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Friday, August 30, 2019

Painting Faux Fall Leaves

Hi Friends, are you about ready for September?

Faux florals, branches, and dried naturals are my favorite way to change things up for the seasons. So, one of the first things I do when going from Summer to Fall is to tweak my faux floral arrangements. I mentioned a week or so back that I was putting together an arrangement of white sunflowers in a new ceramic vase for the Entry.







This is the vase I found earlier this month. 




I started out with just the white sunflowers, then a few days later I added a grapevine wreath as a base to keep the stems in place. Earlier this week I found some budding type stems to add to the mix. With September here next week, I wanted to bring this a little more into "Fall" with some seasonal leaves. But I wanted to keep things more neutral since I'm not ready to commit to a ton of color like orange in this particular arrangement.





I've not been able to find many natural looking neutral leaves. They just aren't around here in stores. I love the deeper color faux leaves later in Fall, but right now it's too soon. And the bright leaves just don't work with the white sunflowers. I love orange and you can be sure it will show up a little later this Fall! (after all, I am the gal with the orange front door)







So I dug around in my stash and came up with some leafy stems that might work with paint. Now, they're not perfect and I really didn't want them to be; I'm looking for toning down the bright orange and gold, not totally covering it up. I used acrylics and some chalk paint in some taupes and creams to look a little more neutral.




I dry brushed and left a little of the base color of the leaf showing through
 for a hint of Fall color. I feel like this gives the leaves a little more depth
 and at least you don't need to wear sunglasses.





Here's a little peek at the Entry that I'll be sharing more of next week
 at the "Summer to Fall" Blog Hop. 





I also found these large picks that I already had that were Sunflowers with nuts and berries and leaves. Here too, these had leaves that were way too bright for early Fall. So they got a little paint adjustment too.









Here they are adding a little oomph to my Early Fall Mantel.
More of the mantel next week, too.




It still needs a bit more tweaking.




... and speaking of painting faux Fall leaves, 
I made this Painted Leaf Fall Wreath a few years ago.



I'm really looking forward to the calendar changing next week...
Fall starts September 1 around here!


I hope you'll come and join in with our new Link Party,
that starts on Monday's at 6:00 pm.





joining in here:

All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
 Celebrate Your Story at The Zucchini Sisters
Happiness is Homemade at Blue Sky at Home
Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda
Tips and Tutorials at Home Stories A to Z
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Homestyle Gathering at Serving Up Southern  
Keep in Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles 
 Talk of the Town at Knick of Time
Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode 
Share Your Style at French Ethereal 
 Style Showcase at Shabby Fufu  
Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home
 Wonderful Wednesday at LeCultivateur 
Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Grace at Home at Imparting Grace
Farmhouse Friday at The Painted Hinge


14 comments:

  1. Very pretty, Debra!
    Whenever I want to change the look of faux flowers/leaves, I use Design Master products. The large craft stores have these in their spray paint cabinets. My favorite for 'fall-izing' leaves are the wood tones or a transparent gray to give a weathered look. It's amazing what you can do with a can of that and it keeps forever! Very fast drying and used in the fresh floral industry for years.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sandi, thanks for that tip, I'll have to look it up. I actually think I've tried that before, but can't remember what project it was for!

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  2. Wow those leaves look so real now. What a great idea. Love this. Have a great holiday weekend.
    xoxo
    Kris

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  3. Great idea! Looks natural and pretty . If you have a ROSE'S store they had natural flowers and leaves.

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  4. Love, love, love this idea! I have painted Dollar Tree leaves copper and gold. I will definitely try more of a neutral color. I love all the deeper and vivid hues of fall, but not quite yet...so I am also concentrating more on neutrals right now. I can't wait to see more of that entry!

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    Replies
    1. I'm so excited for Tuesday's Hop, I'm itchin' for Fall!

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  5. This is such a great idea. Orange will look fabulous with your front door. I know you are enjoying some early fall decorating. I love your display. I can't wait to see more.

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    Replies
    1. I can't wait to decorate the front porch for Fall! now if all the ugly shrubs would just go away!

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  6. Very pretty Debra, so clever how you toned down the leaves!
    Jenna

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  7. Very pretty Debra. I love the white sunflowers. I am looking for some like that for my fall decor.
    Have a great rest of this holiday weekend.
    xoxo
    Kris

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  8. Painting faux leaves... mind-blowing! What a great idea! Hope we get to see this at TTA! ;-) Thanks for hosting!

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  9. Hi Debra!
    Your painted fall leaves turned out lovely as did your arrangement! This is a project I've had on the back burner for too long now. I even bought the leaves (a couple of seasons ago) and never got around to it. Then I completely forgot altogether. You have reminded and inspired me to get on it! Thanks for sharing at Homestyle Gathering!
    >>> Kim

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