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.
Shop this post below.
These are affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children.
Don’t miss another post from @theworkspaceforchildren! Follow along on Instagram HERE.
Lizzie
Want to see more posts like this one?
The Play Plan is an ebook containing play invitations that are easy to set up, inexpensive, and apply children of all ages. The 25 play prompts are divided into five categories and use items that you most likely already have at home. These play prompts consider children of all ages, all developmental stages, and all learning capabilities. Each prompt can be tailored to fit your unique child’s needs. Play is meant to be simple.
Starting school is a huge milestone. It can bring up so many feelings for both child and parent. I have been on “all sides” of starting school. I taught preschool for many years, I have a Masters in education, and I’m a mom of three children who all approached starting school differently. I’ve been working with children and families for a very long time and one thing I know for sure is that starting school for the first time brings up a lot of feelings for everyone involved. Inside Ready Set School, I am going to walk you through all of the tips and strategies that I have used throughout the years. You don’t have to wing it. After Ready Set School, you and your child are going to feel as prepared and confident as possible for starting school.
Why Your Child's 'Difficult' Behavior Might Be Their Best Attempt to Communicate