How to Preserve Autumn Leaves for a Fall Garland
/How to Preserve Autumn Leaves in Beeswax for a Fall Garland
Go out for a walk with the kids to gather some fall leaves. Look for different shapes and colors and get a good variety. Collect them on the day you are ready to dip them. Fresh leaves will be best!
Meltdown the beeswax.
There are a few different ways to do this.
You can use a double boiler. You will need to use a bowl that you don’t mind ruining because it is really, really difficult to get the wax off the bowl.
We use a chocolate melter. I find it easier than the double boiler method and it stays warm and liquid the whole time. This chocolate melter is reserved just for wax. In fact, we just let the leftover wax harden in the melter and put it away for next time.
Lazy or Brilliant? You decide.
Dip the leaves in the wax. Hold them from the tip of the stem. Dip once and pull up slowly. Let the excess drip off into the pot. Then, dip them into a bowl of very cold water right away. The cold water will set the wax and help it dry evenly.
Lay leaves flat on waxed or parchment paper to dry. It only takes a few moments to harden and dry.
Using thin craft wire, wrap the stems and attach to make a garland. In years past, we hung the leaves from a stick. One year we taped the leaves directly up to the window.
Hang the leaves in a sunny spot. The sun looks like a fiery sunset when it shines through the leaves!
This project is best for five and over.
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Lizzie
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Looking for some simple, engaging outdoor activities to bridge the post-nap to dinner gap?