From dried leaves, flowers and herbs you can 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 enjoy creativity with your children, develop imagination, neatness and a sense of beauty.

Collect leaves, flowers and herbs for future paintings it is possible from spring to autumn.

Dry 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 colorful but transparent petals must be superimposed on a dark background and retain their original color, then first you need stick them on thin white paper , cut along the contour, and then include it in the composition.

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

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

The first, well-known, method - putting 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 method is express drying of leaves using an iron. Just remember that the leaves are not sterile, so it’s better to iron them on a surface that you don’t mind throwing away later, for example, on large sheets paper. You also need to place a sheet of newsprint or a paper napkin on top of the sheet before ironing. And now more details.

Powder drying

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

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

Heat the sand in a frying pan so that no moisture remains and let it cool. Pour 2 cm of sand into cardboard box and place flowers on it.

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

After two to three weeks, you need to make holes in the bottom of the box so that the sand can spill out.

Shake the dried flowers slightly to remove any remaining sand.

These flowers can be used for volumetric paintings or making floral arrangements.

Drying fast-withering plants

There are also plants that wither faster than they can dry (hydrangea, bulbous plants, heather, chicory). They require air drying and immersion of the stems 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 using a hot method (express drying)

Hot drying, that is, iron drying perfect option when to dry the leaves for the herbarium for tomorrow. Also, hot drying can preserve the original color of cornflowers.

Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or cotton pad to remove dirt and dust. There is no need to wet or rub too much so as not to damage the fragile surface.

Line your ironing board with clean paper and place the leaves on it.

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

Cover the top with another sheet of paper.

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

Iron the leaves several times, then remove the paper and turn them over to the other side. Cover with paper again 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 herbariums and paintings, but to create garlands or other crafts, need to be dried without a press.

To dry, place the plants on paper and straighten them carefully.

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

Drying plants and leaves under pressure

Drying leaves under a press is the most famous and simplest method.

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

The paper must be changed every day to remove absorbed moisture.

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

If the workpieces have become too brittle, dip them in a solution of water and PVA glue (4 parts water to 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 horizontally 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 the oven at low temperature.

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

Before you start 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 future picture . Then arrange it on a separate sheet of paper. And only then start gluing the individual leaf parts to the base. It is best to apply the glue in droplets along the edges. If you apply glue to the entire surface of the sheet, it may warp when drying the application.

Need a finished picture put under a press for one or two days. Don't forget to do it for her frame!

Types of applications

Overlay applique.

Try to start by coming up with pictures that do not require cutting out any details from 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 drawn in with a felt-tip pen or made from other natural materials.

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

Silhouette applique.

In this type of appliqué, excess parts of the leaf are cut off so that the result is exactly what the little artist intended.

Modular application (mosaic).

Using this technique, a picture is created by gluing many leaves of the same or similar shape and size (or, for example, maple seeds). This way you can make the scales of a fish, the tail of a cockerel or a firebird.

Symmetrical applique.

It is used to create individual images or entire paintings with 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”).

Ribbon applique.

A type of symmetrical appliqué. Its difference is that it allows you to get not one or two, but many identical images - ornaments. You get a whole “round dance” of trees, flowers, mushrooms, butterflies, etc.

The beauty of autumn foliage is fragile and short-lived. Today it pleases us with its special aroma and rainbow colors, and after a few days only a handful of dry wind remains from the yellow-purple petals. However, if desired, the tender leaves can be saved for later use for various decorative purposes.

Let's try to figure out how to do this.

You will need:

• leaves,
• glycerol,
• paper towels,
• several large heavy books,
• wax paper,
• iron,
• newspapers.

1. Select leaves, giving preference to whole, flat, relatively fresh and undamaged specimens. Please note that dry and tightly curled leaves do not absorb glycerin well, which we will use as a kind of preservative, which means they are not suitable for long-term storage.

2. In a wide flat container, dilute glycerin in water (ratio 1:2). Dip the leaves into the solution so that they fit freely and are completely covered with liquid. It will take several days for the leaves to absorb the glycerin. If the process is underway correctly, then after some time the leaves will be saturated with moisturizing liquid, becoming elastic and soft.

3. Place the soaked leaves on paper towels and leave to dry for 1-3 hours.

4. When the leaves are dry, they should be placed under a press to remove any remaining moisture. You can use an iron or heavy books for this. If you want to dry the leaves using an iron, they should be laid out between newspaper pages and carefully smoothed out, placing the device on low temperature. The iron allows you to quickly prepare the leaves for further manipulation.

If you decide to use a book press, then the leaves should be placed on wax paper so that they are closed on both sides, and placed between the volumes, leaving in this form for several days.

