Sunday, October 20, 2013

Waxing Leaves


While the leaves are still falling and are fresh on the ground, why not gather some up and preserve their colors for a little while longer?

It is easy to do and just requires an iron and some wax paper.

I have been doing this for years but had forgotten about doing it this year until I went out in my front yard and started finding pretty colored leaves.

This is the perfect way to preserve their color and use them indoors for decorating. It is amazing how long the leaves stay fresh looking. I like to scatter them around like they have fallen from the sky, or make a thin cardboard wreath form and glue the leaves on it for an instant wreath.


Here's how to do it:


Lay your leaves on a wax paper on a surface that can be ironed on.


Cover it all with another piece of wax paper.


Set your iron on cotton with steam and iron over each leaf till the wax paper sticks a little. Turn it over and do the other side. The heat from the iron fills the air with that smokey leaf smell.


Peel the top layer off and there you have it...waxed leaves!


Do you see the shiny layer of wax on the leaves? That will preserve them until you are ready to decorate for the holidays!

Happy Fall!

AnnMarie : - )

I am linking up with these great blog parties!

Seasonal Sundays
Bouquet of Talent
Sweet & Savoury Sundays
The Weekend re-Treat
Marvelous Mondays
Amaze Me Monday
Fall Pinterest Link Up
Etsy Cottage Style
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Fluster's Creative Muster
What's It Wednesday
Be Inspired
Flashback Fridays
at

20 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 20, 2013 at 8:41 AM

    Always so clever!!! Love it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. allmylivesnowOctober 20, 2013 at 1:14 PM

    Wow, I remember preserving leaves this way as a child with my Grandmother. Brings back so many welcome memories. Thank you.
    Visiting from Let's Get Social Sunday.
    Following on Google+ and Pinterest.
    Barbara @ www.allmylivesnow.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. StephanieOctober 20, 2013 at 5:29 PM

    That is certainly easy! I will have to try this - thanks so much for sharing :) Hugs to you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. JenOctober 20, 2013 at 7:22 PM

    I'm so glad I clicked your link on Let's Get Social Sunday! I absolutely love your blog, and these leaves look gorgeous! I'm looking forward to reading your future posts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. annies homeOctober 21, 2013 at 6:00 AM

    love doing this in the fall as I take walks and choose just the perfect leaves
    come see what I shared at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gail @Purple Hues and MeOctober 21, 2013 at 6:20 AM

    Your leaves are very pretty! Wish I had known about waxing leaves. I bleached some last year since I wanted some light and airy for my white pumpkins. Should have waxed them to preserve the bleached shades.

    ReplyDelete
  7. EilisOctober 21, 2013 at 2:06 PM

    Great tutorial! I'd love it if you would link up to my Fall Pinterest Link Up:
    http://my-heart-lives-here.blogspot.com/2013/10/fall-pinterest-link-up.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jeannie MarieOctober 22, 2013 at 2:55 AM

    I remember doing this a lot, as a child and with my own kids. I pinned you from the Fall Pinterest Link Up

    ReplyDelete
  9. Julie NicholsOctober 22, 2013 at 6:12 AM

    I love how your leaves turned out and what an easy way to preserve their color.
    So Pretty!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. ~Lavender Dreamer~October 22, 2013 at 1:32 PM

    I haven't done that in years but they sure do shine. Thanks for a good idea that adds so much to our decorating. I like bringing things in from the outside...natural elements! Happy Fall!

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownOctober 22, 2013 at 3:55 PM

    What's that saying...Everything I learned for life was in Kindergarten.....
    Perfect and simply beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  12. yoncaOctober 23, 2013 at 5:23 AM

    I used to do this with my son when he was a kindergartener...Great tips for fall decoration. Following you via bloghop. Hope to see you at my place:) Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mary ElizabethOctober 23, 2013 at 9:22 AM

    How cute! I've never thought to wax leaves, but will have to add that to my fall bucket list! I'm stopping by from the Meet & Greet and am a new follower on Bloglovin.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 2justByouOctober 23, 2013 at 9:57 AM

    This is great to do with the kids too. We've done this and made Fall Collages (haven't done it recently, though). Thanks for the reminder on this how-to. It's been a long time, and it's something I'd love to re-visit and do this year.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your HomeOctober 24, 2013 at 9:19 PM

    We did this as kids, I had totally forgotten about it! Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yvonne @ StoneGableOctober 25, 2013 at 7:51 PM

    What a great idea! I remember that I did this as a child! Your leaves turned out beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  17. THE FARMHOUSE PORCHOctober 27, 2013 at 9:21 PM

    I did not know this!! You gave this art teacher an idea, thanks

    Linsey

    ReplyDelete
  18. Debra@CommonGroundOctober 29, 2013 at 9:18 AM

    thanks so much for reminding me of this. they're gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Diane | An Extraordinary DayOctober 30, 2013 at 3:18 PM

    I did this last year, but I was afraid to put my iron right on the waxed paper, so I used a thin cloth between the paper and my iron. Was your iron okay? As it is I had mixed results with some leaves curling with time.
    I've used floor wax in the past with success too. It made for some really shiny leaves. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Tea in the LibraryNovember 1, 2013 at 8:29 AM

    Great minds - I was just out in the yard picking up leaves this a.m. and thinking of this technique. A good project on a blustery fall day!

    ReplyDelete

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