Leaf Pounding | Craft With Me | Nature Art 

Thank you so much Susan, I really really enjoyed watching you manipulate those leaves and stems. The results are really really stunning and beautiful too. I think this is a great idea too have a go at. Please stay safe and well too xxx Mags

I've never heard of leaf pounding before and was fascinated. I love the results! I also love listening to you, expounding your philosophy. I have recently been thinking a lot about how the actual process is what brings the most joy, not so much the finished piece! I do a lot of different creative stuff but at the moment I suppose my favourite is making books, and I also enjoy using stuff that would otherwise end in the trash. One of my best discoveries is the accordion-folded leaflets that come in my packs of medication. Before unfolding them I punch them with the Crop-a-Dile and I end up with a great sheet of paper with a sort of random/organised pattern of holes (if that makes sense!!) - these papers can be used for collaging, gel printing, stencilling etc. That way you get at least 2 useable sheets. The printing on them also adds texture. I love using that paper mesh they use for packaging - flat brown paper with little slits in it that make the paper expand when you pull it - gorgeous texture on its own, or again for gel printing or stencilling. I collect all the Amazon packaging paper and because it's free, I don't worry about wasting it if things go wrong, and it's brilliant for experimenting with stamping (esp. with my DIY foam stamps), stencilling, spraying, intuitive scripting and just generally splashing stuff around! It makes great collage fodder or even gift wrap. I recently cut some shapes on the cutting machine to make iris shutter mechanisms for an OrientaI-style album I'm currently working on, and I thought the "weeded" sheets looked interesting when I pulled them off the mat, so I layered them and stencilled through them onto Amazon paper, building up layers and finishing with some white stamping with DIY foam stamps. I also use tea bags a lot and have boxes full of them, saved over the years. I have got to the stage now when I can't look at anything without asking myself if I can recycle it and use it. My hubby and I have a joke about this - when out and about, I may pick something up that's completely non-art related, and wonder, "Could I make art out of this?" to which he replies with a resounding "NO!!" I take this as a challenge and make something out of it just to prove him wrong!! Many of the "failures" are not failures at all because you can just add more layers. Sometimes you can use them as-is - I find that if you cut or tear them up they suddenly become less like failures and more like interesting art fodder. Unfortinately I'm not on social media but I do have a blog where I post everything - same name as on RU-vid. My only problem is that my beautiful studio is now so full of Stuff that I am finding it hard to find space to work... I need an Art House.

I had not heard of leaf or flower pounding. I'll try it once I get more color in my yard. Your spirit of exploration is very encouraging.

Such pretty Dog wood my favorite tree. Susan. Genius💜

I’d forgotten about pounding plant material. Thank you for sharing the fun! Dogwood trees are my favorite. I’ll be sticking some sticks in the ground. :)

Well this is the coolest!!! Austin, TX USA

I never saw this technic. make me excited. Thanks for showing us.

Great idea to use in my junk journals. Thank you

Wow, leaf pounding - not heard of this before - so cool - thanks for the info - and the mention! Great reminder about the importance of experimenting - the disappointment of something not working isn’t the be all and end all - must remember this.

Love this and to hear your exitement!! Good job, girl!!👏🏻👍🏻😊🤣🌿

I want to do some eco dyeing with different fabrics. I love this leaf pounding! I’ll have to wait until we turn green around here again!

Beautiful work!

Love this. Shared the video.🥰🐞🤗

I've been experimenting with my watercolor pencils, and my Christmas presents from my daughter, brush pens and markers.

Stunning❤

That was so cool! SO doing this ! Thx!

Awesome

New subbie as of yesterday, I just watched your video last night collaging with natural materials and thought well of course! I discovered flower pounding this last summer and have cut the canvas fabric for carpet bagger journals. However I felt like they needed something, lol I have some lichen sitting on my table. If anyone is interested in trying this now you might check local grocery stores with floral departments, mine will have big mark downs after a major holiday like Valentines day. I'm loving your quick Idea videos, thank you so much :)

I like the results of this, pretty cool, I will have to try this in the summer with some flowers as well.

