To Make Leaves for Scale Miniature Cattails or Bullrushes
- Cut your paper to a size of 3 to 4 inches in length with the brush marks or veins running from top to bottom. If you are using raffia or colored paper ribbon, cut it into 3 to 4 inch lengths to help remind you how long your leaves should be.
- Cut Out the Scale Leaves Use sharp scissors to cut narrow s shaped curves from your paper with the veins you created by your brush strokes running up and down the length of the leaf. In dolls house (1:12) scale these leaves will be 3/32 inch at the base, gradually narrowing to a pointed tip. You will need 4 to six leaves for each cattail or bullrush. Cut the leaves various lengths, most of them should be the full size of the paper (3 - 4 inchs for 1:12 scale).
- Shape the leaves Use the end of a pair of tweezers, an embossing stylus, or a rounded toothpick on a piece of firm foam or an eraser, to draw a fine line or fold down the center of each leaf. This will cause the leaves to curl slightly. Be careful that you don't cut through the leaf.
- Glue the Leaves Fold the leaves at the base and glue them one at a time, 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch above the base of the stem, gluing one one one side of the wire, then another just below it on the other side, nesting the bases of the leaves inside each other as you glue. The piece of wire at the base will help you plant your cattail in your landscape.
