How to save and use maple leaves? How to save and creatively use autumn leaves.

Add to bookmarks:

Autumn leaves are the highlight of the season. Colorful leaves can be even more attractive than flowers. Be that as it may, in order to decorate the house with autumn foliage, you first have to compress or preserve them. Luckily, it's extremely easy and there are 4 basic ways to preserve and preserve the colors of autumn leaves.

Selecting Leaves to Save

Whichever method you choose, your leaves will show their best qualities if you follow the following guidelines when choosing them:

1. Choose leaves that are relatively flat and not curled.
2. Look for leaves that don't have spots or bumps.
3. Don't be afraid to use the leaves on different stages color changes.
4. Leaves with a low moisture content are best dried under pressure. More elastic leaves, like magnolia or rhododendron, are good candidates for glycerin or silica gel.
Choosing leaves to save is a fun activity for kids. And since they are closer to the ground, they often best review for selection.

Weight pressing is the easiest method to preserve autumn leaves.

Pressing autumn leaves under weight is the easiest way to preserve, but these leaves will not last as long as canned leaves. To dry the leaves with a press:

1. Choose relatively flat and thin leaves, with low moisture content.
2. Lay the leaves between sheets of newspaper or wax paper.
Then pick up a few of your heaviest books and move on to step two...

Weighting the leaves

To keep the leaves from curling, you need to apply considerable weight.

1. Put paper with leaves inside a thick book. You can also add some books or a rock on top to add weight.
2. Keep the book in a dry place and check back in about a week. Make sure the leaves are dry and not rotted. You will probably need to weight the leaves inside the book for another 1-2 weeks before they are completely dry and ready to use.

Tip: If you have denser leaves, soak them in a diluted fabric softening solution before drying. Or try to cover the surface thin layer vaseline.

Design Ideas:
. Scatter the pressed leaves on shelves or tablecloths.
. Make flower arrangements by filling a basket with your pressed leaves.
. Pressed leaves can be used for table decoration. Make an arrangement of leaves on a table or tablecloth and cover with a transparent cloth or cellophane on top.

Keeping the leaves in wax paper- great activity for kids

Perhaps this is one of the few activities when children are happy to pick up an iron.

1. Choose thin, low moisture leaves that have not yet begun to curl.
2. Make a "sandwich": Place the leaves between two sheets of wax paper.
3. Cover your ironing area with a piece old fabric, so that you do not stain it with wax.
4. Place your sandwich on top of the old fabric.
5. Cover your sandwich with another piece of old cloth.
6. Heat the iron to maximum, BUT do not use steam.
7. Slowly move the iron back and forth over the fabric. Don't press too hard at the beginning or you may move the leaves. Once the paper starts to seal, use full weight iron and hold it for 4-5 seconds on each spot.
8. Raise the rag to check if the wax paper has melted and sealed. The leaves will show up much better as the wax grows.
9. Let the sandwich cool, then cut out individual leaves. Leave a small edge around the leaves to keep the waxed paper sealed.
Such leaves can persist for several months.

Design Ideas:
. The waxed leaves are good for children to play with and can be assembled into collages to hang.
. Pin single moldings to curtains or glue to lampshades to create autumn mood.

Drying leaves in the microwave

Microwaves - excellent fast way save whatever. You can use the microwave alone, or you can speed up the process with silica gel, as discussed below.
1. Select leaves that are still fresh and moist. DO NOT use dried fallen leaves.
2. Make a sandwich by placing individual casts or flat sprigs with leaves between two paper towels.
3. Put the sandwich on a tray and place in the oven.
4. Turn on the microwave for 30 seconds and then check the leaves. The thicker or more moisture content the leaves, the longer it will take you.
5. If the leaves are still wet, continue to dry at 30 second intervals and check until the leaves are dry.

Warning: Leaves can catch fire, just like anything else that has been left in microwave oven on the long time. So keep watching. DO NOT wait for the leaves to crumble or curl. They can retain heat and continue to dry for a few seconds out of the microwave if you don't want them to dry out.

