If you wish fall could last forever, well, you're in good company! It's Ree Drummond's favorite season, after all. And one of the most special aspects of autumn? All that glorious fall foliage. There's just something so remarkable about seeing trees explode in brilliant, vibrant colors all around you.
Which is why many people choose to bring that beauty inside their home, too! When decorating for fall, natural elements make for wonderful fall décor ideas. Seriously, there are so many fall leaf crafts to be made. Turn foliage into fall garland to decorate your mantel or use them in a fall wreath to spruce up your porch for the season. You can even mix a few branches with fall flowers to make a seasonal centerpiece.
And while you can collect leaves and leave them au naturel, they'll eventually wither and fade to brown. But similar to drying flowers, you can also preserve fall leaves. Keep their original yellow, orange, and red colors long after all the branches turn bare with these unbe-leaf-ably easy methods including pressing, microwaving, decoupage, and more.
So, read on to learn how to preserve fall leaves. Next time you find a few worthy of bringing home, they'll last all autumn long (and beyond!).
Press Leaves Under Books
No matter the method you choose, you'll first want to collect freshly fallen leaves that are bright, beautiful, and free of spots or tears. After you gather your favorites, take a page out of your childhood crafting days and press them in a book! To do this, you'll place the leaves between two sheets of paper and place them under a stack of books or between the pages of a heavy book. Leave them to press for about a week or until they're completely dry. This will help hold on to their color for months.
Sandwich Leaves in Wax Paper
Ever heard of a leaf sandwich? Okay, not really... but kinda! For this method, you'll simply sandwich your chosen leaves between two sheets of wax paper, then iron on high. Gently press the iron down for a few seconds before flipping over your "leaf sandwich" to do the same on the other side. You'll want to check your leaves and repeat if necessary until the wax paper has transferred onto them. Let the leaves cool, then use scissors to trim the wax paper close to the leaf edges (if desired). Now they're ready for decorating or crafting!
Laminate Leaves With Plastic
For shiny leaves through the season, all you have to do is break out the office supplies. Start by placing leaves between two sheets of lamination film, then just run the sheets through a laminator. Cut out the leaves, but be sure to leave a small border to ensure the seal remains intact.
Microwave Your Leaves
Quick and efficient, this option just utilizes a microwave to dry the leaves. You'll start by sandwiching the leaves between two paper towels and placing them in the microwave for 30 seconds. Check the leaves and repeat until they are dry but not burnt. If necessary, you'll want to continue microwaving in five-second bursts as leaves can scorch if they are left in the microwave for too long. Once the leaves are completely dry, spray them with an acrylic spray to preserve their color and texture.
Decoupage Your Leaves
Who doesn't love crafting with Mod Podge? Thankfully, you can use it on your leaves, too! Just paint a layer on one side of the leaf, let it dry, then paint the other side. You can also use the craft glue to decoupage your leaves to surfaces such as paper, glass, wood, and more. The Mod Podge will dry clear to create a shiny and sturdy seal!
Soak Leaves in Glycerin
It's time to give your fall foliage a glycerin bath! The first step is to mix two parts water with one part glycerin in a shallow dish. Next, you'll submerge the leaves completely in the solution and let them soak for three to six days. Last, let the leaves dry completely until they are soft, supple, and ready for all your decorating needs.
Dip Leaves in Wax
You can also keep your fall bounty looking bright and bold by dipping them into melted wax. Use a double boiler to melt beeswax or paraffin wax, but be sure you don't let it boil. Then, you'll hold the leaves by their stems and dip each one into the wax. Let the excess wax drip off before hanging them to dry.
Shop Leaf Preserving Supplies
Wax Paper Sheets
Laminating Plastic Sheets
Mod Podge
Beeswax Pellets
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
