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

Today the most successful ways, get water, soda, books :))

Water and bouquets

The easiest way to preserve leaves longer is to pick them directly from the branches. Not to say that on the branches autumn leaves hold very tightly, but still this is a great chance to keep the bouquet in original form. Before placing the composition in a vase, trim the branches sharp knife and split slightly. You can add a few tablespoons of glycerin or a teaspoon of sugar and an aspirin tablet to the water. Periodically sprinkling the leaves with water from a spray bottle will help the bouquet retain its fresh charm.

Skeletonization and decoration

A skeleton in decoration 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 they are of natural origin.

You need to prepare a soda solution (about 3 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) and carefully place the leaves in the solution. Boil them over low heat for an hour to two, until the leaves darken, periodically adding baking soda. Then we lay the leaves on paper and hit 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 it or leave the resulting natural shades.

Some florists prefer the dry skeletonization method: you can peel the pulp from the leaf without first soaking it. In this case, it is better to use a natural bristle brush, and the stiffer the bristles, the better.

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

Acrylic varnish and garlands

Simple and stylish garlands greatly decorate the veranda and the house, but only if the leaves remain in their original form, without losing their shape and color. Special floral sprays or acrylic varnish, which is also sold in a spray in hardware stores, can help your beauty.

Leaves sprinkled with this varnish look shiny and fresh, are protected from damage and do not fade. The varnish is intended for wooden furniture, plastic, glass, but it will also protect leaves perfectly :)

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

Drying in a book and vertical decoration

For that type of decor where smooth and clear lines are needed, the leaves can be dried using the old proven method. Place them between the pages of the book, and then move them to a new page every day. The moisture from the leaves will be completely absorbed in about a week; to strengthen it, you should dip them in a solution of water and PVA glue 4:1 and dry well. And then you can use the leaves in their original form, or paint them.

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

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

6 simple steps

1. Sanding the wooden base.
2. Using a marker, draw a maple leaf on the board using a template.
3. Glue the leaves, trying to maintain volume without applying glue to the entire surface of the leaf.
4. After gluing, press each sheet with a press for half a minute.
5. We adjust the leaves, trying to maintain their natural shape.
6. Glue the twig to the base of our “leaf”.

Leaf decor: 4 the best way keep leaves in perfect condition updated: October 6, 2017 by: Olga Fomina

Only the autumn season is rich in the bright colors of the leaves that have not yet flown, and if you and your child collect these wonderful gifts of autumn on a walk and prepare them correctly, you will be able to engage in creativity in the winter.

But before you start preparing natural materials, please note that they should not be collected near roads where the foliage has managed to absorb a lot of exhaust. The implication is that a natural material is an environmentally friendly material.

How to dry leaves and prepare natural materials

There are several ways:

1. Cold drying
2. Hot drying
3. Powder drying

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Cold drying

This is an old traditional method that we all used as children. Leaves and flowers need to be placed under a press. A thick book or a stack of magazines can be used as a press. In order for the plants to dry correctly, you need to place 2 sheets of paper between the pages of the book and only place a leaf or flower between them. Sheets of paper must be changed every day. After a week, the natural material is ready for use.

If after drying the plants have become too fragile and you are afraid of breaking them, you can dip them in a solution of water and PVA glue and then dry them. The solution is prepared simply: 4 parts water to 1 part glue.

You can dry plants without a press by simply laying them out on paper. Then the leaves will curl and become deformed. These leaves are suitable for voluminous crafts.

Hot drying

How to dry leaves and flowers using a hot method? Using an iron is good for drying leaves and not very voluminous flowers. We place a leaf between sheets of paper and iron it until the moisture evaporates from it. As a result, we will get flat materials.

For voluminous flowers, such as roses, the oven is suitable. The temperature should not be high. In addition, you will have to constantly monitor the process.

Powder drying

In this case, powders mean bulk materials. Dry sand or salt are best suited. In a cardboard box, fill the bottom with sand, place the plant and carefully sprinkle sand on top. In the picture as bulk material semolina was used.

If you have volumetric flower, it is important that there are no empty, unfilled spaces between the petals.

To remove the plant from the sand, we make holes in the bottom of the box and wait until the sand spills out.

Drying in this way will take 2 - 3 weeks, but the plant will retain its shape and color.

To ensure that voluminous flowers retain their shape even after drying, they can be sprayed with hairspray.

This method is only suitable fresh flowers and green leaves. As a result, the shape of the plants is preserved and they remain resilient. But the color of the plants, unfortunately, is lost. But it doesn’t matter, because the plants can be painted later.

Making a three-part solution hot water and one part glycerin. Cool the resulting solution and place the plant in it for a period of several days to several weeks. It all depends on the size and volume of the plant.

