Creating Clusters and Layering Technique - Day 6 - Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

 

Day 6: Layering Techniques 

Layering multiple techniques—stitching, painting, and burning—allows each element to shine while complementing the others. 

There are some fun ways to bring the small leaf clusters together to create some interesting designs.

Today’s piece show how using some of the skills taught can help you create a rich and dimensional work of art. 

Tomorrow, we wrap up the series by reflecting on the process and encouraging you to experiment with your own leaf art creations.

Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Painting and Mixed Media on Leaves: Day 5 Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

 

Day 5: Painting and Mixed Media on Leaves

Combining paint with dried leaves opens up endless creative possibilities. 

You can use most mediums on dried leaves with the right preparation.  You can also pair the mediums with the range of other techniques.  I experiment with a range of supplies to get different looks.  

This mixed media approach brings vibrant energy to these delicate surfaces and they can be used in a variety of projects.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where I’ll explore how layering different techniques creates even more depth.

Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

 

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Woodburning Designs onto Leaves: Day 4 Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

 

Day 4: Woodburning Designs onto Leaves

Woodburning on leaves is an intricate process that requires a gentle touch. By etching fine lines and patterns into the surface, I create a beautifully rustic effect that highlights the leaf’s organic qualities. 

You can get a range of patterns and designs by using the different heads that you get with the wood burning tool, but you also need to know how to adapt the tool so you can use it to the maximum and achieve different looks.

Tomorrow, I’ll share how painting and mixed media techniques can further enhance these natural canvases.

Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Weaving Across the Surface: Day 3 Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

 

Day 3: Weaving Across the Surface

Combining fibers and dried leaves brings a whole new dimension to mixed media art. In today’s designs, I’ve used weaving techniques to add layers of texture and depth.  It is quite a meditative act, weaving on a material so delicate - you are forced to slow down and take it all in as you work.

The result that you can achieve are gorgeous, it is amazing to think that you can fuse nature and fiber art in this way. With the varieties of yarn and threads, the possibilities and combinations are endless.

In tomorrow’s post, I’ll introduce woodburning as a way to carve delicate patterns onto leaves, and share some of my designs.

Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Crochet on Leaves - Day 2 Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

 

Day 2: Crochet on Leaves

Crochet isn’t just for fabric - it can beautifully frame and enhance natural surfaces. Today’s piece features crochet work on the sea grape leaves, giving a lace-like effect on the leaves. 

This technique adds strength while keeping the organic elegance of the leaf intact. By adding different color yarn and fibers you can create different looks.  I also use the crochet to join leaves together.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing examples of my weaving on leaves!

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Stitching on Leaves - Day 1 Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art

 

Sea Grape Leaves

After purchasing a small plant I wanted to see how I could use the fibers from the plant in a creative way.

Sea Grapes is also known as (Coccoloba uvifera) and is a coastal plant growing in the Caribbean and America.  You find it mostly growing on the beach in Barbados and many plant it in their gardens as it makes a great feature.  Various parts of the plant has been used in traditional medicine.

Fruit - The plant produces fruit which can be eaten raw or processed into wine or jam.

Leaves/bark and roots have been used in different aspects of traditional medicine for a variety of ailments. 

Stitching on Leaves

The beauty of slow stitching meets the organic textures of nature. Today, I’m exploring embroidery on sea grape leaves, creating delicate designs that highlight the natural veins and curves of the leaf. It is a beautiful surface to work on.

The combination of thread and leaf fibers adds a unique textural contrast. I mostly use a straight stitch of varying lengths, French knot, and I enjoy creating different patterns with the stitches.  I also experiment with the leaves from a variety of the Trumpet Tree

Check back tomorrow to see how crochet transforms the leaves!

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

Sign up before February 15th to take advantage of the discounted price! 

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art: A Fusion of Nature and Creativity

 

Exploring Sea Grape Leaf Art: A Fusion of Nature and Creativity

Nature has always been a source of inspiration for my creative practice, and working with sea grape leaves allows me to blend mixed media techniques with the organic beauty of the natural world. In this piece, I combine fiber arts and wood burning to highlight the rich textures and colors of dried leaves, transforming them into a unique canvas for artistic expression.

Join Me for a Week of Leaf Art Creations!

Starting tomorrow, I will be sharing a new design each day, showcasing how I use sea grape leaves in my work—whether through sewing, crocheting, weaving, or woodburning. These delicate yet sturdy leaves offer an incredible surface for creativity, and I can’t wait to show you what I’ve been working on!

Want to Learn How to Create with Leaves?

If you’re curious about working with dried leaves as an artistic surface, I teach techniques that allow you to incorporate them into your own projects. My Leaf Art Course covers everything from preparation to design, giving you the tools to explore this unique medium with confidence.

