From a Pile of Clay to a Cottage Garden Treasure | Autumn Gatherings Tree with IOD
When we think of Fall, we immediately think of gorgeous colored fall leaves, happy pumpkins, baking, and yummy seasonal fruits. We also start to think about trees, but this one is a little different...and we love it!
Connie from The Painted Photographer captured that feeling perfectly in her gorgeous DIY Autumn Gatherings Tree. It's a textured fall piece built entirely from IOD moulds layered with the little treasures of the season. Pumpkins, acorns, leaves, and woodland details are tucked together from top to bottom, finished in a time-worn crackled white that brings out every tiny detail. The result looks like something discovered in an old cottage garden after years of changing seasons. We are completely in love. đ
Connie takes you from a pile of air dry clay castings to a cottage garden treasure. Pour yourself something warm and settle in.
What You'll Need
IOD Products Used:
đ¨ IOD Autumn Cottage Mould (Retired)
đ¨ IOD Hello Pumpkin Mould (Retired)
đ¨ IOD Sunflowers Mould
đ¨ IOD Oak Leaves and Acorns Mould
đ¨ IOD Air Dry Clay
Additional Supplies
⨠Styrofoam cone tree
⨠Cornstarch (for dusting moulds)
⨠Wood glue + brush
⨠Painter's knife
⨠Dark brown water-based paint
⨠Water mister
⨠Clear sealer
⨠Sweet Pickins Flour Sack Milk Paint
⨠Sweet Pickins Extra Bond
⨠Sweet Pickins Dark Oil Wax
⨠DIY Weathered Wood
⨠DIY Big Top
⨠Soft rag
Step 01 | Prepare Your Moulds
Before a single piece of clay goes into these moulds, Connie dusts each one with a little cornstarch. This is the step that makes everything else easier. Just a light dusting ensures the air dry clay releases more cleanly. Tip the mould over and give it a gentle shake to remove any excess before you begin pressing clay in. Simple and so worth doing. đ
If you're new to IOD moulds, save this note! Familiar already? Iykyk. đ¤
Step 02 | Cast Your Clay Pieces
Press your IOD Air Dry Clay firmly into each mould cavity, making sure it gets into all the fine details. Then, and this is the step that separates a good casting from a great one, drag your finger along the mould's micro rim to remove the excess clay and establish a clean, precise edge before releasing the casting.
That micro rim is one of our favorite IOD mould features for exactly this reason. It gives you a built-in guide for a crisp, professional edge to your moulding cast. đ
Work through all four moulds - the Autumn Cottage, Hello Pumpkin, Sunflowers, and Oak Leaves and Acorns - casting as many pieces as you need to cover your styrofoam cone from top to bottom.
NOTE: Autumn Cottage and Hello Pumpkin are retired IOD Moulds. However, you might still be able to find them at a stockist. Just head to our Stockist finder to learn more. Stockists can also recommend current IOD moulds that would be a great replacement.
Step 03 | Attach the Castings to the Tree
While the castings are still wet, apply wood glue thoroughly across the entire backside of each piece using a brush. Make sure to cover all the detailed edges so everything adheres securely to the styrofoam base, and then press each casting firmly into place and hold for a moment before moving on.
As you build up the layers, you'll find that some pieces overlap.
Here's Connie's clever solution for a seamless fit: position the overlapping piece over the surface and use a painter's knife to carve away any sections of clay that sit on top of an existing casting. This allows pieces to stack and layer naturally without any awkward bumps or gaps. It gives the finished tree that beautifully organic, gathered quality. đĽ°
Work your way around the entire cone, layering moulds from bottom to top, tucking pumpkins and acorns and leaves together until every inch of the styrofoam is covered with autumn detail. Step back frequently to check the composition as you go.
Step 04 | Apply the Dark Base Coat
Once all your castings are in place and the clay has dried, it is time to build the foundation of that gorgeous aged finish.
Apply a dark brown water-based paint over the entire tree, misting the surface lightly with water as you go to help the paint flow deeply into every crevice and detail. This dark base is the secret to the finished piece's depth, as it stays visible in all the low-lying recesses throughout every subsequent step, creating natural shadow and dimension that make the whole tree look authentically weathered.
Allow the piece to dry for a full 24 hours before moving on. We know. Patience is hard. But this step is worth every minute of the wait. đ
Step 05 | Seal the Base
Once the dark base coat is completely dry, apply a coat of clear sealer over the entire piece. This fixes the water-based paint in place so it doesn't lift or reactivate during the next steps. A quick but essential step that protects all that beautiful dark detail underneath. đ
Step 06 | Build the Crackle Finish
This is the step that transforms this tree from pretty to just darling. Plus, it is also a very satisfying technique to watch. đ
Apply a coat of water-based polymer topically over the raised surfaces of the castings, then, once dry, begin applying the milk paint. Focus the paint on the top details and raised areas rather than the recesses. The dark brown base coat should stay visible in all the low-lying areas throughout this process.
Apply multiple thin coats of milk paint, allowing each one to dry between applications. As it dries, natural crackling forms across the surface. The crackling creates that perfectly aged, time-worn quality that makes this piece look like it has been sitting in a cottage garden for decades. Resist the urge to over-apply. Let the crackle do its thing. đ
Step 07 | Enhance with Dark Wax
The final step! And the one that pulls every layer of this piece together into something truly delightful and charming.
Brush a dark oil wax generously over the raised surfaces of the tree, working it into all the crackle lines and fine details. Then wipe back the excess with a soft rag, leaving the wax settled into the crevices and crackle lines while the raised surfaces remain lighter.
The contrast this creates is breathtaking! We love the deep, rich shadows in the recesses against the soft crackled white of the raised details. Every leaf vein, every pumpkin ridge, every tiny acorn cap comes to life. đĽ°
The Finished Piece
Warm and whimsical, this tree is full of handmade character. The time it takes to layer each of those beautiful details on top of one another is well worth it. Style it among autumn leaves and pumpkins, and it looks like something discovered in a beloved old garden. Which is exactly the point. đ
IOD Products Used:
đ¨ IOD Autumn Cottage Mould (Retired)
đ¨ IOD Hello Pumpkin Mould (Retired)
đ¨ IOD Sunflowers Mould
đ¨ IOD Oak Leaves and Acorns Mould
đ¨ IOD Air Dry Clay
Additional Supplies
⨠Styrofoam cone tree
⨠Cornstarch
⨠Wood glue + brush
⨠Painter's knife
⨠Dark brown water-based paint
⨠Water mister
⨠Clear sealer
⨠Sweet Pickins Flour Sack Milk Paint
⨠Sweet Pickins Extra Bond
⨠Sweet Pickins Dark Oil Wax
⨠DIY Weathered Wood
⨠DIY Big Top
⨠Soft rag
Ready to make your own Autumn Gatherings Tree? Find your nearest IOD Stockist using the big red Where to Buy button on our website and grab your IOD moulds and Air Dry Clay before the season slips by. đ
New to IOD moulds? Our Product 101 pages are packed with beginner-friendly techniques to help you get the most out of every product.
Made your own Autumn Gatherings Tree? Please share it with the IOD Creative Tribe on Facebook. It is the most supportive community of makers on the internet, and we genuinely cannot wait to see yours. đ
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