Cotton Print Trees

Christmas Time with bonded paper and fabric squares folded into mini trees.  

The delicate bright green floral sari prints are all the decorating these simple trees need.

They may be folded from a square of normal paper or light cardboard, but 
here they are made from a fine layer of cotton fabric bonded onto good quality book print paper (those annual share report books have their uses!!)
I love the way the typography gently emerges  through the botanical pattern.

How to fold:

Fold a preliminary base. Squash fold each flap.

Crease fold each point up

Reverse fold the points and tuck under. Once again, squash fold each flap.

Crease fold each flap up. Reverse fold and tuck under.

Join each inside point with a thread. Pull in and tie to secure the tree shape.

If you would like to try the fabric option, here’s how it’s done using fusible applique paper

Cut a squares of book paper . Cut a square of fusible bonding paper, iron it onto the fabric and cut the square out.

Flatten the paper square, peel the backing paper off the fabric square, and iron the fabric onto the paper square.

Adding Paint to Paper

Peace lilies are indigenous to South Africa, and one of my favourite flowers.  I love their simplicity and have enjoyed making them up out of paper.  I used book paper, but here in this bunch, I added a layer of white acrylic paint, before wet moulding the petals.  I am really pleased with the way they turned out.

The paint layer softens and almost hides the underlying print and gives the paper a lovely firm handle.

The Christmas Tree Project was also made with acrylic coated book paper squares, which were further decorated with a Collagraph Print.

 

Each square was covered with a layer of white acrylic paint on both sides. 

I rolled the acrylic paint on to some good quality recycled paper with a sponge roller. 

 

To speed the drying process up, I placed the painted sheets in my thermo-fan oven for a few minutes.  I only just switched the oven on, relying more on the moving air than the gentle heat.  

Afterwards I put the squares out to cool

Once the squares were folded (See the instructions here) I printed them with a simple pattern.  I made up a Collagraph plate – so named beause of the collaged materials that created the patterned print.

I used thick cardboard, and wound small string coils, which I glued on the corners. I sealed the string and cardboard with diluted wood glue.  When this was dry, I brushed paint onto the colis, and then printed them onto the squares.

See some pictures here and instructions on how to make up the tree here.

How To Make The Modular Tree.

Yesterday I showed you the Christmas Tree hanging in my living room.  It is made from individual folded squares of recycled paper, and strung together abacus-like to form a tree.

There are many decorative square shapes that you can fold.  
Here is a Pictorial to make up the squares. I used painted book paper squares for the tree, but I am using plain book paper to show the technique I used. 

Slits were cut on the back of each square to thread the string through.
I used coarse string to create enough friction to keep the shapes from slipping down and out of position.
The tree was laid out on the floor before each string was threaded. Refer back to the picture in yesterday’s post for the pattern.

The rod at the top of the mural was made from a large rectangle of waste paper, rolled obliquely into a long paper rod and secured with some wood glue.   
Each string was knotted around the paper rod.

 

Colourful tissue paper squares were inserted inside some of the shapes.

In the next post I’ll tell you about painting the book paper and the pattern I randomly printed on some of the squares. 

Modular Paper Tree

This year some alternate Christmas decor is up and hanging in our living space.

Recycled paper square were folded and supspended to form a modular hanging tree.  
I love the vibrant geometric textured feel.  

In the next couple of blog posts, I’ll tell you how I made it.  

Prepare to hear about painting paper with acrylic, Collagraph printing (I learnt a new term there),  Origami folding, and paper rolling. 
How-to over here

Leaf Light Panels

I love it when a home reflects what’s going on – Birthdays, Christmas, World Soccer Cups, etc.  And so its good to reflect that Autumn has been happening here in the Southern Hemisphere! 

These Autumny wax-paper leaf panels have brought a touch of the outside in and softened a stark window. 

Here’s how to make them:

1.  Take a leisurely stroll in the garden or down the road and collect leaves. 

2.  Lay a sheet of wax wrap – [the kind you can wrap your sarmies in!] on a folded towel out on a flat work surface. Position leaves on top of the wax paper.

3.  Cover the leaves with a second sheet of wax paper.

4.  Cover that with a thin towel. Press with a hot iron.

5.  Check that the wax is melting and bonding the paper and leaves together. If you have missed any areas, go back and press some more. 

6.  Trim the sheet into a neat rectangle.  Cut and fold some narrow strips of paper the same width as the wax paper and glue on to the top and bottom of the panel.  This will help with hanging the panel and add stability. [I cut 4 strips of paper as I was making 2 panels.]

7. Work out how you will hang the panel, then punch a hole or two in the top and thread some cotton thread through.

8.  Hang the panel on the thread.  It is best to place it where it will allow light to shine through and illuminate the beautiful leaves and the now textured wax paper. 

Time needed:30 minutes for collecting walk in the garden

                   1 hour labour

You will need: Autumn leaves, wax paper [or waxwrap], glue and cotton thread.

Have on hand: Some towels, an iron and a punch.

 

Christmas Stuff in October

I know it’s really soon to be talking about Christmas in early October, but I am keen to tell you about what’s been happening here at Freshly Found.

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting Focus on iThemba – an amazing place of hope.  Focus on iThemba provide quality foster care homes for vulnerable children and a school of excellence for the greater community. They donated some vintage books to me, which they were not able to use.  These books were cut and folded into the initial Bibliogami Trees.  Sandile Sithole helped in designing a wire frame for the tree and I am quite delighted with the outcome.

R100 from the sale of every tree will be donated to Focus on iThemba. 

The tree can stand as is or be decorated in different ways.  I plan to show you some of these ideas closer to Christmas time!

They are available online here or you can see them at The Caboodle – 106 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, or at the i♥market in November and December. Limited number of trees available.