Preserving Fall Leaves

Currently in the Midwest, the leaves are beginning to peak with their gorgeous fall colors. Every year I always find myself wishing I could "bottle up" the magnificent color to enjoy all year. Recently I found a tutorial from Martha Stewart on preserving leaves, and I knew I wanted to give it a try and include the outcome in my Project Life album. So, today I am going to share with you how I was able to preserve fall leaves!

First you will need some Bleached Beeswax. I used this brand by Enkaustikos, and purchased it through Amazon. Likely, you will be able to find some bleached beeswax at your local large craft store.

I placed 5-6 tablespoons of the Beeswax in a small sauce pan and very carefully heated it on low heat. (do not allow to boil).

Next you will dip the leaves in the melted wax by holding on to the stem. Coat the leaves with the wax and gently shake off the excess wax.

I placed the leaves on a sheet of tin-foil to dry. I would suggest hanging the leaves, as I experienced a few leaves sticking to the foil. I discarded the hot wax in a canning jar (do not pour down the drain).

The leaves will dry with a wax-y coat to it-- perfect for preserving it's color and shape. I tried this technique about 10 days ago, and the color still looks as bright as the day it fell from the tree.

Good luck and have fun preserving the gorgeous fall leaves!