How to use?

Glycerin leaves can be used for a variety of decorative purposes. They retain their shape and color for a long time, so they are suitable for all kinds of autumn-themed fakes.

Collages for children's creativity. Creating funny collages with the image of an animal and flora- an exciting activity that creative kids will love.

You can turn ordinary leaves into strange animals in literally a matter of minutes. All you need for these fakes is stationery glue, scissors, landscape paper and a little inspiration.

Collages can be supplemented with small handwritten touches that will help to play up the foliage elements in an interesting way.

Crowns and bracelets. You can make a crown from glycerin leaves for the autumn festival, which is held annually in kindergartens and schools. A spectacular headdress is assembled like a wreath or made using a cardboard base and double-sided tape.

Using the same principle, you can make an autumn bracelet that will perfectly complement a themed costume.

Another decoration option involves creating crowns with images of forest animals, which are perfect for fairy-tale performances.

You can also make original masks from leaves by simply coloring them with a black and white marker.

Bouquets. As a rule, autumn bouquets are simple compositions of colorful leaves, which decorate table settings or home interiors.

However, there are more complex floral techniques that make it possible to make imitation flower buds from leaves. Such bouquets are especially expressive and are suitable for decorating special ceremonies: autumn weddings and anniversaries.

Fairy lights. By stringing leaves on a thin thread, you will get a bright garland that will bring autumn mood into your home.

Looking for more sophisticated solutions? Apply glue to the leaves with a brush, generously sprinkle them with shiny glitter and secure satin ribbons at the base, which will help strengthen the garland in the right place.

Stencils. Leaves can be used as stencils, allowing you to apply an interesting design to fabric, paper or glass. There are two ways to make an autumn image. In the first case, the leaves are simply laid out on the surface, then paint is applied on top. When the coating is completely dry, the leaves should be carefully removed - unpainted areas will remain in their place.

Another method involves applying paint to the sheet itself, which is then used as a stencil. For such a print, you can use absolutely any paint (gouache, watercolor, acrylic, fabric paints), and the sheet itself should be painted on the side where the veins are located. It is better to press the stencil with a roller, but you can do without it by simply pressing the sheet with your hand.

In this way you can decorate clothes, home textiles, dishes and other household items.

www.znaikak.ru

How to preserve an autumn bouquet of leaves: saoros

We brought branches of red holly oak from the forest (in the botanical garden they call it Canadian oak) and they are so good. The leaves are large, as if carved, and shimmer in all shades of red. I wanted to admire this wealth of nature longer. And I remembered how they preserved the leaves in childhood. They put them in books, like a herbarium between sheets of paper. It won’t work because there are branches. They ironed the leaves, but they straightened out unnaturally. They also sprayed them with hairspray, probably already completely dry. Although now there are regular varnishes in cans. I just put it in a vase and sprinkled it with water. I found a way to treat it with glycerin on the Internet. In fact, I have a cautious relationship with chemistry and it is unlikely that I will glycerinate. But, suddenly, it will come in handy." There is a more labor-intensive, but also much more effective method plant conservation. To do this, you need to dilute glycerin with water in a 2:1 ratio and soak the leaves in it for several days. The time is selected individually for each sheet "(approx. - for fresh ones up to a week)" - it will become transparent-lace, and the color should intensify and consolidate. Remove the leaf from the solution and let it dry thoroughly. Do it differently with flower buds - pour the same solution into a jar and put the flowers in there upside down, secure the stems to the neck and let them soak in glycerin." Link

"DECORATING THE HOUSE WITH DRY FLOWERSDried flowers. Preservation with glycerin. Drying in a standing position.

Stage 1. Cut and prepare the material. Evergreens can be cut for preservation at any time of the year, deciduous plants - in mid-summer.

Step 2. Place the plants in an aqueous glycerin solution. Thoroughly mix one part glycerin with two parts boiling water, immerse the plants in the solution to a depth of 7.5 cm. Keep the container in a cool, shaded place.

Step 3. Remove the glycerinized plants. Inspect the plants every week - upper leaves on long branches, wipe occasionally with a cloth soaked in an aqueous solution of glycerin. Remove the plants when all the leaves change color. The process takes from 1 to 8 weeks depending on the type of plant; if necessary, a solution is added to the vessel. The finished plants are blotted with a paper towel. Before use, hang the plants for several days with their heads down.Plants suitable for preservation in a standing position:Beech, camellia, rose, cotoneaster, holly, rosemary, hydrangea, cherry laurel, ferns, rowan, pear, oleaster, boxwood, oak, magnolia, broom , willow, rhododendron, eucalyptus." Link. Link

saoros.livejournal.com

In autumn, the leaves on the trees are so beautiful that you want to preserve this beauty longer. The maple leaves are especially beautiful, vinegar tree, apricot, peach (from my observations).