Sign up before February 15th to take advantage of the discounted price! 

Learn More and Enroll Today!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next featured design in this exciting week of leaf art exploration!

CHECK OUT THE LEAF ARTS COURSE HERE

Self-Love, Faces and Second Saturday Art

 

The Magic of Background Papers in Your Art Journal

Art journaling is a powerful way to express yourself creatively, and one of the best tools you can use to elevate your pages is background papers. These textured, layered, and beautifully designed papers provide a ready-made foundation that can inspire and enhance your artwork. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just beginning your creative journey, background papers can add depth, texture, and storytelling elements to your pages with ease.

Why Use Background Papers?

1. Instant Inspiration – A well-crafted background paper can spark ideas for your art journal pages, helping you bypass creative blocks and dive right into making art.

2. Depth and Texture – These papers often feature layers of paint, ink, collage, and patterns that create visual interest, making your pages look more complex with minimal effort.

3. Time-Saving – Instead of starting from a blank page, you have a rich, pre-designed surface to build upon, allowing you to focus on your focal elements, journaling, and embellishments.

4. Versatility – Background papers can be used in mixed media projects, collages, altered books, and scrapbooking, making them an invaluable addition to your creative toolkit.

Background papers used to decorate a box

How to Incorporate Background Papers in Your Art Journal and Creative Projects

• Layering – Use them as a base layer and add paint, stencils, and stamps for additional depth.

• Cut and Collage – Cut out specific sections to create borders, focal points, or collage elements.

• Writing Surface – Use muted background papers as a beautiful space for handwritten thoughts, quotes, or affirmations.

• Torn Edges – Tear pieces to add an organic, textured look to your pages.

• Images - Creating an image on the papers

Join #SecondSaturdayArt for Creative Inspiration

Every Second Saturday on my YouTube, I share my creative process using one of my background papers. As part of this video hop, you can explore how the other artists bring their unique styles to life with their creative techniques each month, which will provide you with fresh ideas.  Join me on the Channel.

Get Your Free Background Papers!

If you'd like to start incorporating background papers into your art journaling, I have a special gift for you! You can download a monthly set on my Free Patreon tier and begin exploring the magic of background layers today.

🔗 Get your free background papers here!

Let’s create something beautiful together! Have you used background papers in your art journal or creative projects? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

Transforming Nature into Art - Leaf Arts Course

 Transforming Nature into Art - Leaf Arts Online Course

I am pleased to share my latest online course working creatively on dried leaves.

Leaf Arts - Transforming Nature into Art is a course that takes you through all the creative stages of working on your dried leaves.

Weaving on leaves

We take our time to slow stitch, weave, crochet, paint and create some amazing wood burning effects on the surface of the leaves. It is available at a discounted price until the 15th February, check out the course and see what you think. 

Slow Stitching on Leaves

There are also a range of bonuses for you to access on the course.

Burning Designs onto leaves

I am looking forward to welcoming you into the course community.

Check out the course HERE

The Fun Continues: Create Your Own Cardboard Bookcases!

 

The Creating with Cardboard Course has been an absolute joy so far! Watching participants transform simple, everyday cardboard into beautiful, functional bookshelves has been nothing short of inspiring. Each creation is unique, filled with personality, and showcases just how much fun recycling can be when combined with creativity!

The Early Bird Special has been extended to the 15th February!

If you haven’t joined yet, great news—the early bird special has been extended to 15th February! Now’s the perfect time to jump in and start crafting your own custom bookshelf. Whether you want a miniature bookshelf a whimsical storage space, or a decorative shelf for your favorite trinkets, this course will teach you what you need to know.

Why Not Gift a Creative Experience? 

Looking for a unique and meaningful gift? Instead of another store-bought item, why not give the gift of creativity? A gifted spot in this course is perfect for anyone who loves hands-on projects, sustainability, or exploring new art techniques. Whether it’s for a crafty friend, a family member, or even yourself (because self-care through creativity is important too!), this class is a wonderful way to spark inspiration.

What’s Inside the Course?

• Step-by-step tutorials to create and decorate your own cardboard bookshelf
• Creative techniques using paint, collage, and other mixed media elements
• Sustainable crafting tips—learn how to repurpose materials in fun and artistic ways
• Bonus content! Extra videos and ideas to personalize your bookshelf, create miniature art journals and more.

Sign up before 15th February to take advantage of the early bird price and start creating today!

Join the Creative with Cardboard Course Now!  Sign Up Here

Art Journals that now have a new home!

Mixed Media Art - Digital Papers Available for February

 

The Free digital art papers for the month has been released and you can access them HERE and use them in your art journals and creative projects.

