The beauty of autumn leaves can be enjoyed not only in autumn. Some drying methods may cause leaves to lose or change color. However, there are numerous ways to help maintain color and shape. for a long time. After reading this article, you will learn how to dry autumn leaves so that they will delight you in the cold season, when the trees outside are bare and unsightly.

Steps

Decoupage

Select bright leaves. Collect freshly fallen, bright and sufficient soft leaves. The leaves may be slightly dry, but not to the point where they break or curl at the sides. Choose whole leaves. Avoid torn or slightly damaged leaves.

Cover the leaves with adhesive on both sides. For decoupage, a white adhesive is used, which becomes invisible when dried. You can purchase the adhesive at a store that sells art and craft supplies. Use a sponge brush to apply the adhesive. Place the leaves on a sheet of newspaper to dry.

• In most cases, decoupage should be done on the same day that the leaves were collected. If you put it off, the leaves will dry out, turn brown and become brittle.
• If the leaves are very wet or if you picked them straight from the tree without waiting for them to fall, they should be dried for a few days. To do this, place the leaves inside a large book.

1. Wait until the adhesive is completely dry. It should not stick to your fingers. It should also become completely transparent on the leaves.

   Repeat on the other side. Turn the leaves over to the other side and apply adhesive to them. When the second side is dry, the leaves are ready to use. This method allows the color and shape of the leaves to be preserved for a long period of time.

   Using paraffin wax

   1. Take fresh leaves. Collect freshly fallen bright leaves. Coating with paraffin wax will give the leaves a beautiful shine. Dry each sheet by wiping it with a paper towel before moving on to the next step.

      Melt paraffin wax into disposable tableware. 450 g of paraffin wax should be melted in a disposable container, heating it over low heat.

      • To melt paraffin wax faster, cut it into large pieces and distribute them evenly across the bottom of a disposable container.
      • If you don't have a disposable container for melting paraffin wax, use a cake pan that you don't plan to use anymore for cooking. Wax can ruin the shape, so don't use the same pan you cook in.

   2. Remove the melted wax from the stove. Be very careful as the melted wax is very hot. Place it carefully on your desktop. Be careful not to tip the wax container over. This is especially important to consider if you have animals or children in the house.

      Dip each leaf into the melted wax. Hold the leaf by the stem and dip it in wax several times. Make sure that both sides of the sheet are completely covered with wax. Do not put your fingers close to the hot wax to avoid getting burned. Repeat the above steps with the remaining leaves.

      Lay the leaves out to dry. Place each wax-coated sheet on wax paper and leave until the wax hardens. Let the leaves dry for several hours in a draft-free room. After the leaves are dry, they should be special effort removed from paper. Thanks to this method, the shape and color of the leaves are preserved for a very long time.

      • To be safe, cover your work table with newspaper before adding wax paper. This will prevent wax from getting on your workbench. If wax gets on the table, it will be very difficult to remove.

   Use of glycerin

   1. Select fresh leaves or a small sprig with leaves. If you want to dry a whole twig with autumn leaves, give preference to this method. Select a branch with leaves that are firmly attached to it.

      • This method may slightly change the color of the leaves. Yellows will become more saturated, reds and orange shades will become brighter.
      • If possible, look for already fallen twigs instead of plucking them from trees. Remember that such actions can harm the tree.
      • Do not take branches with diseased or frostbitten leaves. This method will not bring desired result, if the leaves have been caught by frost.

   2. Cut off the end of each branch. Hammer the end of each branch to reveal fresh wood. This should be done so that the branch absorbs glycerin better. Otherwise it will not reach the leaves.

      • If you want to dry only the leaves, without the twig, you can skip this step.

   3. Dilute the glycerin solution. It can be purchased at the store. To prepare the solution, mix 530 ml of liquid vegetable glycerin with 2 liters of water in a large container.