A little more beauty:

It should be noted that these are not all the ways to preserve leaves and flowers.

How to preserve prepared plants

Empty ones are perfect for storage. carton boxes, which should be placed in a dry, dark place. In a dry place so that they do not start to rot, in a dark place so that they are not exposed to sunlight and do not dry out.

If the plants still dry out and become too fragile, they can be sprayed with water from a spray bottle and left for several hours.

Such methods of preparing natural materials not only keep children busy, but also develop patience and accuracy. And of course, nothing can replace the atmosphere of home warmth and comfort for a child like a family evening spent doing a creative activity together.

Now you know how to dry leaves and prepare flowers. It's time to move on to autumn crafts made from natural materials.

Particularly presentable to bouquets of dried flowers will be the leaves and fruits, which have retained their color and texture thanks to processing using a special technology. Fresh fruits and freshly cut leaves create wonderful compositions. But these components can also be used as an addition to bouquets of dried flowers, from which they are so different in texture, shape, and color. Leaves and fruits are especially good in the golden season, when the fading sad beauty of flowers is replaced by bright colors autumn.

Glycerin assistant

Processing technology based on the use of glycerin helps preserve the beauty of autumn leaves: their colors will become brighter and richer, and a glossy shine will appear. After this treatment, the leaves can retain their color for several years.

Preparing the leaves

If there is on the stem lower leaves, delete them. Cut the bark from woody stems (5 cm). Lightly break the ends with a hammer or split them crosswise with a sharp knife so that the solution is absorbed faster.

Making a solution

Stirring constantly, dilute 1 part glycerin in 2 parts boiling water, then bring to a boil over medium heat and cool slightly. Pour into a heatproof container, cover and shake to mix the solution well. (If there is any leftover amount of diluted glycerin, it can be refrigerated and stored for later use in an airtight container.) Slowly, slowly, dip the plant stems into the hot solution: it should cover them by at least 8 cm. Place the container with the plants in a cool place, protect from direct sunlight and leave until the solution is completely absorbed. The appearance of droplets of moisture on the leaves indicates that all the glycerin has been absorbed. (The absorption process may take about three weeks.) Check the preparations regularly because the stems of some plants absorb the glycerin solution more quickly. If the liquid has dried up, but droplets do not appear on all the leaves, add an additional portion of the solution into the container (it should be hot, but not boiling). When the leaves have completely absorbed the glycerin, remove them from the container and wipe with a dry cloth. Before using the blanks, dry them for two weeks by hanging them on a rope. Blanks coated with waterproof varnish can be used to make bouquets of fresh flowers. (Such mixed bouquets are placed in water without danger.)

Preserving large leaves

The large leaves of some plants, such as the fig tree and fatsia, cannot be completely saturated with the glycerin solution, so their edges become brittle. These leaves

preserved differently: separated from the stem, then placed 2-3 leaves at a time in a shallow container with a solution. When they change color and the edges are not brittle, the process can be considered complete (this will take approximately one to three weeks). The leaves are removed from the solution and laid out on blotting paper to dry.

Leaves garden trees collected in dry weather. Damaged or diseased leaves are not suitable for preservation.

The leaves of evergreen plants are harvested at any time of the year, and the remaining plants - at the end of summer.

Philodendron leaves are very beautiful, but they cannot be preserved: they may change color during processing.

Don't use young ones spring leaves: They will wither if they cannot withstand the treatment.

Preserved autumn leaves are stored between the pages of a book, but they are handled with care because many of them become fragile.

Corn leaves tolerate preservation in a glycerin solution well, which can then be wound onto a stick (once dry, they will take on an unusual shape).

Attaching leaves

Place each sheet on a thin wire, masking it with a matching color of electrical tape.

When can fruits be preserved? Fruit processing takes much less time. It is best to preserve them in late summer - early autumn, although this can be done at any time of the year. Such canned food, which looks very impressive, will serve as a wonderful addition to any composition.

Quick glitter

Apply clear varnish to the skin of the apples. Pass a piece of wire through the tail of the apple and connect its ends: this fruit is successfully used in making compositions. Choose several apples of different colors.

Bright pumpkin family

Members of the pumpkin family are usually grown from seeds in open ground, in a well-lit place. Original fruits appear in autumn various shapes(round, oval), which can be small (up to 5 cm in diameter) and the size of a plate (up to 30 cm). The skin of pumpkins is ribbed and smooth. The colors are extremely varied: creamy white or orange, green and greenish white; There are also striped fruits. Fully ripe pumpkins are harvested in late autumn, on the eve of the first frost. The fruits are picked, keeping a small stem, peeled, dried in the sun for a couple of days, and then stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Ripe pumpkins are varnished, but they look more impressive in their in kind, so you can limit yourself to polishing the peel. Under trees and bushes you can find leaves devoid of green tissue (that is, their skeletons). They resemble lace and can become an indispensable element of a future composition.

