One-Step Autumn Leaf Preservation Trick
Last fall I was a baby blogger with very few readers. I thought I’d re-post one of my favorite fall tips:
Autumn is my favorite season. I anticipate it on those 95 degree summer days (that I just can’t stand) and look forward all year to the colors, the cool temperatures, the pumpkins, the crisp juicy apples, the crunching leaves–all of it. I love it ALL. Today I’m going to share a “trick” I stumbled on a while back.
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| Preserved Leaves |
You’re going to smile when you find out what the trick is–it’s so simple and yet so wonderful! I discovered several years ago that you can dip your dried leaves into hot paraffin wax and they not only look beautiful, they last indefinitely. Yep, that’s right, wax.
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| Dried, unpreserved leaves |
The first step, of course, is to collect and thoroughly dry a nice collection of leaves. I dry mine in my 4″ phone book, weighed down with another heavy book. They come out looking like the above.
Dig out an old metal coffee can, if you can find one(!) and some ordinary paraffin wax (as you can see, I bought mine at a garage sale for 25¢).
Place your wax in the can and then your can in a pan of water. I used just 1/4 pound to start out. Turn on the flame and melt the wax.
Then start dipping! Insert your leaf into the can, being careful not to break off any of the edges. I tilted the can inside the pan to get better coverage. Gently shake your leaf to remove excess wax; then place your leaf on a piece of parchment (or wax) paper to dry.They don’t take very long to dry, and before you know it you’ll have a nice collection of preserved leaves. I store mine flat in a box and they’ve lasted for years.
Diana this is a great idea! Thanks for sharing at TTF!
Thanks Linda–sweet of you to let me know:)
Diana, I remember doing this when I was a kid and had totally forgotten about it! Thanks for the reminder and for the perfect tutorial for Fall! I am featuring this post over on my TTG FB page today! I hope you will stop by and like the page! https://www.facebook.com/thethriftygroove
Awesome Diann–thanks so much! I'm honored 🙂 Just checked out your fb page and liked it.
Oh this is just fantastic!!! I absolutely love fall and this is such a pretty way to display leaves! Thanks for sharing this one Diana!!! Happy end of the week to you! Nicole xo
Thanks Diana for sharing this great tip. We don't get many pretty fall leaves around here, but I do remember other places we lived and I would place them between two pieces of wax paper and iron them, melting the wax to preserve them. I would like your method much better in that you can get more wax on them.
Blessings,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Thanks for sharing this tip. I have some gorgeous leaves that I dried from last year. I hung them from twine for a garland in my living room. I took them down today to decorate for Halloween and I was wishing I could make them last. Now I know I can!
hugs,
Jann
Hi Diana, I am new to your blog I love it. You have such great ideas. I heard about you on My Thrift Store Addiction and headed right over. I am a new blogger and I have a lot to learn so your blog is a great one for me. Thanks so much! ((HUGS)) Jo
I do this every year but with an iron. You put leaves between two pieces of wax paper and iron. Peel off and they're done! I love the look of real leaves around the house for decorating!
i like this idea, but doesn't it clog up the iron?
What a great idea and thanks so much for the tutorial! Have a nice fall weekend and I hope you are feeling better.
Julie
That's a wonderful tip! I look forward to Fall all year long too.
Bonnie @ Our Secondhand House
great idea for Fall. thanks for the tip.
I can’t wait to try this for a cousin of mine. She moved to NC an misses out on a special tree of her dad cared for at her home place. I was on a walk yesterday a pickup a bunch of them and thought I’d do a craft or something special for her. And that when I came across this info. Thanks for the tip it will definitely be appreciated I know!!
You’re so welcome, Teresa! I know she’s going to just love them. They come out beautifully and last for a very long time 🙂 Have a great week–
I've never heard of that – great idea.
You're right…I love this tip!
A great tip! I remember using wax paper for this when I was young. If I remember correctly, there were layers — leaf, wax paper, towel, then iron.
I used to iron them in layers of waxed paper also. I have never tried dipping them. Pinning and sharing.
Diana, great tip and oh-so-lovely!
I LOVE this idea. Thanks so much for sharing Diana.
What a fun idea! They are beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing the tutorial, Diana!
I'm trying this! Love it! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
I am so glad I am going thru all of these great projects you have shared over the years. I too remember the ironing trick but I think dipping sounds like it will get better coverage. Fall is my favorite time of year too. I even got married outdoors in the fall. Pinning to keep this handy!