      • Glycerin is a natural substance obtained from plants. This leaf storage process is environmentally friendly.
      • If you want to dry the twigs with leaves, add four to five drops of dishwashing liquid. This will make it easier for glycerin to penetrate the wood. For the most best result Use colorless and odorless dishwashing liquid. Alternatively, you can use a liquid surfactant, which can be purchased at a hardware store.

   4. Place the branches with leaves in the solution for three to five days. The twigs and leaves will need to absorb the glycerin for three to five days. Place the container with the solution and twigs in dark place.

      Remove the twigs and leaves from the solution. The color of the leaves will become brighter. In addition, they will become more elastic. You can use the whole twig or individual leaves to make various fakes.

   Using a microwave oven

   Place fresh leaves between two paper towels. This good way dry leaves for fakes. However, be prepared for the leaf color to become duller. Place fresh leaves on a double layer of paper towel. Cover them with a single layer of towel.

   • Use freshly fallen leaves that still bend well. Avoid leaves that have curled ends, are torn, or have stains.
   • For best results, leave a little space between the leaves to prevent them from sticking together.

   1. Dry the leaves in the microwave. Place the leaves in the microwave and heat them for 30 seconds. After this, continue heating for 5 seconds.

      • Fall leaves usually need to be heated for 30 to 180 seconds before they become completely dry.
      • Be very careful when placing leaves in the microwave. If you leave them in the microwave for too long, they may catch fire.
      • If the leaves look burnt, you most likely microwaved them. If the leaves are curling at the edges, then in all likelihood they have not been in the microwave long enough.

   2. Leave the leaves overnight. Place the leaves in a dark, draft-free place and leave them for at least overnight and up to 2 days. If you notice that the leaves are starting to fade, they urgently need to be treated.

      Spray the leaves with acrylic spray. The leaves need to be processed on both sides. Wait for the leaves to dry. After this, they can be used to make fakes.

   Using the book

   Place the leaves between two sheets of paper. Unfortunately, you will not be able to preserve the color of the leaves using this method. Place the leaves between two sheets of construction paper.

   • Use thick paper for printing, not thin tracing paper. Otherwise, the leaves may leave stains.
   • Lay out the leaves in one layer. Do not stack leaves on top of each other, otherwise they may stick together.
   • Choose leaves that are in good condition. They should be freshly fallen and moist. Cuttings should not be dried out or twisted.

   1. Place a heavy book on the paper. So that on the book and on work surface there are no stains left, put paper napkins or toilet paper between a sheet of paper and a book. They will absorb moisture from the leaves.

      You can also dry the leaves directly in a book, but in this case you should only use an old book, which you won’t mind, as stains may remain. Place the leaves between the pages of the book. For best results, place each sheet at least 20 pages apart.

      • Use a telephone directory if you have one.
      • Place a heavy object on the book. This will cause the leaves to become flat and dry. You can use other books, bricks or any other heavy object.

   2. Check the condition of the leaves after a week. They must be dry. If they are still not dry, continue drying for several days.

   Using Wax Paper

   Choose fresh leaves. Use moist, bright and freshly fallen leaves. After the procedure, the leaves will become shiny.

   1. Dry the leaves. Place dry leaves between two paper towels. Place the leaves in a single layer, leaving some space between them. Iron each side with paper towels. Iron each side for 3-5 minutes.

      • Drying the leaves ahead of time will help them maintain their color and quality after covering the leaves with wax paper.
      • Do not use the steam function on the iron when drying leaves. The steam will return moisture to the leaves. Use the dry ironing function.
      • Feel the leaves after ironing them for 3 to 5 minutes. If the sheet is still not dry enough, iron it for a few more minutes on each side.

Autumn dresses the trees in gold and crimson clothes, covering the earth with carpets of incredible beauty. Orange, yellow, burgundy leaves, collected in bouquets, can enliven the interior of every home. They make great crafts. But how to preserve this beauty?

Leaves collected in the park quickly lose their chic appearance, wrinkle, darken, crumble at the slightest touch. Therefore, after a few days you have to throw them away. And I really want them to stay in the vase all winter. But these masterpieces of nature can be preserved if you use simple technology.