Application of Silica Gel to Preserve Autumn Leaves

Silica gel is a white, salt-like powder that you can find in small bags in shoes. Silica gel perfectly absorbs moisture and significantly speeds up the drying process. You can buy a pack of silica gel at any craft store, or you can collect and save the little packs you see everywhere.

1. Choose leaves that are still damp and pliable. Silica gel allows you to dry thicker leaves too.
2. Sprinkle silica gel about 2-3 cm into the bottom of the microwave dish.
3. Lay the leaves on top of the silica gel layer, leaving space between them and up to the edge of the dish.
4. Cover the leaves completely with another layer of silica gel.
5. Place the uncovered dish in the microwave and turn it on at medium power for about 2 minutes. It is very difficult to determine the specific time for drying, as it depends on the size of the dish, the number of leaves, the amount of silica gel and the power of your oven. It is better to periodically check the condition of the leaves at short intervals.
In my experience, 3-4 sheets on an 8 x 8 dish with 3-4 cups of silica gel takes about 2 minutes on medium power.
6. Let cool and remove the leaves.

Tip: Leaves will last longer if covered with an extra layer. acrylic resin.

Ideas for Use: These leaves are the same as the press-dried ones and can be strung or arranged for fall arrangements.

Using Glycerin to Preserve Leaves

Preserving the leaves with glycerin is the best way to keep them supple and they can stay that way for years. You can save individual leaves or even whole small twigs this way.

The most difficult part of the process is buying glycerin. Now glycerin is very hard to find. Sometimes it is found in stores on the shelves next to hand lotion. You will have to search. You can also ask in pharmacies.

To save individual leaves

1. On a flat tray, make a solution of one part glycerin and two parts water.
2. Place your leaves in the solution.
3. Cover your leaves with another dish so that they are completely in the solution, as shown below.

Leaves in glycerin solution

Setting a smaller dish on top of the leaves will help them soak well in the solution. And it also means that you can use less solution.

Start checking in 2-3 days. The leaves should become soft and plastic. If the leaves are still dry to the touch, leave them in the solution for another 2-3 days.

When they are saturated, remove them from the solution and wipe off the stains.

Preservation of small branches in a solution of glycerin:

1. Cut off small twigs with leaves and immediately immerse the stems in a container with warm water. Let them sit there for about 2 hours, away from direct sunlight.
2. Make a solution of 1 part glycerin with 2 parts water and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer it for 5-10 minutes over low heat.
3. Allow the solution to cool completely.
4. Remove the branches from the water container, and break their ends with a hammer in order to large surface could absorb the solution.
5. Put the branches in a solution with glycerin. Keep away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat until small dew drops appear on the leaves. This means that the leaves have absorbed all they can.
6. Remove the twigs and wipe the leaves.
7. Hang the branches upside down to dry.

Design Ideas: Glycerin leaves can be used in all kinds of creativity. They are especially well suited for wreaths and garlands, as well as table decorations, napkin rings and large dishes.

Preservation of pressed and canned leaves

No method will allow you to use leaves forever. Even leaves sealed in wax paper will eventually dry out and crumble. If you want to extend the existence of your masterpieces for a little longer, use a variety of floral preservatives.

And of course, next year there will be other leaves, and every year your skill and creativity will only develop.

This year, my daughter and I very thoroughly, like squirrels, stocked up on autumn leaves, and all kinds of nuts, acorns, and cones. The older the child becomes, the more interesting it is to make crafts from all this material - the daughter does more and more herself, and often we just do something nearby, mother - her own, child - her own. It's very nice to spend time like this. I already mentioned on FB that we made stamps from autumn leaves and apples - so addicted to it! And this fall for the first time made "wax" leaves - preserved leaves in stearin and wax. I had never tried this before and simply dried the leaves - in the open air, in the sand, or soaked in glycerin. I love floristry and I'm good at it. Now mastered new technology which we both love. It is not complicated at all and gives a very effective result. Now not all the leaves have flown around yet, and you can also try to make wax autumn leaves which retain their shape and color for a long time.