A bouquet can be made simply from leaves, both with and without twigs, you can include dried flowers, bunches of berries in the bouquet, making up beautiful composition. Look at the examples of bouquets in the photos below and you will find inspiration for creating your own beautiful and unique bouquet.

You can make flowers from leaves. The photo below shows the process of making roses in step-by-step pictures. As a result, you can get an extraordinary bouquet of autumn roses.

Autumn is on the threshold, while the leaves on the trees are green, only here and there on the birch tree are they visible yellow leaves, but this is a quick process, in a few days everything will be in a different form. Let's prepare for the golden autumn and plan to collect a bouquet from bright autumn fallen leaves. On the Internet you can see a master class on making roses from maple leaves, author Natalya Yakubova, teacher primary school. This is such a beautiful bouquet of roses made from maple leaves:

In order for a bouquet of roses made from autumn leaves to please for a long time, you need to lubricate the leaves before work sunflower oil or grease already prepared roses with oil.

can be coated with varnish or spray paint:

Happy beautiful autumn!

You can make a luxurious bouquet of roses from autumn foliage. We collect leaves. You can take the leaves different colors, sizes, but they must be clean and slightly damp. If the foliage is very dry, then it will not be possible to twist the leaf into a bud.

Wipe the leaves with a cloth, if necessary. Dry it a little if the foliage is wet. We begin to make the middle of the flower. Take a piece of paper and fold it in half - do not squeeze it.

We twist it into a soft tube. We hold it with our fingers and begin to wrap it with the second leaf. By the way, the sheet may be a different shade.

We do this for as many leaves as we want to get petals. We hold the bud with our fingers so that it does not fall apart. We do this, for example, five buds. We connect them together, holding them by the petioles - we collect a bouquet. Roses can be wrapped in green leaves). Cover with varnish.

info-4all.ru

Autumn bouquets and some secrets of their making and preservation

Autumn bouquets are amazing compositions that can combine all the gifts of autumn: flowers, leaves, branches, berries, vegetables and fruits. This bouquet will decorate any interior, giving it warm and rich colors and shades of autumn. And to make these bouquets pleasing to the eye longer, there are several secrets that you can use to extend the life of your autumn bouquet until the onset of winter.

The leaves collected for the bouquet can be greased with sunflower oil, adding a couple of drops to it essential oil, for example an orange. This way you can save your bouquet for more for a long time, and its aroma will improve your mood.

Professional florists use glycerin instead of oil

In a mixture of glycerin with hot water(3:1,) place the leaves or twigs from which you are going to make a bouquet, this way they will not dry out, but will remain soft. Although this method has a drawback - the color of the leaves can change unpredictably.

There is a special flower varnish that florists use to treat cut flowers. You can go to flower shop and ask for help.

Some people advise covering the bouquet with regular hairspray.

And such stunning bouquets can be secured with melted wax by dipping leaves or twigs into it.

After this treatment they will not lose their color and can last for a whole year.

You can also sprinkle your bouquets with sparkles, paint them with gold paint, decorate them with colored ribbons, decorative fruits, cereals, everything that will give them a special autumn focus and set a new note in your interior.

Waxing autumn leaves

In addition to the usual autumn bouquets, the house can be decorated with Japanese ikebana

To make your ikebana beautiful and harmonious, when composing the composition, adhere to certain rules.

prazdnichnymir.ru

How to create and preserve a bouquet of autumn leaves?

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How to save and use maple leaves?

The shape of a maple leaf is easily recognizable. It can be seen on the Canadian flag, and indeed, there are hardly people in Russia who cannot imagine it. Maples are very beautiful in autumn: their leaves acquire beautiful colour, they smell somehow special. Children and adults collect them into beautiful yellow-orange bouquets, which, perhaps, can be called symbols of golden autumn.

But maple leaves do not last very long in this form. How to extend their life? And what else can you do with them? In fact, there are a lot of options. First of all, you need to choose the right leaves: they should be fairly fresh, the process of rotting should not yet begin in them. Having collected a sufficient amount, you can think about how to preserve them. Most popular way- iron them through newspaper sheets. This will help remove from the leaves excess moisture and prevent rotting. But this measure may somewhat spoil their beautiful color. Another one wide known method- put maple leaves in the book for a while; it won’t hurt it if you line the herbarium blanks with newspaper. But you will have to wait a couple of months for the results to be good.

