How to Preserve Autumn Leaves

Old Fashioned and Modern Ways of Preserving Autumn Leaves Children love to collect colourful autumn leaves; here are some suggestions on how they might save and preserve their autumn collection. Collect fresh, colourful leaves; this can be a fun autumn activity with the children. Preserving Leaves the Old Fashioned Way: Press the Leaves Dry the leaves carefully but don't let them get too dry otherwise they will crack and crumble. Place the leaves between the pages of a large, heavy book or between sheets of blank newsprint then 'press' them by standing other heavy books on top. It should take about a week for the leaves to dry. When the leaves have been pressed, use Artist Lacquer to spray them or glue them onto pretty card or stick them into an album. Iron the Leaves Place the autumn coloured leaf between two pieces of waxed paper, keep it as flat as possible. Cover it with a towel or cloth and then press with a warm iron. Remove the cloth and cut around the leaf leaving a narrow margin of wax paper around its edge or try peeling away the waxed paper to see the result. Use Beeswax Dip the leaves in melted beeswax. Dip each leaf in the wax until it is coated evenly all around then allow the wax to cool and solidify before putting the leaf down. Use Paraffin Single leaves can be preserved individually using paraffin. Warm the paraffin, dip the leaf into the melted paraffin. The coating of paraffin should be thin as a thick layer will dull the colour of the leaf. This method preserves the colour of the leaf indefinitely. Modern Methods Laminate the Leaves Once the leaves have been pressed, as above, arrange the leaves in a montage and try running them through a laminating machine. Be sure they're dry first or the lamination won't stick. Laminating also helps to bring out the colour in the leaves. Microwave the Leaves For this, use leaves that have not dried out. Arrange two or three leaves on top of paper towels and lay another towel over to cover them. Microwave for 30 to 180 seconds. Keep an eye on them and be careful as leaves that are cooked in the microwave for too long can catch fire. The drier the leaves, the less time they will need. You may need to experiment a bit with the timing. If leaves curl after taking them out of the microwave they've not been in long enough. Leaves that are burned at the edges when taking them out have obviously been in for too long! Let the leaves sit for a few days then finish by spraying an acrylic sealant on both sides of the leaf.