I don’t traditionally take pictures of a detailed master class, but I can describe everything in words. Let there be just a lot of photos of the result.

So we need:

1.Fresh autumn leaves (ideal - Maple leaves with petioles);
2. Natural wax or stearin candles (I have the most common white IKEA candles, you can use transparent candles or special sets for making candles. The final result depends on the type of wax - everything can be learned by experience.);
3. Baking paper or foil; (we will put leaves to dry on it);
4. A saucepan and a container for a water bath - better wide, so that your largest leaves can easily enter there;
5. A wooden board or dish, tray, baking sheet, where ready-made leaves will be temporarily stored and dried;
6. Stove, kitchen, free time and positive mood.

The process itself is:

1. Melt the wax or stearin in a water bath. (Amount - so that you can freely dip the leaf, about 1.5 -2 cm from the bottom of the container.) As soon as the wax has melted, reduce the heat to a minimum to maintain heat.

2. We 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 plate to the foil should be minimal, ideally cover the edge of the plate with foil, otherwise it will then be necessary to scrape off drops of wax or paraffin for a long and dreary time.

3. We take the leaf by the petiole with our hands and quickly dip it into stearin (wax). Make sure that it is all - all dipped, but do not boil it in water for a long time - 6-10 seconds will be enough. Take it out and let the droplets of wax run right over the pan. To do this, first hold it for 6 seconds down with the tips, then, if it is dense, 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 the foil or baking paper. The sheet dries quickly - in about half a minute. After it, you can immediately transfer it to the same baking sheet or dish, where the leaves will finally dry out or wait in line for use in crafts. But after a minute - two leaves can already be used in the work. Foil or baking paper must be periodically cleaned of drops of wax, or put a new one so that the drops do not stick to the leaves. When you put the sheet to dry - a small droplet may remain on the tip and go beyond its aisles - after drying, this droplet can be easily removed manually with a knife or fingers, but in such a way as not to damage the entire coating of the sheet.

If a child participates in the process, then he must be at least 4.5-5 years old, and then he can dip the leaves into the wax himself, but only with a long petiole and after a thorough explanation by his mother how hot the wax is. As soon as the child is tired, let him become a spectator. But in general, this activity, although interesting, bewitching, but not for kids. My daughter made 6 leaves and then helped to sort the finished leaves.

As a result of processing, the leaves become very beautiful: they retain their shape and color. It is impossible to make them absolutely even, since nothing can be put on top when drying. So the natural curve will be preserved. But such a juicy shade cannot be achieved by simple drying. From white stearin, the leaves glisten slightly, as if frosted or candied, and yellow maple leaves becomes brighter, richer. It is not so easy to work with white stearin - when it hardens, it can show flaws in the work - accumulations of white on the hollows of the leaves. It is necessary to very carefully drive the stearin from the sheet - training to make precise movements. For stearin, you need to choose even leaves without dents. Good in stearin and variegated leaves with white spots. Stearin can be chipped from the leaves - if children's fingers pick it up. But he doesn't get off on his own. The leaves are quite fragile - like glass or frozen, but durable. It's a pity the photos do not convey those delightful sensations that arise when you hold this "wax" sheet in your hand and rustle it! After paraffin, we tried natural wax. With it, the leaves do not become hard, but remain soft and acquire an almost matte appearance. Of course, you should not bend them - the coating will lose beautiful view. All red leaves are very good under wax - for example, Maiden grapes. But yellow maple leaves are not as spectacular as in stearin, and are slightly curled. In general: depending on what you dip the leaves into, it turns out very different result. Since you don’t know what exactly will turn out, you feel like a little sorceress.