The easiest ways

I have always used three proven methods. With their help, you can save autumn leaves until spring. They are suitable for a herbarium, and for a bouquet, and for interesting crafts. You can even create paintings with their bright autumn leaves and decorate the walls of your home with them. These are the methods:

• dry the leaves in a book;
• use a microwave;
• apply material for decoupage.

Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. Now I will tell you more about them.

Drying in a book

Even a child can use this method. He will need an old thick book and beautiful autumn leaves. They can be picked up from the ground or torn directly from a tree. It is important that they are free of any defects - holes, rotting areas, tears.

It is better to take an old book that is no longer useful. The fact is that during the drying process the sheet releases the juice present in it, which stains the pages. You can also use a stack of last year's newspapers. You just need to make sure that they do not change their position while the leaf dries. Otherwise, it may become deformed or crumble into small pieces. The sheet must be placed between the pages. It is important that it is pressed down well. If this is not done, it may rot.

If there are no unnecessary books in the house, take any. Only in this case, place paper towels or napkins on the top and bottom of the leaf. They will absorb the juice that is released, and the pages of the book will remain clean. If you have several pieces of paper, arrange them so that there are at least 40 pages between them. Then they will not deform each other during the drying process. You need to wait 2-3 weeks.

This method is good for its simplicity. With its help you can dry any leaves that fit in the book. However, at the same time they become faded and not so beautiful. In addition, leaves dried in a book turn out to be very fragile. They break easily from a careless touch. They can be used for herbarium or creating applications. In a bouquet they do not look very impressive.

In the microwave

This method is also very simple. The good thing about it is that you can get the material for crafts in just a few minutes. A microwave comes in handy if a kindergarten or school suddenly requires you to bring a herbarium urgently.

Despite its apparent simplicity, there is no need to entrust a child with drying the leaves in this way. The fact is that the drying process should only take a couple of minutes. If the sheet is left in the oven, it will turn black and wrinkle. To a small child It is difficult to count the right time, so it is advisable that an adult do this work.

Before putting the leaves in the microwave, you need to remove moisture (if any) from them. You can dry several leaves at the same time in the oven. To prevent them from sticking together, do not place them next to each other. There should be a small distance between the sheets.

You need to place them on a paper towel folded in two layers. Cover the top with another layer of paper. Carefully place this structure in the microwave and turn on the device for 30 seconds. During this time, the leaf will not have time to become completely dry. Therefore, you will then need to turn on the oven several times for 5 seconds. The maximum amount of time a sheet should spend in the microwave is only 3 minutes. If you leave it too long, it may even catch fire. That is why such work must be done by an adult.

If you really need it, the leaves prepared in this way can be used immediately. However, it is better to give them a little more time for final drying. After microwaving, place them in a dark place overnight. It's even better if they dry for a day or two.

If you notice that the sheets are becoming faded, immediately treat them on both sides with acrylic spray.

Varnish for decoupage

This method is a little more complicated than the previous two, but an older child can also cope with it. To work you will need:

• beautiful leaves;
• sponge brush;
• decoupage varnish;
• unnecessary newspaper.

There is no need to take leaves that are too dry, because during the work they will curl in the corners and sides. A sponge brush and varnish can be purchased at a store that sells art supplies. Some craftsmen use PVA glue instead of varnish, but the result is much worse.

It is advisable to start processing on the day the leaves are collected. The work process is very simple. You need to carefully coat the leaves on one side with varnish and lay them out to dry. To do this, you can use not only newspaper, but also any other paper, for example, pieces of wallpaper left over after renovation.

When the varnish is completely dry, you need to apply it to the other side of the leaves and lay them out on the paper again. This technique allows you to completely preserve all the shades of autumn leaves and makes them more durable. Most often I save them this way. I like maple leaves. They are large, with carved edges, and have a long petiole. I make them up amazingly beautiful bouquets, which please the eye all winter.

We use wax

I recently learned that there are other ways to save autumn beauty. One of them is treating the leaves with wax. This method is also quite simple, but only adults should use it.

