Nature's imprints

It's autumn and a season for walks through the woods or the park collecting leaves – and for spending cool afternoons in the garden harvesting late vegetables. It's a time when we try to hang on to summer memories while we prepare for winter and – dare we say it – Christmas. This fall, use some of your natural finds as printing blocks and get a head start on your gift list. Designer Kathryn Lamb of Hudson, Que., explains how easy it is. Using a variety of leaves, flowers, feathers and even sliced vegetables she has printed an assortment of household accessories to keep at home or give away.

YOU NEED (FOR ALL PROJECTS):
•Rubber roller or brayer (optional)
•Soft-lead pencil
•Artist's paintbrushes: 1 pointed round, for inks and watercolours, and 2 flat-edge brushes, 1/2-in and 1 in wide, for thick pigments such as acrylic paints
•Bond paper (to keep fingers clean)

DESIGNER'S TIPS:
•Print with natural articles, such as leaves, flowers, seedpods, sliced or halved vegetables, feathers, shells.
•Articles to be used for printing should be clean and dry, with a relatively flat printing surface.
•Press leaves and flowers between telephone-book pages to dry, flatten or store. If they become brittle, rehydrate by sandwiching between 2 damp sheets of paper towel and pressing overnight under a flat, heavy object.
•Printing an article on various surfaces, such as paper, wood or fabric, yields different results; there are no perfect combinations.
•As a rule of thumb, print delicate articles (for example, fragile leaves and flowers) using thin media such as inks or watercolours and print sturdier articles (for example, halved firm vegetables) using thick pigments such as acrylic paints.
•Avoid printing onto heavily textured surfaces and synthetic fabrics.
•Design printing by placing individual articles, such as leaves, on surface to be printed until pleasing arrangement is achieved. If desired, mark placement with very light pencil line.
•Always test before final printing.
•Print flat articles using a rubber roller or brayer (available at craft supply stores), rolling pin or the heel of your hand to press and print article onto surface. Apply even pressure over entire surface, including edges.
•Print thick or uneven articles, such as halved vegetables, by omitting layer of bond paper and roller, and applying even pressure by hand.
•Cover work surface with plastic drop sheet or newsprint. Keep paper towels and containers of water ready for cleanups.