Thankyou for sharing

purchased your woodland wander kit it is beautiful, I hope I can do it justice, making a journal for a friend !

Fabulous video, Susan! Love the leaf prints and the wonderfully encouraging talk. Thank you xoxo

Very exciting Susan. That strip of fabric at the end came out well, very usable. I was especially excited by the results on fabric. tfs xoxo

Loving when things I have missed show up in my YT feed, Susan! Years ago, I bought my own rubber mallet just so I could pound leaves! It took me until a year or two ago to actually get it out. It was wonderful! I had to find something that wouldn't bounce when pounded on - the stair railing upstairs was perfect! LOL! I then realized that running leaves and flowers through my Big Shot had to be next. It was wonderful! I think pounding is more specific, while the Big Shot makes more juice, especially in certain flowers.

love these Susan, I could do some damage with a hammer, I know what i'm doing tomorrow lol ♥︎♡☆🦋 hugs Donna

Fascinating! I love learning new stuff! I like that focus on the fun! 😊💕

Leaf pounding is new to me, so a big THANK YOU!!! One thing my mom did Was forage four leaf clovers, then encase them in clear tape to add to letters she sent to a friend. I've expanded that to small leaves and flowers. Try it.

Hi Susan,wow what a wonderful idea,at first I was thinking ohhh I don't know if I can hit a poor little leaf with a hammer lol!but what fun and fantastic results you had,thank you for your share of inspiration,blessings and love Gabrielle xx

I can't believe how beautiful the ink from the leaves transferred!!! The page you created in the book is wonderful!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

O my. This so reminds me of art collage when I was thirty. I did so much like this. Loved it Susan. I was scan n cutting your leaves at the time lol. Loving the leaf sewing so much. Hugs xxx

This is so exciting, loving these results. I just might try this out in the spring, TFS Hugs and Smiles

You have stirred up something that I gave up on ages ago because it wasn't "perfect".... so here goes >>Marion

An interesting video and chat! I have always loved leaves and used them a bit in my art and with my students’s art, as well. Leaf pounding has been on my list for years! Ha! I’ll have to figure out how I’ll to do my leaf pounding in the middle of winter this week. I’m not on FB, but will continue to post on Instagram. TFS. 😃

Lovely! My wife and I made some faerie pages by pounding leaves onto heavy card, then doodled fae-looking things all around. I don't have photos to share because we swapped them long ago, but other than the noise, it sure was fun!

I did this one year with ferns. I pounded the fronds between two cotton handsewn "hankies" (for my Cotswold Morris Dance teammates). One side of the leaf always made a darker impression than the other side. Lots of flowers work, as well, but not every type of natural material works so it's a fun experiment. Now I'm wondering how lichen would work.

This is the most inspirational joyful idea of new year Susan! I'm going to get the hammer from hubby straight away. Lot's of snow outside where to get the leaves? Hugs!

❄️🌞❄️⛄️🇨🇦❤️

❤ How do you use the vinegar?

Hi Susan, I'm a first time viewer, and can honestly say I'm a leaf nut just kike you. I help teach art to the little kids in my church and am always trying to incorperate nature into their projects. I loved your discription of how life flows from the leaves right down through the trunk and into the soil and back into the atmosphere again. You got it girl. I'm sure glad I stumbbled accross your channel. I don't do junk journals,yet, but just about everything else. I'll keep watching to see what you come up with, you seem really sweet. God Bless,AnnLyn.

Do you think a brayer would work on the leaf or does it need to be a hammer ?

Susan, You exite me on this Monday morning. I will put it through my Sissix and let you know. But how will I get a photo to you?

thank you for this!! is there anything we can coat the fabric with, so the plant juice doesn't fade? hahah. make it "safe" :D