Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Preserving Fall

I've been wanting to do this post for a week now but have hesitated because I found it on someone elses blog and I can't remember who's blog it was!  I am so sorry!  If it was you, please let me know so I may give credit where credit is due.  It was so much fun I just had to pass it on!

Go out and pick up some pretty leaves.

When will I learn NOT to take pictures
on my red counter top?
Please forgive me.

Next, using a double boiler
(or a make shift one like me)
and melt some paraffin.




Once it has melted,
carefully dip each leaf in the wax.
Hold it over the wax and let it drip.

Then place the dipped
leaves onto newspaper that has
been lined with wax paper.



A close up:





I will scatter them on my Thanksgiving Table
but for now,
they lay along my hutch.




If you try this,
I'd love to see what you do with them!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had not heard of preserving leaves this way but I love them! They are just gorgeous. Wishing you a fun day.

Donna said...

Pretty neat trick!!
Hope all is well with you!
hughugs

Scrappy Pink Corner said...

Really nice idea. Here in Miami we do not have leaves in those colors. We are lucky that we get a little bit and I mean a little bit of cold weather. We have to go out and buy these at our local Craft stores in order to have them. But thanks for sharing.
By the way, I love your red counter. The leaves look great on it.
ANA

Judy said...

How neat, it's too late for this year, but I'm going to file this away for next year tho.

Furry Bottoms said...

Wow, those look really pristine! How long does it usually hold?

Kathy said...

What a fun craft. Our leaves are just now beginning to turn so it's perfect for us here in the warmer climates (sometimes our leaves are still turning in December!).

Paula said...

Wow thats pretty.

Raindrops and Daisies said...

Hi Jill,

That is a lovely idea,
I will defintely try it next year.

Thanks for sharing.

x Fiona

TexWisGirl said...

very pretty! i like natural decorations.

Farm Girl said...

I have always wondered how to get leaves to last like that. They look very pretty.

My Blessed Serendipity Life said...

This is a wonderful idea Jill. They will look so pretty on your Thanksgiving table.

Danielle

EG CameraGirl said...

Very cool, Jill. It's too late to do it this year. Maybe I'll remember to do it next October.

Anonymous said...

I love this, Jill! They look so pretty on your hutch! I'd love to try this for myself.

mountain mama said...

great idea! the kids just rounded up some leaves today! how long do they look good for??

Becky said...

Wow Jill thanks for this.What a great idea.

Tiggeriffic said...

My grandson , Ben is coming over this evening. I have a parafin block on my shelf.. So guess what we will be doing ? I'm excited..THanks ~!~!
Have a great day~! ta ta for now from Iowa:)

Jenny Woolf said...

What a nice idea. And it's a great thing to do with kids.

Ellie said...

That's a great idea Jill, they look lovely.

Ashling said...

What a fantastic idea! So pretty!

Jackie said...

Next year I have Thanksgiving at my house, and I will be waxing my leaves, thanks Jill.

Michaele said...

Now that is neat! I hadn't heard of it before.

Kayla said...

I hadn't heard of ths before either....but what a pretty way to keep the colors around....especially for you in Minnesota!

Debbie said...

what a great idea!! i usually go outside, thanksgiving morning and pick them up off the ground and scatter them about on the table!!

i have also used leaves for "place cards".....writing names on the leaves with a gold scrapbooking pen.

in new jersey, the leaves in my backyard are just starting to turn so i always have colorfull leaves on the ground during the thanksgiving season.

Tammy said...

That's pretty cool. When we were kids, we ironed leaves between sheets of waxed paper to preserve them. This probably gives a nicer, thicker finish, though.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Interesting idea - I've never tried that before.

Unknown said...

We will save this trick for next year when we will be living in NH! Very cool idea!

My Mind's Eye said...

Well done!!
Very inexpensive but beautiful decorations!!
Hugs Madi and Mom

Kerri Farley said...

How fun!

Nancy said...

Very cool! I wonder if it would work with dried flowers? :)

Chatty Crone said...

I haven't seen it before so I think this is a great project and I am going to save it. sandie