Raw material

Particularly picturesque are the skeletons of magnolia leaves, which are bleached or tinted if necessary. Specialized stores will offer you ready-made lace, but you can make it yourself from ivy, laurel or holly leaves.

We weave lace

Pour in 225 grams of any detergent in 1 liter of boiling water. Place the leaves in this solution and stir wooden spoon, boil them for 30 minutes. Rinse the leaves under cold running water and lay them out on paper to dry. Remove green leaf tissues with a brush in the direction from the central vein to the side ones. Rinse the leaves again, pat dry and place between sheets of blotting paper to dry.

This year, my daughter and I very thoroughly, like squirrels, stocked up on autumn leaves, and all kinds of nuts, acorns, and pine cones. The older the child gets, 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, the mother does hers, the child does hers. It is very pleasant to spend time like this. I already mentioned on FB that we made stamps out of fall leaves and apples - we were so into it! And this fall we did it for the first time "waxy" leaves - leaves preserved in stearin and wax. I had never tried this before and simply dried the leaves - on outdoors, in sand, or soaked in glycerin. I love floristry very much and am quite good at it. Now we've mastered it new technology which we are both delighted with. It is not at all complicated and gives a very effective result. Now not all the leaves have fallen off yet and you can also try to make wax autumn leaves that retain their shape and color for a long time.

I traditionally don’t take photographs of a detailed masterclass, 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 (ideally maple leaves with petioles);
2. Natural wax or stearin candles (I have the most ordinary white IKEA candles, you can use transparent candles or special kits for making candles. The final result depends on the type of wax - here everything can be found out experimentally.);
3. Baking paper or foil; (we will put 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 in;
5. A wooden board or dish, tray, baking sheet, where the finished leaves will be temporarily stored and dried;
6.Stove, kitchen, free time and positive mood.

The process itself is as follows:

1. Melt the wax or stearin 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 a minimum 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 with foil, otherwise you will have to spend a long time and tediously scraping off drops of wax or paraffin.

3. Take the leaf by the petiole with your hands and quickly dip it into stearin (wax). Make sure that it is completely submerged, but do not cook it in water for a long time; 6-10 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 half a minute. Afterwards, you can immediately transfer it to the same baking sheet or dish where the leaves will finally dry out or wait their turn for use in crafts. But after a minute or two 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 go beyond its aisles - 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 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 the mother 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 and fascinating, it is not for kids. My daughter made 6 leaves and then helped 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 placed on top when drying. So the natural curve will be preserved. But such a rich shade cannot be achieved by simple drying. White stearin causes the leaves to shine slightly, as if covered in frost or as if they were candied, and yellow maple leaves become brighter, more saturated. 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. You need to very carefully remove stearin from the leaf - practicing to make precise movements. For stearin, you need to choose smooth leaves without dents. Variegated leaves with white spots are also good in stearin. Stearin can chip off the leaves if children's fingers pick at it. But he doesn’t get down on his own. The leaves turn out to be quite fragile - as if they were made of glass or frozen, but durable. It’s a pity that the photos don’t convey the 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 take on an almost matte appearance. Of course, you shouldn’t bend them - the coating will lose beautiful view. All red leaves are very good under wax - for example Maiden's grapes. But the yellow maple leaves are not as impressive as in stearin, and they curl slightly. In general: depending on what you dip the leaves in, you get very different results. Since you don’t know what exactly will happen, you feel a little like a sorceress.

We put some of the finished leaves in a beautiful dish to decorate the dining room, so we could sort through them and admire them. And the other part made decorations for the windows: they tied the leaves with a thin black thread and attached them above window frame. These leaves have not lost their leaves for two weeks now. appearance. Our garlands are good both in cloudy weather and in sunny weather. In the sun, of course, they shine incomparably - like stained glass. And they rustle slightly from the breeze... But in general, from such “wax” leaves you can make anything - a bouquet, a volumetric applique, an autumn tree, a mobile, a garland - it all depends on our imagination. And the technology itself is magnificent. 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 the one below: leaves in natural pure wax.

We liked the paraffin treatment better - that’s why we made more of these leaves.

Leaves in stearin. The most spectacular and beautiful. Although many people also like waxy ones, which feel like soft, thin skin to the touch.
Those in stearin are as if candied, or in frost. They feel hard and fragile to the touch.

I made a wreath for the wall from leaves treated with stearin. These are the leaves of the serviceberry.

