How to Preserve Leaves

Autumn leaves are beautiful on trees, and can add beauty to you interior autumn decor as well. Would you like to know how to preserve leaves? This page will teach you how to save leaves so you can enjoy their beauty after the trees are bare.

Cement Leaves

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Cement Leaves

source: www.youtube.com

This video describes how to preserve leaves in cement as a project to beautify your garden. You'll need a mix of cement and sand that is blended to a smooth consistency, similar to frosting. Smooth leaves such as hosta or hydrangea are easier to work with than fuzzy leaves. The expert suggests starting with a small project, until you are comfortable with the technique.

Introduction

There are several methods you can use to preserve autumn leaves, depending on how long you'd like to keep them. You can dry them, fix them in waxed paper, or preserve them with glycerin.

Step 1: Dry The Leaves

What You Need to Dry Leaves

Autumn leaves
Microwave oven
White paper towels

How to Dry Leaves

Place the leaves between two paper towels, making sure that no leaves are touching.
Microwave on low from between 30-100 seconds, watching carefully to ensure they don't burn.
Remove from microwave and allow to cool.

Step 2: Iron the Leaves

What You Need

Autumn leaves
Waxed paper
Scissors
Iron
Ironing board or flat surface
Linen or cotton dish towel

How to Iron Leaves

Place the leave between two pieces of waxed paper.
Cover with a thin linen or cotton dish towel.
Preheat the iron to the low or delicate setting.
Keeping the iron moving constantly, press the two pieces of waxed paper together, making sure to get a good seal around the edges of the leaf.
Cool.
Trim around the leaf, making sure not to cut too close to the leaf edge, as you want to preserve the seal.

Step 3: Soak the Leaves in Glycerin

What You Need

4 cups water
2 cups glycerin
Autumn leaves
9 x 13 pan

How to Soak Leaves

Combine the glycerin and water.
Place leaves in 9x13 pan.
Pour glycerin and water mixture into pan, making sure leaves are completely submerged.
Soak leaves in glycerin mixture for four to six days.