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, having brought some beautiful leaf home, 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 are very strong on the branches, but still this is a great chance to keep the bouquet in its original form. Before putting the composition in a vase, cut the branches with a sharp knife and lightly split. 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 lacquer, which is also sold in a spray - in construction 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.

6 easy steps

1. Sanding the wood base.
2. Using a marker, draw a maple leaf on the board using a template.
3. We glue the leaves, trying to maintain volume, without applying glue to the entire surface of the sheet.
4. We press each sheet with a press after gluing for half a minute.
5. We correct the leaves, trying to maintain a natural shape.
6. Glue the branch to the base of our "leaf".

Updated: April 20, 2019 by: Olga Fomina

It's time for autumn preparations. This is not about canning tomatoes or cucumbers. Who in the family has children of preschool and younger age will understand what it is about. ahead academic year and time for regular crafts.

We will prepare autumn leaves.

There are many ways: you can press the leaves (remember school herbariums?), save with wax paper, laminate, use silica gel, and even dry in the microwave.

In our opinion, best way preservation of leaves - with glycerin. Not the fastest, but the leaves remain soft to the touch, are stored for several years, and are suitable for crafts and for decorating rooms.

You will need:

• Glycerin (sold in any pharmacy, it is cheap)
• Containers or trays
• Autumn leaves
• Absorbent paper (napkins will do).

1. Choose beautiful leaves. It is better that they are free of spots, bulges and not twisted. Put them in a plastic container.

2. Mix 1 part glycerin and 2 parts water by volume.

3. Pour the mixture over the leaves. To prevent the leaves from floating up, you can press them down with something, for example, put a smaller container on top.

4. Leave for 2-3 days. After that, check. If the leaves are still dry to the touch, leave for a couple more days. The leaves should feel soft and elastic to the touch.

Dried leaves, flowers and herbs can be used to create unique paintings - both exquisitely complex and completely simple, which even small children can make. There are several techniques for making paintings, and perhaps you yourself will come up with something new.

Collect and dry beautiful plants and engage in creative work with children with pleasure, develop imagination, accuracy and a sense of beauty.

Gather leaves, flowers and herbs for future paintings, you can from spring to autumn.

dry up they are better in old heavy reference books or magazines. Thick plant stems do not dry well, so it is recommended to cut them in half lengthwise. Leave the plant in the book for 10-14 days.

Glue take it thick enough so that drops do not form.

If according to your intention colored but transparent petals should be superimposed on a dark background and at the same time retain their original color, then you first need to stick them on thin white paper , cut along the path, and then include in the composition.

So, on a fine autumn day, you got out into the park or into the forest and collected a large collection of beautiful bright leaves and plants.

Applications can be made from freshly picked leaves, and dried. If you want to preserve the leaves, two drying methods can be recommended.

The first, well-known way - inserting leaves between the pages of an old unnecessary book. It is better to lay each leaf on both sides with a paper napkin.

The second way is express drying of the leaves. using an iron. Just remember that the leaves are not sterile, so it’s best to iron them on a surface that you don’t mind throwing away later, for example, on large sheets of paper. On top of the sheet before ironing, you also need to put a sheet of newsprint or a paper napkin. And now in more detail.

Powder drying

This method of drying flowers and leaves is not quick and easy. It will require bulk substances with hygroscopic properties: sifted river sand, semolina or corn grits, salt or crushed chalk.

Powder drying has its own advantage: it completely preserves the shape and lively color of plants or inflorescences.

Ignite the sand in a pan so that there is no moisture left, and let it cool. Pour 2 cm of sand into cardboard box and put flowers on it.

Gently sprinkle sand on top until the plants are completely covered.

After two or three weeks, holes need to be made in the bottom of the box so that the sand spills out.

Shake the dried flowers lightly to remove any remaining sand.

Such flowers can be used for three-dimensional paintings or making floral arrangements.

Drying fast drying plants

There are also plants that wither faster than they have time to dry out (hydrangea, bulbous, heather, chicory). They need air drying with stems immersed in water.

Cut the lower part of the stem at an angle of 45 degrees and place it in a vessel with water to a height of 7.5 cm.

Drying plants in a hot way (express drying)

Hot drying, i.e. iron drying perfect option when you need to dry the leaves for the herbarium for tomorrow. Also hot drying can save original color cornflowers.

Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or cotton pad to remove dirt and dust. It is not necessary to wet and rub too much, so as not to damage the fragile surface.

Line an ironing board with clean paper and spread the leaves on it.

If you use newspapers, be careful as the printing ink can be printed both on the leaves and on the surface of the ironing board.

Top with another sheet of paper.

Switch the iron to the minimum temperature and check that there is no water in it. If your iron does not have too high power, then you can set the temperature closer to the average, but not the maximum, because too hot an iron will ruin the leaves.

Iron the leaves a few times, then remove the paper and flip them over to the other side. Cover again with paper and iron.

Repeat the procedure until the leaves are completely dry.

Drying plants for garlands and crafts

Leaves and flowers that you want to use not for herbarium and paintings, but for creating garlands or other crafts, need to be dried without a press.

To dry, spread the plants on paper and gently straighten.

Tie the flowers in bunches and hang with the inflorescences down. The room should be good air circulation and relative dryness

Drying plants and leaves under pressure

Drying leaves under pressure is the most famous and easiest way.

Leaves and flowers are simply shifted with sheets of paper or paper towels on both sides and placed under the press, or in books and magazines.

The paper needs to be changed every day to remove the absorbed moisture.

Flowers and leaves will be ready to use after a week.

If the workpieces have become too brittle, dip them into a solution of water and PVA glue (4 parts water 1 part glue), and then dry.

Leaves dried and processed in this way are ideal exhibits for a herbarium.

Drying plants on a wire rack

Some plants can be dried in a horizontal position on a wire rack (for example, ivy). Some are best not turned upside down (Physalis).

Drying flowers in the oven

Single large flowers whose petals are rich in liquid, such as roses or tulips, can be dried in an oven at a low temperature.

Watch the process carefully: the flowers should not turn brown.

Before starting work, cover the table with oilcloth so as not to stain it with glue. Prepare the base - a sheet of cardboard, collected or dried leaves, scissors, glue (preferably PVA), tweezers.

First you need come up with a picture of the future . Then arrange it on a separate sheet. And only then start gluing the individual parts-leaves to the base. Glue is best applied in drops around the edges. If you apply glue to the entire surface of the sheet, then when drying the application, it may warp.

The finished picture is needed put under pressure for one or two days. Don't forget to do for her frame!

Application types

Overlay application.

Try to get started by coming up with pictures that don't require any details to be cut out of the leaves, but are created by overlaying the leaves. You can come up with a lot of such pictures: butterflies, mushrooms, chickens and other birds ... The missing elements can be added with a felt-tip pen or made from other natural materials.

Having mastered simple pictures, children can begin to come up with multi-tiered images. In this technique, the leaves are glued on top of each other in layers. The application will turn out bright and cheerful if the leaves differ in color.

Silhouette application.

In this type of applique, the extra parts of the leaf are cut off to get exactly what the little artist intended.

Modular application (mosaic).

Using this technique, a picture is created by sticking a lot of identical or similar in shape and size leaves (or, for example, maple seeds). So you can make the scales of a fish, the tail of a cockerel or a firebird.

symmetrical application.

It is used to create separate images or entire paintings that have a symmetrical structure, as well as to obtain two completely identical images (for example, reflection in water). To do this, you need to select similar leaves to get an image with its “reflection” or symmetrical in itself (“Butterfly”, “Dragonfly”, “Landscape with a lake”, “Boat on the river”).

Tape application.

A kind of symmetrical application. Its difference is that it allows you to get not one or two, but many identical images - ornaments. It turns out whole "round dances" of trees, flowers, mushrooms, butterflies, etc.

It's time for autumn preparations. This is not about canning tomatoes or cucumbers. Those who have children of preschool and younger age in the family will understand what we are talking about. Ahead of the school year and the time of regular crafts.

We will prepare autumn leaves.

There are many ways: you can press the leaves (remember school herbariums?), save with wax paper, laminate, use silica gel, and even dry in the microwave.

In our opinion, the best way to preserve the leaves is with glycerin. Not the fastest, but the leaves remain soft to the touch, are stored for several years, and are suitable for crafts and for decorating rooms.

You will need:

• Glycerin (sold in any pharmacy, it is cheap)
• Containers or trays
• Autumn leaves
• Absorbent paper (napkins will do).

