Take one beautiful autumn day (see post below) and a few kids, then go and find a bunch of pretty leaves like these:
Bring them home and sort out the nicest of the bunch. Make sure they are all dry.
Now melt some beeswax in a double-boiler. I just melted down a bunch of old candle stubs. If I'd had it on hand, I would have added a drop or two of cinnamon oil.
When it is thoroughly melted, take the leaves by the stem and immerse them, one at a time, in the wax. Hold them over the pot to drip a bit, then lay them on waxed paper. Continue until you have a nice assortment.
Okay, so now you have a pile of gorgeous leaves. What are you going to do with them? You can 1)use them in a floral arrangement; 2) wire them to wreath; 3) display them in a nice wood or pottery bowl or 4) if you're insane like me, go half-blind stringing them with invisible nylon thread and hang them from the ceiling, thus:
Bring them home and sort out the nicest of the bunch. Make sure they are all dry.
Now melt some beeswax in a double-boiler. I just melted down a bunch of old candle stubs. If I'd had it on hand, I would have added a drop or two of cinnamon oil.
When it is thoroughly melted, take the leaves by the stem and immerse them, one at a time, in the wax. Hold them over the pot to drip a bit, then lay them on waxed paper. Continue until you have a nice assortment.
Okay, so now you have a pile of gorgeous leaves. What are you going to do with them? You can 1)use them in a floral arrangement; 2) wire them to wreath; 3) display them in a nice wood or pottery bowl or 4) if you're insane like me, go half-blind stringing them with invisible nylon thread and hang them from the ceiling, thus:
You rock!
ReplyDeleteI just love the fall leaves and your ceiling idea just keeps it all alive...
Oh, so pretty.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I can get someone to mail me some leaves - everything is green and blooming here. It's balmy in the 70s still!
We just picked our first polka dot leaf (a la 5 Orange Potatoes). This would be a great way of preserving it!
ReplyDeleteJust came across this post. I recently covered some leaves with beeswax, but they all turned brown the next day. Any tips? They were all fresh and I'm wondering if I should have dried/pressed them first. Yours have amazing colors!!
ReplyDeleteYou know, Elisabeth, I had that problem with the leaves I did this year, and I'm not sure why. I don't dry them, but last year I may have pressed them just overnight because I didn't have time to dip them that day. I wonder if that made the difference...
ReplyDeleteDoes the beeswax preserve them? Would it crack easily?
ReplyDeleteLOVE the idea of hanging them from the ceiling! I REALLY love fall leaves!
Well Kate, I think the colors are better preserved if the leaves are pressed overnight. I think that taking some of the moisture out of them helps. But they do turn brown over time. As for cracking, they can, but not really easily...they are much, much sturdier than than mere pressed leaves.
ReplyDeleteWe used to place leaves between 2 sheets of waxed paper, and iron (low heat). Same effect - easier!!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of hanging them up in a room. I would love to surprise my mom by putting leaves all over her room ceiling.
ReplyDeleteI am a retired M.D. living in a senior facility & exploring "eggshell mosaics". I am also a Roman Catholic. I am moved by your expression of faith, your obvious love of family, and devotion to crafts. I learned from your web page. Thank you & may God bless you and your family!
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