Gift Ideas
DIY Autumn Leaf Garland
October 18, 2024 1 min read
As the autumn leaves reach their peak here in the Hudson Valley, we are reminded that this display of color is ephemeral. To hold onto each season a little longer, I love to save flora throughout the year and dry them in various ways. A simple way to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside is to make an autumn beeswax garland. This project is simple, smells lovely, and preserves the leaves for the rest of the season.
Supplies:
Dried leaves
Beeswax
Double boiler
Parchment paper
Twine
Step One: Collect autumn leaves. I collected most of these this past week on a hike with my family and the rest from our yard. I like to press them overnight (a flower press or a book works well) so they don't curl as they dry.
Step Two: I made a double boiler with a small pot of boiling water and a stainless steel bowl. This promotes slow and even melting. Once your wax is melted, dip your leaf in and out. Shake off any excess wax and put on parchment paper. If the leaf doesn't have a stem you can use tongs.
Step Three: Once cool, you can use small clothespins to line your leaves on a garland or poke a small hole in each leaf and string them through your twine. You can also save some to use on your autumn table.
You can pour any excess wax into a silicone mold to save for future use. While the bowl is still hot, you can wipe the rest of the wax off with a towel.
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