You need to prepare the following materials and items:

• leaves;
• an old frying pan or saucepan that you no longer use for cooking;
• candle;
• a sheet of wax paper (you can also use clothespins).

It is better to take a white candle, because colored wax will slightly change the shades of the leaves you collected. First you need to carefully sort through them, throw away all the torn and twisted ones. The rest need to be wiped off if they are wet.

Next you need to melt the wax. To speed up the process, the candle can be cut into pieces. Melt the wax not over a fire, but in a water bath. When it becomes liquid, you need to take the leaf by the tip of the petiole and dip it in wax. It is recommended to do this 2-3 times to get a thicker layer.

Next, the leaf can be placed on wax paper or hung by the petiole on a rope using a clothespin. You need to use waxed paper, because wax can stick to any other paper. This method allows you to perfectly preserve all the shades of an autumn leaf.

We use wax paper

In this case, we don't need a candle. This method is not very complicated, but it requires attention. You need to prepare:

• beautiful leaves;
• scissors;
• iron;
• two sheets of wax paper of any color.

Leaves brought from the street should be carefully examined and wiped if there is moisture on them. After this preparation, place them between two sheets of wax paper and iron them.

From high temperature the wax on the paper will melt and stick to your leaves. The steam function cannot be turned on. Hold hot iron on the piece of paper should be no more than 3-5 minutes on one side and the same on the other.

After ironing for 5 minutes, try the sheet. If it is not completely dry yet, repeat the procedure again. When the wax on the leaf hardens, you need to take scissors and carefully trim off all excess.

We use glycerin

This method seemed to me the longest, but it helps to preserve not only individual leaves, but also entire branches. Of course, there is no need to break the tree. Often twigs remain after autumn pruning. Sometimes they fall from the trees on their own. The leaves on the branch should hold very tightly.

You need to prepare:

• glycerin - 530 ml;
• water - 2 liters;
• leaves;
• hammer;
• dishwashing liquid (it should be odorless and colorless);
• deep container.

Glycerin needs to be diluted with water, add a few drops to the solution detergent. Some craftsmen advise putting the twigs in water for several hours. However, you can do without this.

Their edges must be beaten with a hammer so that the liquid can easily reach the leaves. Now you need to immerse the twig in the solution for a period of 3 to 5 days. During this time, the leaves should be saturated with glycerin. After 5 days, the twig can be removed from the solution, allowed to dry and used for further creativity. This method not only preserves the color of the leaves, but also makes them more saturated, bright, and beautiful.

Choose the method you like and create with pleasure.

The shape of a maple leaf is easily recognizable. It can be seen on the Canadian flag, and indeed, there are hardly people in Russia who cannot imagine it. Maples are very beautiful in autumn: their leaves acquire beautiful colour, they smell somehow special. Children and adults collect them into beautiful yellow-orange bouquets, which, perhaps, can be called symbols of golden autumn.

But they don’t last very long in this form. How to extend their life? And what else can you do with them? In fact, there are a lot of options. First of all, you need to choose correct leaves: they should be fairly fresh, the process of rotting should not yet begin in them. Having collected a sufficient amount, you can think about how to preserve them. The most popular way is to iron them through sheets of newspaper. This will help remove from the leaves excess moisture and prevent rotting. But this measure may somewhat spoil their beautiful color. Another one wide known method- invest Maple leaves in the book for a while; it will not harm it if you line the blanks for the herbarium with newspaper. But you will have to wait a couple of months for the results to be good.

So what can you do with dried leaves? Firstly, the same bouquet, which will last much longer, especially if you cover it special composition, which is used by florists.

Secondly, they can be used for applications, herbariums and similar crafts. Some even make beautiful roses out of them by rolling in a special way several leaves around each other. Such flowers can be coated with paint and made into wonderful Christmas tree decorations, especially since handmade is now very much appreciated, especially if it is such an exclusive item.