1. Choose beautiful leaves. It is better that they are free of spots, bulges and not twisted. Put them in a plastic container.

2. Mix 1 part glycerin and 2 parts water by volume.

3. Pour the mixture over the leaves. To prevent the leaves from floating up, you can press them down with something, for example, put a smaller container on top.

4. Leave for 2-3 days. After that, check. If the leaves are still dry to the touch, leave for a couple more days. The leaves should feel soft and elastic to the touch.

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, having brought some beautiful leaf home, 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 are very strong on the branches, but still this is a great chance to keep the bouquet in its original form. Before putting the composition in a vase, cut the branches with a sharp knife and lightly split. 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 really decorate the veranda and the house, 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. The varnish is intended for wooden furniture, plastic, glass, but it will perfectly protect the leaves too 🙂

You can also use a special floral varnish for the leaves to shine the flowers. Another tool is ordinary 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.

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

Steps

Decoupage

Choose bright leaves. Collect freshly fallen, bright and rather soft leaves. The leaves may be slightly dry, but not to the point where they break or curl on 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 buy an adhesive in a store that sells goods for creativity and needlework. Use a sponge brush to apply adhesive. Lay the leaves out to dry on a sheet of newspaper.

• In most cases, decoupage should be done the same day the leaves were picked. If you delay this activity, the leaves will dry out, turn brown and brittle.
• If the leaves are very damp, or if you have picked them directly from the tree without waiting for them to fall, they should be dried for a few days. To do this, put the leaves inside a large book.

Wait until the adhesive is completely dry. It should not stick to your fingers. On the leaves, it should also become completely transparent.

Repeat on the other side. Flip the leaves over and apply glue to them. When the second side is dry, the leaves are ready to use. This method allows you to keep the color and shape of the leaves for a long period of time.

Use of 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 the paraffin wax in disposable tableware. 450 g of paraffin wax should be melted in a disposable dish, heating it over low heat.

   • To melt paraffin wax faster, cut it into large pieces and spread them evenly across the bottom of a disposable dish.
   • If you don't have a disposable container to melt paraffin wax, grab a cake pan that you don't plan on using for cooking anymore. Wax can ruin the mold, so don't use the utensils you're cooking 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 overturn the wax container. This is especially important to consider if you have pets or children in your home.

   Dip each leaf into the melted wax. Hold the leaf by the handle and dip it in the wax a few times. Make sure that both sides of the sheet are completely covered with wax. Do not bring your fingers close to hot wax, so as not to burn yourself. Repeat the above steps for the rest of the leaves.

   Lay the leaves out to dry. Lay each waxed sheet on waxed paper and leave in this position until the wax hardens. Let the leaves dry for several hours in a draught-free room. After the leaves have dried, they should special efforts take off the paper. Thanks to this method, the shape and color of the leaves are preserved for a very long time.

   • To be on the safe side, line your worktop with newspaper before laying down some wax paper. Thanks to this, the wax will not fall on the worktable. If the wax gets on the table, it will be very difficult to remove.

Use of glycerin

1. Choose fresh leaves or a small twig with leaves. If you want to dry a whole twig of autumn leaves, this method is the way to go. Choose a twig 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 oranges will become more vibrant.
   • If possible, look for already fallen branches instead of plucking them from trees. Remember that such actions can harm the tree.
   • Do not take branches with diseased or frost-bitten leaves. This method will not bring the desired result if the leaves have been caught by frost.

2. Cut off the end of each branch. Beat the end of each branch with a hammer so that the fresh tree is visible. 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 derived from plants. This leaf storage process is environmentally friendly.
   • If you want to dry the leafy twigs, add four to five drops of dishwashing liquid. This makes it easier for the glycerin to penetrate the wood. For nai best result Use dishwashing liquid that is colorless and odorless. Alternatively, a liquid surfactant, available from a hardware store, can be used.

4. Place the twigs with leaves in the solution for three to five days. The twigs and leaves will need to soak up the glycerin for three to five days. Place the container with the solution and twigs in a 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 the microwave

Place fresh leaves between two paper towels. This good way dry leaves for fakes. However, be prepared for the fact that the color of the leaves may become duller. Place fresh leaves on a two-layer paper towel. Cover them with a single-layer towel on top.

