Prepare the Paper for the Miniature Cattail Leaves
If you will be using paper ribbon or raffia you can skip this step
First find the grain of the paper. This will help your paper curl correctly.
- Hold the paper so it droops over the edge of the table, note how far it droops.
- Turn the paper 90 degrees and hold a similar amount of paper over the table edge.
- The direction where the paper droops the most, will have the paper grain lined up with the edge of the table. You usually want to paint your paper in the direction of the grain for plant leaves.
Paint the Paper
- Use your stiff brush to apply an undercoat of medium green paint brushing along the grain of the paper. You want to see some raised strokes which will create the effect of veins on the leaves.
- If you are making older cattails, brush a second coat of lighter, yellow green paint, over the first coat before the first coat is completely dry. This will create the effect of more weathered, older leaves. Don't worry if the second coat pulls some of the first coat away. This will add to the effect of natural leaves.
Prepare the Cattail Stem
Cut lengths of wire the correct size for the scale of cattail you are making. Cattails are usually from 3 to 5 feet tall. In 1:12 dolls house scale you will need lengths of wire cut to 3 - 5 inch lengths. Use a toothpick or palette knife to apply a band of thick glue just down form the top of your wire. In dolls house scale it will need to start 1/4 inch below the tip of the wire, and be a glue band approximately 1/2 inch across to represent a 6 inch cattail. If your glue is thin, let it sit for a while and thicken before you apply the glue band to the wire. You want the glue to stay and harden in one place, not drip down the wire.
Set the paper and glued wires aside to dry, paint the second side of the paper when the first is completely dry.