We put some of the finished leaves in a beautiful dish to decorate the dining room, and to touch them and admire them. And the other part made decorations on the windows: they tied the leaves with a thin black thread and attached them over window frame. These leaves have not lost theirs for two weeks now. appearance. Our garlands are good both in cloudy weather and in sunny. In the sun, of course, they shine incomparably - like a stained-glass window. And they slightly rustle from the breath of the breeze ... But in general, anything can be made from such "wax" leaves - a bouquet, a voluminous application, an autumn tree, a mobile, a garland - it all depends on our imagination. The technology itself is great. My daughter and I are very pleased and will continue to experiment with it next year.

material prepared for work.

Water bath. Irgi leaves are drying nearby. Only I can dip such tiny leaves in wax - it is dangerous for a child to do this. Nearby lies a knife with which I remove droplets of wax from the foil.

This photo and one below: - leaves in stearin.

This photo and one below: leaves in natural pure wax.

We liked the paraffin treatment more - because they made more of these leaves.

Leaves in stearin. The most spectacular and beautiful. Although many also like wax, similar to the touch of soft thin skin.
Those in stearin are like candied, or in hoarfrost. They are hard and brittle to the touch.

I made a wreath on the wall from the leaves treated with stearin. These are the leaves of the irgi.

For contrast, this is how maple leaves dry at home without any treatment. My daughter was impressed.
True, we really like this bouquet: it is stylish and beautiful. In general, each dried maple leaf, twisted, becomes like a sculpture.

This is our composition on the window. Here you can see exactly how the leaves were tied - with a black thread for the petiole.

Our composition is made from leaves treated with stearin. It is good both in cloudy weather and in sunny weather.

It's on another window - in the nursery.

The shadows from the leaves on the window are especially good with the curtain drawn. And they sometimes "walk" around the room, depending on the time of day.

The child is delighted with our "eternal", magical leaves.

Beautiful leaves are the highlight of this season. Some fall foliage looks more beautiful than flowers in summer, because it is filled with vibrant, genuine colors. But in order to preserve this beauty, you will have to make an effort.

Foliage selection can be done with children, brothers, sisters, and then make a beautiful family bouquet. When looking for craft materials, follow these guidelines:

• choose flat, not twisted specimens without streaks or tubercles;
• gather foliage different colors, do not get hung up on one tone, otherwise your autumn bouquet will be boring;
• dry wet leaves under pressure, otherwise they will not be preserved;
• leaflets that accumulate less moisture in themselves can be preserved with glycerin or silica gel.

How to keep autumn leaves for a long time

There are several ways to preserve seasonal beauty.

Pressing

Pressing the foliage is the easiest, but the result will not last as long as we would like. After it, the foliage often loses its shape, and then quickly dries out if not constantly under pressure. However, this is one of the most common ways to save autumn beauty. How to dry leaves under pressure:

1. Choose dry flat leaves.
2. Lay them between newspapers or waterproof waxed paper - a layer of wax will seal the cracks and make the leaves smooth.
3. Take a couple of heavy books, put paper in the middle. A large weight will not allow the herbarium to twist.
4. Place more heavy books or any other weight on top.
5. Leave the book in a cool, dry place. After a week, check the leaves - they should dry out, but if something went wrong, only rot will remain from beauty. If during this time nothing happened to the leaves, hold them under pressure for as long as possible.

After pressing, the foliage can be used to design a room or decorate furniture by placing the dried branches on interior items and then covering them with a transparent cloth. Such decor will make the apartment even more comfortable.

Application of silica gel

Silica gel is a powder white color used for drying shoes. It resembles salt and can often be found in shoe boxes. Silica gel removes moisture, so it helps a lot when drying shoes. Powder can be purchased at any craft or hardware store.

