Crafts

Leaf Painting

Materials

Fabric Paint - different colours
Brush
Palette
Leaves -any thick veined leaf different shapes and sizes
Cloth

Plain fabrics can be made attractive by Leaf Printing.
A very easy method that anyone can try out, to make beautiful designs on your Saree, shawl or table cloth etc. The perfection and beauty of the print depends on the colour combinations you choose. If the fabric is dark then light colour paints will look better and vice versa. It can be done even on expensive silk fabrics.

Procedure
Take leaves of different shapes, especially thick veined leaves with curved edges will look nice.

Iron the cloth in order to make it wrinkle free.
Decide on the design and paints.
Paint the back or wrong side of the leaf completely with the chosen colour.
Stick the leaf on the cloth and press well.
Before making the print on the good material it is better have a trial on the rough cloth.

Leaves can be stuck in a straight line or randomly according to your aesthetic taste.
Let it dry for 24 hrs or dry it in the sun for an hour.
For the painting to last longer, iron the back side of the design. Ironing should be done only after drying.

Tips
To make the work look extra rich, you can stitch thin laces in between the prints as shown in top figure. Material used in this is white silk, golden thin lace and green, red and blue paints.