• Use freshly fallen leaves that still bend well. Do not take leaves with curled ends, torn or stained.
• For best results, leave small space between the leaves so that they do not stick together.

Dry the leaves in microwave oven. Place the leaves in the microwave and heat them for 30 seconds. Then continue heating for 5 seconds.

• Autumn leaves usually need to be heated for 30 to 180 seconds before they become completely dry.
• Be very careful when you put the leaves in the microwave. If you leave them in the microwave for a long time, they may catch fire.
• If the leaves look burnt, chances are you overcooked them in the microwave. If the leaves are curling around the edges, they probably haven't been in the microwave long enough.

Leave the leaves overnight. Place the leaves in a dark, draft-free place and leave them for at least a night and a maximum of 2 days. If you notice that the leaves begin to fade, they urgently need to be processed.

Treat the leaves with acrylic spray. Leaves need to be processed on both sides. Wait for the leaves to dry. After that, they can be used to make fakes.

Use of the book

Place the leaves between two sheets of paper. Unfortunately, using this method, you will not be able to preserve the color of the leaves. Place the leaves between two sheets of thick printing 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 damp. The cuttings should not be dry or twisted.

Place a heavy book on paper. To on the book and on working surface no stains left, place paper towels or toilet paper between a sheet of paper and a book. They absorb moisture from the leaves.

You can also dry the leaves right in the book, but in this case you should use only old book, which will not be a pity, 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 the telephone directory if you have one.
• Place a heavy object on top of the book. This will keep the leaves flat and dry. You can use other books, bricks, or any other heavy object.

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

Use of 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. Arrange the leaves in a single layer so that there is free space. Iron paper towels on each side. Iron each side for 3-5 minutes.

   • Drying the leaves ahead of time will help them retain 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.

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 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 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 a leaf arrangement on a table or tablecloth and cover on top transparent cloth or cellophane.

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 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 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 - 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 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

Leaf Preservation with 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 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 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, on next year there will be other leaves, and every year your skill and creativity will only develop.

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Leaves and fruits that have retained their color and texture due to processing using a special technology will give a special presentability to bouquets of dried flowers. From fresh fruits and freshly cut leaves create beautiful compositions. But these components can also be used as an addition to bouquets of dried flowers, from which they differ so much 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 Helper

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

leaf preparation

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

Making a solution

Stirring constantly, dissolve 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 any excess diluted glycerin remains, it can be cooled and stored for later use in a sealed container.) Slowly, slowly Dip the stems of the plants 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 moisture droplets on the leaves indicates that all the glycerin has been absorbed. (The soaking process can take up to three weeks.) Check the blanks regularly because the stems of some plants absorb the glycerin solution more quickly. If the liquid has dried up, but the droplets did not appear on all the leaves, add an additional portion of the solution to 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 safely placed in water.)

Preserving large leaves

The large leaves of some plants, such as the fig tree and the Japanese aralia (Fatsia), cannot be completely soaked in the glycerin solution, so their edges become brittle. These leaves

canned otherwise: separated from the stem, then placed simultaneously 2-3 leaves 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 about 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 conservation.

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

Philodendron leaves are very beautiful, but they are not preserved: in the process of processing, they can change color.

Do not use young spring leaves: they will wither if they fail to withstand processing.

Autumn canned "" leaves are stored between the pages of the book, but they are handled with care, because many of them become brittle.

Perfectly tolerate preservation in a glycerin solution, corn leaves, which can then be wound on a stick (drying, they will take on an unusual shape).

Attaching the leaves

Put each sheet on a thin wire, masking it with matching tape.

When to preserve fruits? 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, looking very impressive, will serve as a wonderful addition to any composition.

Glitter in a hurry

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

Bright gourd family

Representatives of the gourd family are usually grown from seeds in open field, in a well-lit area. 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 peel of pumpkins is ribbed, smooth. The coloring is unusually varied: creamy white or orange, green and greenish white; there are also striped fruits. Fully ripened pumpkins are harvested in late autumn, on the eve of the first frosts. The fruits are picked, keeping a small stem, cleaned, 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 natural form, so you can limit yourself to polishing the peel. Under trees and bushes, you can find leaves devoid of green tissues (that is, their skeletons). They resemble lace and can become indispensable element future composition.