Silica gel is a powerful thing, it will cope even with thick wreaths. Therefore, in order for the craft to be stored for a long time, the composition should be preserved in this way. The drying process by this method consists of several stages:

1. Choose moist elastic specimens.
2. Sprinkle a 3 cm layer of silica gel on the bottom of a thick microwaveable dish.
3. Put yellow leaves on top, leave some free space.
4. Completely cover the material with another layer of powder.
5. Place the dish in the microwave at medium power, uncovered, for about 2 minutes.
6. Check the leaves periodically. When they are dry, take them out and let them cool.

The use of glycerin solution

Marinating in glycerin is one of the best practices conservation of the herbarium. When using this liquid, the foliage remains flexible and soft for several years. So you can save not only leaves, but also whole small branches.

1. Make a one to two solution of glycerin with water, pour into a flat tray.
2. Fold everything into a glycerin composition, and then cover with another dish. Allow the herbarium to fully submerge in the solution.
3. Leave the leaves to soak in glycerin. Check every 2-3 days to keep them soft and bouncy.
4. After filling with glycerin, the herbarium must be removed and the remains wiped off.

After the glycerin solution, the foliage can also be used for wreaths or garlands. With their help, you can transform the interior of the table, make rings for napkins and dishes.

Those methods that we talked about above have one significant drawback - in the pursuit of storage time during drying, you can deprive the bouquet of the beauty that you were just trying to preserve. The probability of such an outcome is small, but still it is.

1. Choose fresh, damp maple leaves and place them between two paper towels.
2. Put this "sandwich" on a tray that can be heated in the microwave.
3. Put in the microwave and turn it on at medium power.
4. Check the herbarium every 30-60 seconds. With high humidity and thickness, this process will take longer.

If too long passes, the leaves can ignite and flare, so keep a close eye on them before they crumble and shrink. Only you can protect the leaves from drying out, and the house from a fire.

The bright colors of autumn make you want to catch and hold on longer. Leaves are just a miracle of shades that should be used to decorate an apartment as part of color therapy. 🙂 But how often, bringing home some beautiful leaf, we notice that it quickly loses color and shape, and it is useless to use it in decor.

Today is the most successful way, get water, soda, books :))

Water and bouquets

The easiest way to keep the leaves longer is to pluck them straight from the branches. Not to say that the autumn leaves on the branches hold very tightly, but still it big chance save the bouquet original form. Before putting the composition in a vase, cut the branches sharp knife and loosen slightly. You can add a few tablespoons of glycerin or a teaspoon of sugar and an aspirin tablet to the water. Periodically spraying the leaves with water from a spray bottle will help the bouquet retain its fresh charm.

Skeletonization and decor

The skeleton in the decor is a somewhat strange combination, unless we are talking about leaves and flowers. This technique allows you to make things so delicate that you can’t believe that they are of natural origin.

You need to prepare a soda solution (about 3 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) and carefully spread the leaves in the solution. Boil them over low heat from an hour to two, until the leaves darken, periodically pouring soda. Then we lay out the leaves on paper and beat them with the bristles of a toothbrush. The pulp of the leaf crumbles and a cute skeleton remains. 😉 Then the sheet needs to be dried, you can paint or leave the resulting natural shades.

Some florists prefer the dry skeletonization method: you can clean the leaf from the pulp without pre-soaking. In this case, it is better to use a natural bristle brush, and the harder the pile, the better.

To prevent the sheet from being too brittle after cleaning, you can sprinkle it with hairspray.

Acrylic lacquer and garlands

Simple and stylish garlands - they decorate the veranda and the house very much, but in the event that the leaves remain in their original form, without losing their shape and color. Beauty can be helped by special floral sprays or acrylic varnish, which is also sold in a spray - in hardware stores.

Leaves sprinkled with this varnish look shiny and fresh, protected from damage and do not fade. Lacquer is intended for wooden furniture, plastic, glass, but it will perfectly protect the leaves 🙂

You can also use a special floral varnish for the leaves to shine the flowers. Another remedy is the usual vegetable oil, which can be applied to the leaves with a silicone brush.