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, every dried maple leaf, when curled, 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 behind 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 of the leaves on the window are especially beautiful with the curtains drawn. They also sometimes “walk” around the room depending on the time of day.

The child is delighted with our “eternal” magical leaves.

Add to bookmarks:

Autumn leaves are the culmination of the season. Colorful leaves can be even more attractive than flowers. Whatever it is to decorate the house autumn foliage, you will first have to compress or preserve them. Luckily, it's extremely easy and there are 4 main ways to preserve and preserve the colors of fall leaves.

Selecting Leaves to Preserve

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

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

Weight pressing is the easiest method for preserving autumn leaves.

Pressing fall leaves under weight is the easiest way to preserve them, but these leaves will not last as long as preserved leaves. To dry leaves using a press:

1. Select leaves that are relatively flat and thin, with low moisture content.
2. Place leaves between sheets of newspaper or wax paper.
Then pick up a few of your heaviest books and begin step two...

Weigh down the leaves with weight

To prevent the leaves from curling, you need to apply significant weight.

1. Place the paper with leaves inside a thick book. You can also add some books or a rock on top for added weight.
2. Keep the book in a dry place and check after about a week. Make sure the leaves are dry and not rotten. 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 thicker 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 an ikebana display by filling a basket with your pressed leaves.
. Pressed leaves can be used for table decoration. Make a composition of leaves on a table or tablecloth and cover the top with a transparent cloth or cellophane.

Preserving leaves in wax paper is a great activity for kids

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

1. Select thin leaves with low moisture content 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 cloth.
5. Cover your sandwich with another piece of old cloth.
6. Heat the iron to maximum BUT do not use the steam setting.
7. Slowly move the iron back and forth over the fabric. Don't press too hard at first or you may move the leaves. Once the paper begins to seal, use the full weight of the iron and hold it for 4-5 seconds on each spot.
8. Lift the rag to check if the wax paper has melted and sealed. The leaves will be much more visible as the wax grows.
9. Allow the sandwich to cool, then cut out individual leaves. Leave a slight edge around the leaves to ensure the wax paper stays sealed.
These leaves can last for several months.

Design ideas:
. Waxed leaves are great for children to play with and can be used to make collages for hanging.
. Pin individual castings to curtains or glue to lampshades for an autumnal feel.

Drying leaves in the microwave

Microwaves - excellent quick way save anything. You can use only the microwave, or speed up the process using silica gel, which will be discussed below.
1. Select leaves that still have freshness and moisture. DO NOT use dry fallen leaves.
2. Make a sandwich by placing individual sprigs or flat sprigs with leaves between two paper towels.
3. Place the sandwich on a tray and place in the oven.
4. Microwave for 30 seconds and then check the leaves. The thicker or more moisture-rich the leaves, the longer this will take you.
5. If the leaves are not yet dry, continue drying them at 30 second intervals and checking until the leaves are dry.

Warning: Leaves can catch fire, just like anything else that has been left in microwave oven on 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 outside of the microwave if you don't want to dry them out.

Using silica gel to preserve autumn leaves

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

1. Select leaves that are still moist and flexible. Silica gel allows you to dry thicker leaves too.
2. Spread about 2-3 cm of silica gel on the bottom of a microwave-safe dish.
3. Place the leaves on top of the silica gel layer, leaving space between them and up to the edges of the dish.
4. Completely cover the leaves with another layer of silica gel.
5. Place the uncovered dish in the microwave and turn it on medium power for about 2 minutes. It is very difficult to determine a specific drying time, 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 they are coated with an additional layer of acrylic resin.

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

Using Glycerin to Preserve Leaves

Preservation of leaves using glycerin - the best way to maintain their elasticity, and they can remain in this state for several years. You can save individual leaves or even entire small branches this way.

The most difficult part of the process is purchasing glycerin. Glycerin is very hard to find these days. Sometimes it is found in stores on the shelves next to hand lotion. You'll have to search. You can also ask 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 submerged in the solution, as shown next.

Leaves in glycerin solution

Placing a smaller dish on top of the leaves will help them submerge well in the solution. And this also means that you can use less solution.

Start checking in 2-3 days. The leaves should become soft and pliable. If the leaves still feel 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 away any stains.

Preservation of small twigs in glycerin solution:

1. Cut off small branches 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 over low heat for 5-10 minutes.
3. Allow the solution to cool completely.
4. Remove the branches from the container with water, and break their ends with a hammer so that a larger surface can absorb the solution.
5. Place the branches in a solution with glycerin. Keep away from direct sunlight and other heat sources until small drops of dew appear on the leaves. This means that the leaves have absorbed everything they can.
6. Remove the twigs and dry the leaves.
7. Hang the branches with their leaves down to dry.

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

Preservation of pressed and preserved leaves

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

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