In addition to the decorative function, maple leaves can serve as medicine, they are quite widely used in folk recipes. Thus, they are believed to have wound-healing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties, and

can also serve as an antiemetic, diuretic, and antipyretic. There is even an opinion that the maple leaf has an analgesic effect. However, it is better not to use such drugs without consulting a doctor, since only a professional can choose the right medications for the patient.

By the way, not all maples have the same leaf shape, but there are about 160 species in this genus. The number of their lobes varies; they can be round or more

elongated. But almost all nations in one way or another revere these trees; they have a place in the famous Japanese gardens, maple leaves inspire poets and composers to create poems and songs.

In addition, it is valuable wood and an excellent honey plant. In Canada, of which it is a symbol, it has been used for a very long time and added to desserts. This is how great the significance of this tree is for a person. Regardless of how useful and practical the maple is, it is simply beautiful, and its leaves can long remind romantic people of warm autumn days and the people who were nearby.

There is a way, and more than one, to preserve flowers almost in their original form. We are talking about preserving flowers in glycerin, gelatin and, of course, salt. What kind of canning can do without salt! The latter method is only suitable for compositions in closed vessels and does not involve removing the flower from the solution.

Let me note right away that flowers in gelatin and glycerin remain just as flexible and only change color slightly. They become more faded. If you want a truly magical result, don't wait. And as soon as you receive a bouquet as a gift, select a few flowers for canning. The only “but” is that foliage that is too young cannot be preserved with glycerin.

It is better to take dense, not too young flowers. Oddly enough, too young foliage cannot be preserved with glycerin. It is better to remove excess leaves immediately. Carefully examine the flower you decided to preserve. If you see damaged petals and leaves on it, then it is better not to use such a flower. The stem must be cut diagonally, remove the skin or bark (if it is a twig of lilac or apple tree, for example) approximately 7 cm from the bottom and split it. This is necessary so that the solution penetrates better into the flower.

Glycerin is diluted with water in the ratio: 1 part glycerin to 2 parts hot water. The resulting liquid is poured into a jar, vase, or any other beautiful vessel to a height of approximately 20 cm and placed in a cool, dark place. Penetrating into the leaves, glycerin absorbs their liquid and replaces the moisture evaporating from the leaves and stems with glycerin. The liquid level must be maintained, therefore, as it dries, the solution must be topped up. This only applies to open containers.

In closed vessels, the level remains virtually unchanged. It takes from two weeks to two months to completely soak, depending on the size and thickness of the stems. But the result obtained is worthy of admiration! For this reason, it is worth being patient and waiting. Plants preserved in this way retain their elasticity and flexibility and do not require special care; they can be wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust.

It takes from two weeks to two months for complete saturation, but the result is certainly amazing!

You can also preserve individual leaves. It takes much less time from 2 to 3 weeks. But you also need to take into account some features. Fern leaves, for example, release milky sap after cutting, which can clog moisture-conducting channels in the stem. In this case, the end of the stem should be held over the flame until it darkens.

Glycerin only guarantees us the preservation of the flower’s shape. But you can “conjure” the color yourself.

In order to give plants the required color, you need to feed the plants with artificial water-soluble dyes, adding them to a glycerin solution. You can use brilliant green, acrylic, oil, silver, colored transparent varnishes, now craft stores provide us with a large assortment of similar products.

It happens that plants were unsuccessfully preserved and white oxidized spots formed on them, which spoil the appearance of our plants. You can correct the situation by bleaching the plants for a couple of days in the following solution:

1. Water 500g.
2. Denatured alcohol 160g.
3. Acetone 160g.
4. Oxalic acid 50g.
5. Acetic acid 99% -10g.
6. Sodium bisulfate 120g.

Flowers in decorative bottles.

The beauty of these decorative bottles is difficult to put into words. And even a photograph cannot fully convey to you their brightness and tenderness.

