On Dec 10, 1:28 pm, Nancy2 wrote:
Sorry to jump in here without any history in the group, but does
anyone know if the process to make leaves permanent (veins of real
leaves are made semi-transparent through a filigree process-they are
dipped in liquid metal and every leaf vein becomes visible) is one of
those dangerous-chemical-bath-metal-process things that the ordinary
lay crafter can't do at home?

If anyone has knowledge or experience of this process, I'd appreciate
some input here in this group. Thanks!

N.

I believe the "filigree process" is biological, i.e. rotting, (or
retting to sound fancy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retting )
I recall doing this as a child, we soaked leaves in water for some
time (don't remember how long, days certainly, maybe weeks, this not a
one afternoon project) then gently rubbed off the gunk. We stopped
there, but the leaf could them be coated with conductive coating and
plated like Leo said, (probably not a "lay crafter" project) or they
could be coated with a thin bodied "metallic" paint.