Falling Autumn Leaves

Preserving Autumn Leaves

Collect and preserve autumn leaves to bring the beauty of the season into your home.

As the fall foliage starts to change, consider turning autumn leaves into decorative home accents. Colorful maple leaves in rich fall reds and coppers make beautiful centerpieces. Pile them into baskets and bowls and clusters them around lamp bases. Create leaf collages to frame or mount in shadowboxes—the possibilities go on and on.

The key to leaf crafts though is to keep the leaves from crumbling, curling or turning brown. On an ironing board place the leaves between two sheets of wax paper with the waxy side on the leaf. Cover with brown paper (like a grocery bag) and iron on medium heat. The iron will melt the wax onto the leaf, preserving not only its shape but its color.

And after the season is over, store the leaves in a cool, dry place for next year.

Wax Poetic

Make pillar candles embellished with leaves the highlight of your table. Or arrange them on the mantel.


Here's how

Plan the leaf pattern on a flat surface. Brush a thin layer of craft glue onto each leaf and press onto pillar candles of various heights. Arrange candles on a tray and surround with loose leaves. So Pretty!