Beeswax pressed Leaves
This is a fun, frugal, and easy craft for kids that uses all-natural ingredients and showcases autumn’s beauty for months to come. This eco-friendly craft helps the whole family connect with nature and will quickly become a favorite fall activity. Make sure to have a grown-up assist
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
- An assortment of pretty fall leaves with the stems still attached
- Beeswax (either yellow or white, in block or pellet form)
- Double boiler with a bowl used only for crafts (not for food!)
- Parchment or wax paper
- Branch or rope for hanging
- String to attach the leaves
STEPS
- Gather fallen leaves. What you’re looking for is big, bold beauties with the stem still attached and a range of shapes and bold colors. Make sure you select a variety of different tree species, leaf sizes, and colors. While you’re at it, look for a nice gnarly branch, too. Clip any side twigs off your branch. Skip leaves that are crispy, torn, or curled; they won’t give you the results you’re looking for. Preserve them within a day or two of gathering or they may start to lose color.
- Press the leaves in a book for a few days to make sure they lie nice and flat; twenty-four to forty-eight hours should be sufficient, but they can stay pressed for a few weeks if you’re too busy to move onto Step 3.
- With an adult’s help, fill the bottom of a heavy pot with two cups of water and bring to a simmer. In a heatsafe bowl, melt 1/4 cup of beeswax over the simmering water, allowing it to become liquid but not to boil. If you’re using a block of beeswax, cut it into smaller pieces to help it melt more quickly. Because dripping wax can be very messy (and HOT), lay out a sheet of parchment or wax paper right beside your double boiler to place your leaves on after they are dipped. Now, gather your pressed leaves.
- Using tweezers or tongs to hold the stems, carefully dip leaves into the beeswax for a few seconds. Make sure both sides are completely coated and the entire leaf is submerged. Gently let the excess wax drip off, and place on the wax paper to dry.
- The leaves should dry completely in ten to fifteen minutes. When dry, attach string to the stems and tie them around the branch at different lengths. Alternatively, you can tie them to a rope to make a leaf garland.
Hang your branch on the wall, along a mantle, or above a window to enjoy nature’s colorful beauty from inside your home! The leaves will last for several months, retaining their color. Just be careful they aren’t exposed to a long amount of hot, direct sunlight as the wax may melt off.