Drying in a book and vertical decoration

For the type of décor that needs clean, crisp lines, the leaves can be dried the old-fashioned way. Spread them between the pages of the book, and then every day shift to a new page. The moisture from the leaves will be completely absorbed in about a week, for strengthening it is worth lowering them into a solution of water and PVA glue 4: 1 and dry well. And then you can already use the leaves in their original form, or paint.

Pictures of leaves sandwiched between two glasses look very stylish, and this decor lasts a very long time, the colors do not fade.

From the leaves preserved in this way, you can make a panel that looks like it was painted with oil paint.

Add to bookmarks:

Autumn leaves are the highlight of the season. Colorful leaves can be even more attractive than flowers. Be that as it may, in order to decorate the house with autumn foliage, you first have to compress or preserve them. Luckily, it's extremely easy and there are 4 basic ways to preserve and preserve the colors of autumn leaves.

Selecting Leaves to Save

Whichever method you choose, your leaves will perform at their best if you follow these guidelines when choosing them:

1. Choose leaves that are relatively flat and not curled.
2. Look for leaves that don't have spots or bumps.
3. Don't be afraid to use leaves in different stages of color change.
4. Leaves with a low moisture content are best dried under pressure. More elastic leaves, like magnolia or rhododendron, are good candidates for glycerin or silica gel.
Choosing leaves to save is a fun activity for kids. And since they are closer to the ground, they often have a better view to choose from.

Weight pressing is the easiest method to preserve autumn leaves.

Pressing autumn leaves under weight is the easiest way to preserve, but these leaves will not last as long as canned leaves. To dry the leaves with a press:

1. Choose relatively flat and thin leaves, with low moisture content.
2. Lay the leaves between sheets of newspaper or wax paper.
Then pick up a few of your heaviest books and move on to step two...

Weighting the leaves

To keep the leaves from curling, you need to apply considerable weight.

1. Put paper with leaves inside a thick book. You can also add some books or a rock on top to add weight.
2. Keep the book in a dry place and check back in about a week. Make sure the leaves are dry and not rotted. You will probably need to weight the leaves inside the book for another 1-2 weeks before they are completely dry and ready to use.

Tip: If you have denser leaves, soak them in a diluted fabric softening solution before drying. Or try covering the surface with a thin layer of Vaseline.

Design Ideas:
. Scatter the pressed leaves on shelves or tablecloths.
. Make flower arrangements by filling a basket with your pressed leaves.
. Pressed leaves can be used for table decoration. Make an arrangement of leaves on a table or tablecloth and cover with a transparent cloth or cellophane on top.

Saving leaves in wax paper is a great activity for kids

Perhaps this is one of the few activities when children are happy to pick up an iron.

1. Choose thin, low moisture leaves that have not yet begun to curl.
2. Make a "sandwich": Place the leaves between two sheets of wax paper.
3. Cover your ironing area with a piece of old cloth so that you do not stain it with wax.
4. Place your sandwich on top of the old fabric.
5. Cover your sandwich with another piece of old cloth.
6. Heat the iron to maximum, BUT do not use steam.
7. Slowly move the iron back and forth over the fabric. Don't press too hard at the beginning or you may move the leaves. Once the paper starts to seal, use the full weight of the iron and hold it for 4-5 seconds on each spot.
8. Raise the rag to check if the wax paper has melted and sealed. The leaves will show up much better as the wax grows.
9. Let the sandwich cool, then cut out individual leaves. Leave a small edge around the leaves to keep the waxed paper sealed.
Such leaves can persist for several months.

Design Ideas:
. The waxed leaves are good for children to play with and can be assembled into collages to hang.
. Pin individual moldings to curtains or glue to lampshades for an autumnal feel.