You can check out what I did with the papers from January below and also get a copy of the original papers for your projects

These are the papers for January if you missed them, join us on the Free tier of Patreon

This was a really fun page to create

Tip of the Week - Reflect on your Creative Journey

 

Reflect on your creative journey

Have you ever wondered how far you've come in your creative journey? 

Take a moment to reflect on your experiences, challenges, and successes, and discover how looking back can fuel your future artistic endeavors and set meaningful goals. 

Ready to celebrate your wins and learn from your challenges? Click to uncover three inspiring tips that will guide you on this reflective journey for FREE on my Patreon🤩:

Material Musings - Fabric Inspirations and Kawandi

 

Come and check out this weeks Material Musings. We look at lots of lovely dyed and hand printed fabric, and we start a Kawandi!

A Kawandi is a type of hand-stitched quilt traditionally made by the Siddi women who are descendants of enslaved Africans who were bought to India. 

Kawandi quilts are distinctive because of their vibrant, improvisational designs and the way they are constructed. They are made from layers of fabric scraps, often brightly colored, and sewn together with running stitches. Here's a closer look at their key characteristics:

Key Features of Kawandi Quilts

1. Construction Style:

   • Kawandi quilts are typically sewn from the outer edges toward the center, unlike many traditional quilts made from blocks or panels.
   • The stitching is done in a spiral pattern, ensuring all layers stay securely held together.

2. Materials:

   • They are made using recycled fabrics, including old saris, or other discarded textiles.
   • The use of fabric scraps gives the quilts a rich texture and unique, look.

3. Aesthetic and Design:

   • The quilts are often colorful and feature bold patterns, with an emphasis on spontaneity and personal expression.
   • Small decorative touches, like folded fabric triangles called phulas (flowers), are added to the corners or edges.

4. Practical and Cultural Significance:

• Kawandi quilts are made for practical purposes, such as providing warmth, but they also reflect the Siddi community's history and artistry.
• The improvisational process mirrors storytelling and a connection to cultural heritage.

Let me know if you have made one and how it turned out.  Looking forward to sharing my progress with you.

Transform Cardboard into Stunning Bookcase: Join the Fun!

The Joy of Cardboard

Have you ever looked at a pile of cardboard and wondered what creative potential it holds? In today’s fast-paced world, finding ways to recycle and create something practical and beautiful is a rewarding challenge. 

My latest course Creating Cardboard Bookshelves shows you how to turn everyday cardboard into a functional and stylish bookcase that’s is fun to create and is useful. You can join for an early bird special of just $37 before the price returns to $47 on January 11th!

Join the Course HERE

Why Cardboard? The Power of Recycling:
Cardboard is one of the most widely available and versatile materials. By repurposing cardboard, you’re not only reducing waste but also giving new life to something that would otherwise be discarded. Here are some benefits of recycling cardboard:

• Eco-Friendly Impact: Recycling cardboard reduces the demand for new materials, saves energy, and minimizes landfill waste. Every small step helps create a healthier planet.

• Cost-Effective: Why buy expensive shelving when you can make something equally functional and unique at a fraction of the cost?

• Creative Opportunities: Cardboard is lightweight, easy to cut and shape, and surprisingly strong when assembled. It’s a blank canvas waiting for your imagination.

What to Expect in the Course:
This course is designed to make creating with cardboard accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of your crafting experience. Here’s what you’ll get:

• Step-by-Step Guidance: Learn how to construct a sturdy bookshelf that can you art journals, decorations, or art supplies. 

• Bonus Videos: Gain extra inspiration with additional tutorials on painting, decorating, and enhancing your cardboard creation.

• Customization Tips: Discover how to personalize your bookcase to fit your style and needs. Whether you love vibrant colors or a minimalist look, you’ll find ways to make it your own.  You can make it to a size that suits you.

Take a look at our first project

Create your own mini Bookshelves

Unleash Your Creativity:
Crafting with recycled materials is more than just a sustainable choice; it’s an opportunity to explore your creativity. With this course, you’ll learn how to:

• Transform a simple material into a functional and decorative piece for your home.

• Experiment with different designs, textures, and finishes to create something truly unique.

• Gain confidence in your ability to craft and upcycle, sparking ideas for future projects.

Your Favorite Project - Once you start you won't be able to stop:
Imagine having a practical and attractive bookcase that you designed and built yourself. Every time you use it, you’ll be reminded of your resourcefulness and creativity. Plus, it’s a conversation starter—people will love hearing about how you turned cardboard into a piece of furniture!

Sign Up Today and Save:
Take advantage of the early bird special and join the course for just $37. But hurry—this offer ends on January 11th!

Sign Up Now

Let’s make something amazing together. I can’t wait to see the unique bookshelves you create!