Magnolia Tree Gardening Blog

Posts Tagged ‘decor’

Paints, oils, and watercolor are traditional media for art. Over the ages, artists have used them to create stunning pictures that captivate the mind.

There is also another genre of artists that do not use traditional media. Instead, they use other nonstandard materials to make beautiful art. For example, some may use butterfly wings to make beautiful artwork. Some use coins to create an interesting mosaic.

Some of the easiest nonstandard materials to work on are leaves. Leaves come in an infinite number of shapes, forms, colors, and sizes. These factors make leaves a perfect art material.

Here are some wonderful art ideas that you can make easily.

1. Paint spatter silhouettes

To protect the surface you are working on, place some old newspapers on it. Now take a large poster board. Place your leaves on the poster board and arrange it to your liking. Any number of leaves is fine but it is best to restrict the number to around two or three. With the leaves in place, dip an old toothbrush into a color medium; enamel paint usually works best. Hold the brush near the leaves, and run your finger across the bristles, flicking the paint. You can do this process several times with different colors. When dry, lift the leaves carefully; you will see a wonderful bare leaf outline around color splatters. Frame the board and you will have an interesting leaves wall décor for your home.

2. Angel feathers

Magnolia leaves are best used for this project. Start of by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda for one quart of water in a porcelain boiling pan. Lay the leaves in the vessel and pour over the baking powder solution. After boiling for half an hour, set aside to let the leaves cool in the solution. Take the leaves out and scrape the green surface with a knife. Once this is done, you will have a nice shape of a feather.

Make a solution of two tablespoons of chlorine bleach per quart of water. Place the leaves into the solution and set aside for an hour. When the leaves turn white, take them out and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Gently dry the leaves with a washcloth. Once dry, place the leaves between paper towels and press or weigh. Place wires on the leaves for stems and wrap it with florist tape. You can then frame the leaves.

3. Iron-on leaf designs

Choose nicely shaped leaves of different sizes. Then choose the substrate, the material to transfer the design to-be it cloth dinner napkins, T-shirt pocket, stationery, or a hanky. Color the back of the leaf with a bright colored crayon; then colored side on the material.

Cover the leaf with a thin cotton cloth, and press a warm iron on it for a few seconds.

4. Leaf prints

Here is another good leaves wall décor for any room in your house. Lay the leaf on a surface. You can use poster board, but you can be creative by using an unusual material such as papyrus or recycled brown paper. Use the side of a crayon to rub over side of the leaf. You can use as many colors as you like. When you lift the leaf off the material, you will be left with the shape of the leaf.

Candleholders come in many different styles, textures, and colors.  From the ordinary to the extraordinary, holders come in all shapes and sizes.  Materials used for candleholders depend on the reason that the candle is being used or how it is displayed.  There are many markets that sell candleholders and that have someone available who can help you choose what is right for you.

Types of Candle Holders

We are most familiar with the candleholders that we see in the home such as those used on the dining table for special occasions.  These can be the one-piece glass holder that holds a single tapered candle to a large three-wick candle that is used with flowers or fruit to decorate and set the mood for dinner.  Candleholders may also be made of metal.  Metal candleholders are great for outdoor use or to create a rustic feeling in your décor.  The types of metal holders that come to mind most often are those seen in front of a fireplace or used as wall sconces.  There are some extraordinary wooden candle holders on the market today.  One example is driftwood that is treated and used to pour candle wax into to make a beautiful centerpiece.  Most of us have seen the candleholders that have been made from old mason jars. These are great to help give that country feel to your home. One favorite is to use decorative teacups as candleholders to give a Victorian feel to any room. 

How to Choose the Right Candleholder

Where you want to place your candles and the type of setting you want to create both play an important role in the type of container that you choose.  For a garden party you may want to buy little metal buckets to use as candleholder.  They are easily made and decorated. This type of candle holder makes a wonderful gift that you can send home with your guest to remember the occasion.  If you are making the candles for a wedding then you will want to make a unity candle that is special for the couple. For this type of candle you can use a large cylindrical glass container that will shimmer and stand out.  Because of the size of these containers you can decorate around them without fear of catching something on fire. If you are choosing candles for the bathroom be sure that they are in appropriate candle holders to prevent fires.  A crystal candle holder is one of the greatest ways that you can present candles that you have created.  It gives the impression of multifaceted lights are being thrown out from the holder.

Safety First Please

Safety is an important factor when selecting the candle holders that you wish to display and use.  Be sure that the materials used are safe and will not break or change when becoming heated.  Keep any flammable material away form the holder if the outside does get warm.  Many home fires occur in the United States and elsewhere from the misuse of candles.  Be sure that you think safety first when deciding on the type of candleholder that you want to use.

The type of candle holder that you choose to use for displaying or holding your candle in can make a difference in how others see your setting.  Don’t be afraid to explore the wide variety of candleholders on the market from the usual to the extraordinary.  Always keep in mind safety.  For the candlemaker, the candle holder only adds to the beauty of your creation, so enjoy!