So what can you do with dried leaves? Firstly, the same bouquet, which will last much longer, especially if you cover it special composition, which is used by florists.
Secondly, they can be used for applications, herbariums and similar crafts. Some even make them beautiful roses, folding several leaves around each other in a special way. Such flowers can be coated with paint and made into wonderful Christmas tree decorations, especially since handmade is now very much appreciated, especially if it is such an exclusive item.

In addition to the decorative function, maple leaves can serve as medicine, they are quite widely used in folk recipes. Thus, they are believed to have wound-healing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties, and
can also serve as an antiemetic, diuretic, and antipyretic. There is even an opinion that Maple Leaf has an analgesic effect. However, it is better not to use such drugs without consulting a doctor, since only a professional can choose the right medications for the patient.

By the way, not all maples have the same leaf shape, but there are about 160 species in this genus. The number of their lobes varies; they can be round or more
elongated. But almost all nations in one way or another revere these trees; they have a place in the famous Japanese gardens, maple leaves inspire poets and composers to create poems and songs.

In addition, it is valuable wood and an excellent honey plant. In Canada, of which it is a symbol, maple syrup has long been made from it and added to desserts. This is how great the significance of this tree is for a person. Regardless of how useful and practical the maple is, it is simply beautiful, and its leaves can long remind romantic people of warm autumn days and the people who were nearby.

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4 Best Ways to Keep Leaves in Perfect Condition

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, having brought 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 They hold on very tightly, but still this is a great chance to keep the bouquet in its 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 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.

How many flowers should there be in a bouquet?

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, having brought 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 the autumn leaves on the branches hold on very tightly, but still this is a great chance to preserve the bouquet in its original form. Before placing the arrangement in a vase, trim the branches with a sharp knife and lightly split them. 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 regular 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”.

Updated: April 20, 2019 by: Olga Fomina

Autumn leaves are the culmination of the season. Colorful leaves can be even more attractive than flowers. However, in order to decorate your home with fall 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 in different stages of color change.
4. Leaves with no high content moisture is better to dry under pressure. More elastic 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 covering the surface with a thin layer of 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 of old cloth 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 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 outside 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 through short intervals time.
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 covered with an additional layer. 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

Preserving the leaves with glycerin is 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 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 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 straight lines sun rays 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, on next year there will be different leaves, and every year your skill and creativity will only develop.

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Autumn dresses the trees in gold and crimson clothes, covering the earth with carpets of incredible beauty. Orange, yellow, burgundy leaves, collected in bouquets, can enliven the interior of every home. They make great crafts. But how to preserve this beauty?

Leaves collected in the park quickly lose their chic appearance, wrinkle, darken, crumble at the slightest touch. Therefore, after a few days you have to throw them away. And I really want them to stay in the vase all winter. But these masterpieces of nature can be preserved if you use simple technology.

The easiest ways

I have always used three proven methods. With their help, you can save autumn leaves until spring. They are suitable for a herbarium, and for a bouquet, and for interesting crafts. You can even create paintings with their bright autumn leaves and decorate the walls of your home with them. These are the methods:

• dry the leaves in a book;
• use a microwave;
• apply material for decoupage.

Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. Now I will tell you more about them.

Drying in a book

Even a child can use this method. He will need an old thick book and beautiful autumn leaves. They can be picked up from the ground or torn directly from a tree. It is important that they are free of any defects - holes, rotting areas, tears.

It is better to take an old book that is no longer useful. The fact is that during the drying process the sheet releases the juice present in it, which stains the pages. You can also use a stack of last year's newspapers. You just need to make sure that they do not change their position while the leaf dries. Otherwise, it may become deformed or crumble into small pieces. The sheet must be placed between the pages. It is important that it is pressed down well. If this is not done, it may rot.

If there are no unnecessary books in the house, take any. Only in this case, place paper towels or napkins on the top and bottom of the leaf. They will absorb the juice that is released, and the pages of the book will remain clean. If you have several pieces of paper, arrange them so that there are at least 40 pages between them. Then they will not deform each other during the drying process. You need to wait 2-3 weeks.

This method is good for its simplicity. With its help you can dry any leaves that fit in the book. However, at the same time they become faded and not so beautiful. In addition, leaves dried in a book turn out to be very fragile. They break easily from a careless touch. They can be used for herbarium or creating applications. In a bouquet they do not look very impressive.

In the microwave

This method is also very simple. The good thing about it is that you can get the material for crafts in just a few minutes. A microwave comes in handy if a kindergarten or school suddenly requires you to bring a herbarium urgently.

Despite its apparent simplicity, there is no need to entrust a child with drying the leaves in this way. The fact is that the drying process should only take a couple of minutes. If the sheet is left in the oven, it will turn black and wrinkle. To a small child It is difficult to count the right time, so it is advisable that an adult do this work.

