EDUstick® Creators Club
Leaf with its own vein network
Make a lightweight leaf with a stalk, a network of veins and colourful sections. The supplied pattern is about 11 × 6 cm. Learn to connect short strands to the edges of the sections, then choose your own green or autumn colours for the decoration.
Your outcome: Build a light, cohesive branching structure.
Illustration of the finished construction. Full-size (1:1) templates are supplied on a separate sheet.
Session 1 • stage 1/5
Main vein and stalk
Draw the main vein and stalk following W01. Add the two adjacent strands marked on the pattern so that the stalk has a wide base.
Check: The stalk and main vein form one continuous line.
If it does not work: Join the gap with a short strand of PLA.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Leaf with stalk · PLA
• template W01
On the clear mat, draw the stalk and main vein with three adjacent strands following W01, then add the side veins and outline. Make everything in one flat layer.
Draw the main vein and stalk
Leaf with stalk
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 2/5
Branches
Add three veins on the left side. Start each one on the main vein and draw it to the line of the future outline.
Make three veins on the right side in the same way.
Check: All six side veins reach the outline positions.
If it does not work: Extend a vein that is too short until it reaches the pattern line.
Add the right branches
Leaf with stalk
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 3/5
Leaf outline
Draw the left outline from the base of the leaf to the tip. Join the ends of the three veins as you go.
Draw back along the right edge from the tip to the base. Join the ends of the right-side veins as you go.
Check: The leaf has a closed outline and eight sections.
If it does not work: Fill in any gap in the outline or beside a vein.
Close the outline
Leaf with stalk
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 4/5
Fill one section
Choose a PLA colour. Add several short strands in the section between the two lower left veins. Start each strand on one edge of the section and draw it to the other edge.
Add more strands beside the previous ones until the whole section you chose has a colourful fill with small gaps.
Check: The fill stays between the veins and connects to the edges of the section.
If it does not work: Fill a missed spot with a short strand.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Yellow section fills · PLA
• template follow the written method
No separate pattern: fill the leaf's existing sections with short PLA strands in one layer. Join both ends of every strand to a vein or the outline. This material is added directly to the leaf.
Finish the example section
Yellow section fills
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 5/5
Your colours and decoration
Fill the remaining sections with similar strands. Choose green or autumn colours and arrange them in your own way. The example has yellow and orange sections with green veins. Wait until the work is completely cool. Use the leaf as a decoration.
Check: The strands connect to the edges of the sections. Your colour arrangement can be different from the example.
If it does not work: Add a short strand of PLA at the missing connection.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Orange section fills · PLA
• template follow the written method
No separate pattern: fill the leaf's existing sections with short PLA strands in one layer. Join both ends of every strand to a vein or the outline. This material is added directly to the leaf.
Give the leaf your own colours
Orange section fills · Yellow section fills
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.