!

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  7. Well Well Welllllll Doneeeeeee...I just Love your ideas, the necklace seems too good, in fact super smart. and the accessory bag is looking so good..Love the post dear Mich..!!

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  8. Your idea of cutting the leaves is very clever. It opens up so many possibilities. Love it!

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  9. First off, you're hilarious.

    Second off, the foliar line of jewelry is JUST FABULOUS. I love the bracelet and both necklaces. And I don't even wear jewelry!!!!!!!

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  10. I love the brazalet. Is very originale.
    Saluts

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  11. Holy guacamole! You clever thing you :) That is genius. I was commenting not that long ago about how I wish I could find wax leaves. Now I know to make my own!

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  12. Here's me- tales from the crypt :) I am totally in lurve with that necklace sporting the turquoise beads. Not that all the other options weren't WHOW, but that particular piece is so stunning I reckon it deserves a helluvalot more publicity. Like, BIG publicity. I'm thinking Milan, Rio, Tokyo, NY, Berlin, the whole package. Mich, seriously, that necklace is ... is... SO YOU!!!

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  13. I have no idea how you come up with such wild ideas! Ren Fest costume, here I come!

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