Before putting the leaves in the microwave, you need to remove moisture (if any) from them. You can dry several leaves at the same time in the oven. To prevent them from sticking together, do not place them next to each other. There should be a small distance between the sheets.

Need to put them on paper towel, folded in two layers. Cover the top with another layer of paper. Carefully place this structure in the microwave and turn on the device for 30 seconds. During this time, the leaf will not have time to become completely dry. Therefore, you will then need to turn on the oven several times for 5 seconds. The maximum amount of time a sheet should spend in the microwave is only 3 minutes. If you leave it too long, it may even catch fire. That is why such work must be done by an adult.

If you really need it, the leaves prepared in this way can be used immediately. However, it is better to give them a little more time for final drying. After microwaving, place them overnight in dark place. It's even better if they dry for a day or two.

If you notice that the sheets are becoming faded, immediately treat them on both sides with acrylic spray.

Varnish for decoupage

This method is a little more complicated than the previous two, but an older child can also cope with it. To work you will need:

• beautiful leaves;
• sponge brush;
• decoupage varnish;
• unnecessary newspaper.

There is no need to take leaves that are too dry, because during the work they will curl in the corners and sides. A sponge brush and varnish can be purchased at a store that sells art supplies. Some craftsmen use PVA glue instead of varnish, but the result is much worse.

It is advisable to start processing on the day the leaves are collected. The work process is very simple. You need to carefully coat the leaves on one side with varnish and lay them out to dry. To do this, you can use not only newspaper, but also any other paper, for example, pieces of wallpaper left over after renovation.

When the varnish is completely dry, you need to apply it to the other side of the leaves and lay them out on the paper again. This technique allows you to completely preserve all the shades of autumn leaves and makes them more durable. Most often I save them this way. I like maple leaves. They are large, with carved edges, and have a long petiole. I make them up amazingly beautiful bouquets, which please the eye all winter.

We use wax

I recently learned that there are other ways to preserve autumn beauty. One of them is treating the leaves with wax. This method is also quite simple, but only adults should use it.

You need to prepare the following materials and items:

• leaves;
• an old frying pan or saucepan that you no longer use for cooking;
• candle;
• a sheet of wax paper (you can also use clothespins).

It is better to take a white candle, because colored wax will slightly change the shades of the leaves you collected. First you need to carefully sort through them, throw away all the torn and twisted ones. The rest need to be wiped off if they are wet.

Next you need to melt the wax. To speed up the process, the candle can be cut into pieces. Melt the wax not over a fire, but in a water bath. When it becomes liquid, you need to take the leaf by the tip of the petiole and dip it in wax. It is recommended to do this 2-3 times to get a thicker layer.

Next, the leaf can be placed on wax paper or hung by the petiole on a rope using a clothespin. You need to use waxed paper, because wax can stick to any other paper. This method allows you to perfectly preserve all the shades of an autumn leaf.

We use wax paper

In this case, we don't need a candle. This method is not very complicated, but it requires attention. You need to prepare:

• beautiful leaves;
• scissors;
• iron;
• two sheets of wax paper of any color.

Leaves brought from the street should be carefully examined and wiped if there is moisture on them. After this preparation, place them between two sheets of wax paper and iron them.

From high temperature the wax on the paper will melt and stick to your leaves. The steam function cannot be turned on. Keep the hot iron on the piece of paper for no more than 3-5 minutes on one side and the same amount on the other.

After ironing for 5 minutes, try the sheet. If it is not completely dry yet, repeat the procedure again. When the wax on the leaf hardens, you need to take scissors and carefully trim off all excess.

We use glycerin

This method seemed to me the longest, but it helps to preserve not only individual leaves, but also entire branches. Of course, there is no need to break the tree. Often twigs remain after autumn pruning. Sometimes they fall from the trees on their own. The leaves on the branch should hold very tightly.

You need to prepare:

• glycerin - 530 ml;
• water - 2 liters;
• leaves;
• hammer;
• dishwashing liquid (it should be odorless and colorless);
• deep container.

Glycerin needs to be diluted with water, add a few drops to the solution detergent. Some craftsmen advise putting the twigs in water for several hours. However, you can do without this.

Their edges must be beaten with a hammer so that the liquid can easily reach the leaves. Now you need to immerse the twig in the solution for a period of 3 to 5 days. During this time, the leaves should be saturated with glycerin. After 5 days, the twig can be removed from the solution, allowed to dry and used for further creativity. This method not only preserves the color of the leaves, but also makes them more saturated, bright, and beautiful.

Choose the method you like and create with pleasure.