Raw material

Particularly picturesque are the skeletons of magnolia leaves, which, if necessary, are bleached or tinted. In specialized stores, you will be offered ready-made lace, but you can make them yourself from ivy leaves, laurel or holly.

weaving lace

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

Who, if not mothers, knows that our children love to remember at 21-22 pm that tomorrow they need to bring crafts made from natural materials, a bouquet of dry leaves and flowers, a herbarium and so on. And what to do? We get ready and with a flashlight we go to collect “reserves”, and then we sculpt, glue, paint all night, most often already without a child. And sometimes they give a task in the garden, it seems it’s still light, but it’s raining outside. How to assemble desired material? In order to at least partially protect myself from this (it will not work completely, unfortunately), I began to collect a “collection” of natural materials, highlighting for this a small shoe box and various smaller boxes and boxes that I put into this very box from under shoes. Well, plus a variety of books help. So what can we prepare?

1. We dry various leaves. Pick up a few leaves on the way home different trees. Colors can also be different, which come across: yellow, green, red ... The main thing is to select the most beautiful, and not strive to gain more. After all, we still have many fine days ahead of us and we will have time to collect enough a large number of leaflets. But let it be the most beautiful.

At home, we review the “booty” once again, if there are spoiled ones (accidentally, they didn’t finish watching) or you simply don’t like them, we safely send them to the trash can. We wash the rest under running water, put it on a surface covered with paper or cloth (I cover it with disposable rags from a roll), let it dry with moisture and then put it in a book, and the book can be put back on the shelf. Or you can spread it between sheets of plain paper and press it down with something heavy. And let them dry, then come in handy.

By the way, if you need to dry the leaves right very urgently, then put them between two sheets of white paper and iron them several times with a hot iron.

2. "Airplanes" or "turntables" from maple. On the way home, after the maple seeds ripen, we cut off several brushes with the child. At home, carefully remove them from the branches, leaving them in pairs, sort through, remove the spoiled ones. Then we wash and dry for several days on any surface covered with paper: on the table, on the windowsill, on the floor. As soon as they dry, we pour them into a box and send them to a large box or to a cabinet with materials for crafts.

3. Chestnuts and acorns. Perhaps the most popular material for crafts. And not always they are on the trees growing near the house. Therefore, it is better to stock up on them in advance, you don’t need a lot, but a dozen or two won’t hurt. By the way, I sometimes find acorns without hats and separately - hats. I also collect this, sometimes I need hats, sometimes acorns, and sometimes whole acorns with hats.

After I have collected acorns and chestnuts, I wash them well under running water, then dry them for several days in a cool, well-ventilated room (I usually small barn). After the fruits have dried, I put them in a box, always shifting them with crumpled paper (you can store them in bulk, but with paper they dry out less and “shrink”). Then I put them in a box with the rest natural materials.

4. Cones. The principle is the same as with acorns: I collect, wash, dry. Except for some nuances. More often I collect still closed cones, they are easier to wash. And they open up later, in the process of drying, from heat. Then I clean some of it in this form, some I bleach. Perfectly white do not turn out, of course, but brighten. I do not bleach in bleach, in any case! (For some reason, there is a lot of information on the Internet about bleaching in bleach, I tried it, the “petals” of the cone changed their structure, became soft). How I bleach: wash well, dry. Then I dip for a while in the "mole" or similar means. I pull out, wash and dry until the cones open (they close from moisture), rinse again and dry again. Then I put it in a special solution for bleaching wood (I buy it in hardware stores), periodically drying it if the bump is closed. After a few days, I take it out, wash it, dry it, rinse it again and dry it. That's all. They say that solutions containing acid also bleach well. But I haven't tried it, so I can't say.

5. Various twigs and sticks. Completely "various": both in length and thickness, even and not very. They are also necessarily present in my box with natural materials. Well washed and dried.

6. If it is possible to get it, then a bag with hay or straw. It might come in handy too.

What else is in the box: wild rose, dried flowers, reeds, some dried flowers, pumpkin seeds, nuts, sunflower seeds. And of course - interesting pebbles, including flat pebbles. She's so fun to color. And you can add anything you find interesting to the box, the larger the stock, the easier it is to make crafts!

Unfortunately, I can’t show my box yet, last year’s stocks are over, and this year they have just begun to collect stocks.