Drying leaves in the microwave

Microwaves are a great quick way to preserve just about anything. You can use the microwave alone, or you can speed up the process with silica gel, as discussed below.
1. Select leaves that are still fresh and moist. DO NOT use dried fallen leaves.
2. Make a sandwich by placing individual casts or flat sprigs with leaves between two paper towels.
3. Put the sandwich on a tray and place in the oven.
4. Turn on the microwave for 30 seconds and then check the leaves. The thicker or more moisture content the leaves, the longer it will take you.
5. If the leaves are still wet, continue to dry at 30 second intervals and check until the leaves are dry.

Warning: Leaves can catch fire, just like any other item that has been left in the microwave for a long time. So keep watching. DO NOT wait for the leaves to crumble or curl. They can retain heat and continue to dry for a few seconds out of the microwave if you don't want them to dry out.

Application of Silica Gel to Preserve Autumn Leaves

Silica gel is a white, salt-like powder that you can find in small bags in shoes. Silica gel perfectly absorbs moisture and significantly speeds up the drying process. You can buy a pack of silica gel at any craft store, or you can collect and save the little packs you see everywhere.

1. Choose leaves that are still damp and pliable. Silica gel allows you to dry thicker leaves too.
2. Sprinkle silica gel about 2-3 cm into the bottom of the microwave dish.
3. Lay the leaves on top of the silica gel layer, leaving space between them and up to the edge of the dish.
4. Cover the leaves completely with another layer of silica gel.
5. Place the uncovered dish in the microwave and turn it on at medium power for about 2 minutes. It is very difficult to determine the specific time for drying, as it depends on the size of the dish, the number of leaves, the amount of silica gel and the power of your oven. It is better to periodically check the condition of the leaves at short intervals.
In my experience, 3-4 sheets on an 8 x 8 dish with 3-4 cups of silica gel takes about 2 minutes on medium power.
6. Let cool and remove the leaves.

Tip: The leaves will last longer if they are coated with an additional layer of acrylic resin.

Ideas for Use: These leaves are the same as the press-dried ones and can be strung or arranged for fall arrangements.

Using Glycerin to Preserve Leaves

Preserving the leaves with glycerin is the best way to keep them supple and they can stay that way for years. You can save individual leaves or even whole small twigs this way.

The most difficult part of the process is buying glycerin. Now glycerin is very hard to find. Sometimes it is found in stores on the shelves next to hand lotion. You will have to search. You can also ask in pharmacies.

To save individual leaves

1. On a flat tray, make a solution of one part glycerin and two parts water.
2. Place your leaves in the solution.
3. Cover your leaves with another dish so that they are completely in the solution, as shown below.

Leaves in glycerin solution

Setting a smaller dish on top of the leaves will help them soak well in the solution. And it also means that you can use less solution.

Start checking in 2-3 days. The leaves should become soft and plastic. If the leaves are still dry to the touch, leave them in the solution for another 2-3 days.

When they are saturated, remove them from the solution and wipe off the stains.

Preservation of small branches in a solution of glycerin:

1. Cut off small branches with leaves and immediately immerse the stems in a container of warm water. Let them sit there for about 2 hours, away from direct sunlight.
2. Make a solution of 1 part glycerin with 2 parts water and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer it for 5-10 minutes over low heat.
3. Allow the solution to cool completely.
4. Remove the sprigs from the water container, and break their ends with a hammer so that a large surface can absorb the solution.
5. Put the branches in a solution with glycerin. Keep away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat until small dew drops appear on the leaves. This means that the leaves have absorbed all they can.
6. Remove the twigs and wipe the leaves.
7. Hang the branches upside down to dry.

Design Ideas: Glycerin leaves can be used in all kinds of creativity. They are especially well suited for wreaths and garlands, as well as table decorations, napkin rings and large dishes.

Preservation of pressed and canned leaves

No method will allow you to use leaves forever. Even leaves sealed in wax paper will eventually dry out and crumble. If you want to extend the existence of your masterpieces for a little longer, use a variety of floral preservatives.

And of course, next year there will be other leaves, and every year your skill and creativity will only develop.