To create a composition you need transparent bottle beautiful shape. It must be washed well and disinfected with boiling water. Plants can be planted immediately by splitting the stem and filled with a solution of glycerin and water in a 1:2 ratio. For better effect Before putting the plants in the bottle, you can put them in such a solution for several days so that they are saturated with it. Then you put the flowers in the bottle, carefully straighten them with chopsticks, carefully fill them with the solution and seal the neck hermetically. The neck can be additionally decorated with twine, ribbon or filled with sealing wax

Fresh roses or petals, dahlias, lilies, chrysanthemums, etc. are well suited for decorating bottles. At the same time, you can put shells, beads strung on a thread, small figurines, and beautiful buttons in the bottle. Fresh flowers can be replaced with artificial ones.

Another reliable preservative is a strong solution of gelatin with sugar, approximately 1/1. You can also use a very strong saline solution.

Flowers should not be placed tightly in a bottle or jar; they should seem to hang inside the vessel. The compositions inside the bottle can be different, but sometimes one flower is enough.

Method with salt.
It is necessary to cut off the rose buds that are ready to bloom so that the flowers have a stem left. Salt heated in a cast iron frying pan until it turns into a very fine dry powder. Afterwards, you need to take a tin box and pour a layer of already calcined salt onto the bottom. The buds need to be placed on the salt, but in such a way that they do not touch each other under any circumstances. The buds are filled to the top with salt, after which the box must be hermetically sealed. When needed fresh flowers, the roses should be taken out of the box, carefully cleaned of salt, slightly trimmed the stem and placed in water. They will come to life and bloom. You can do it another way: pour in cardboard box calcined salt, put the flowers there, cover them with the same salt, then close the lid, put the box in a plastic bag and put it in a cool place. In this case, when fresh flowers are needed, you need to take the plants out of the box and put them in a bath or bucket of water for 2 hours. warm water for two hours.

DIY wax autumn leaves step by step with photos

Natural material This is an interesting thing, but short-lived. After some time, the moisture from the collected leaves evaporates, they become brittle and fragile, and lose color. How to prolong life and decorative look? You can make wax autumn leaves that retain their shape and color for a long time.
Description of material: The master class will be useful for high school students, teachers, and parents.
Purpose: room decoration, decorative bouquets.
Target: creating a decorative bouquet.
Tasks:
- develop creative abilities
- cultivate accuracy and perseverance
For work we will need:
1.Fresh autumn leaves.
2. Candles (the most common white candles).
3.Baking paper or foil (we will place the leaves on it to dry).
4. The saucepan and container for the water bath are preferably wide so that your largest leaves can easily fit into it.
5. Stove, kitchen.

The process itself is as follows:
1. Melt the candles in a water bath. (Amount so that you can freely dip the leaf, approximately 1.5-2 cm from the bottom of the container.) As soon as the wax has melted, reduce the heat to low to maintain heat.

2. Spread baking paper or foil near the stove - the leaves will dry on it so that they do not stick to the surface. The distance from the stove to the foil should be minimal; ideally, cover the edge of the stove, otherwise you will need to scrape off drops of wax for a long time.
3. When the wax becomes liquid, dip the leaf into it, turn it over so that the wax covers it on both sides, 5-7 seconds will be enough.

Take it out and let the beads of wax drip directly over the pan. To do this, first hold it for 6 seconds with the tips down, then, if it is tight, turn it a little to completely cut off all the drops and so that no accumulated wax remains on the tips.

Then quickly place the sheet face up on foil or baking paper. The sheet dries quickly - in about 1 minute. After a couple of minutes, the leaves can already be used for work. Foil or baking paper must be periodically cleaned of wax drops, or a new one must be placed so that the drops do not stick to the leaves. When you put the sheet to dry, a small drop may remain on the tip and extend beyond it - after drying, this drop can be easily removed manually with a knife or fingers, but so as not to damage the entire coating of the sheet.

If a child will participate in the process, then he must be at least 7 years old, and then he can dip the leaves into the wax himself, but only with a long petiole and after a thorough explanation of how hot the wax is. As soon as the child is tired, let him become a spectator. But in general, although this activity is interesting, it is not for kids.