I’ve seen fall leaves dipped in beeswax and have been wanting to try it the last few years. Then I saw Nicole’s tutorial on how to do it and knew Bracken would be so delighted if we did that project together, this was the year! This week Bracken and I had the perfect opportunity to gather maple leaves. They were all different colors and we kept exclaiming over each one. We brought a basket full home with us. That day had been a long one and I was too tired by the time we got home to do the project that night. Jeff suggested putting all the leaves in a book overnight. It was a great idea because it made them all nice and flat. The next day we took the leaves back out of the book. I was a bit low on beeswax and decided to be thrifty. I’ve been saving all our old beeswax candles to melt down and reuse the wax, so that’s just what we did. We have a crock pot reserved for melting wax. Melting beeswax makes the house smell heavenly, another bonus to this project. We didn’t have any waxed paper on hand, but Jeff had a few sheets of waxed cardboard. It worked alright, but the leaves did stick a little to it. We held the stems and dipped the leaves in the beeswax. I gave Bracken the leaves with the long stems to do and did the ones with the short stems myself. He was really careful, but did end up burning himself once at the very end. That’s how you learn. We ran his finger under cold water and he immediately said it didn’t hurt anymore, so it wasn’t a bad burn. I followed Nicole’s advice and after the leaves had dried, I dipped the stems in the wax so the leaves will keep their color longer. Then I took some leftover yarn and tied it around each stem to make a leaf garland. I asked Jeff to hold it up outside so I could get a picture of it. We hung it up in the living room (not near the woodstove) and it looks so colorful and festive. I have to say that I think these leaves are the coolest thing. The fact that you can dip leaves in beeswax and they’ll retain their color for awhile (she says until spring) just amazes me! Bracken gathered some favorites, put them in a little vase, and set them on the shelf in his wooden kitchen. He already wants to make more so we can have lots and lots to share with family and friends. What a great way to spread fall cheer! And what a fun project, it might become a fall tradition in our home.

P.S. The leather leaf in my hair is one I wear every fall, given to me for my birthday from my dad and stepmom years ago. Oh, and in case anyone asks, Bracken is wearing his birthday sweater in the first photos.

P.P.S. Speaking of leaf love, I requested leaf earrings and Jeff made some gorgeous maple leaf earrings in juniper wood to start offering in the shop. We’re going to be giving a pair of these away, along with some other beautiful creations, so be sure to come back on Saturday for an awesome giveaway!