How To Make a Beeswax-Dipped Leaf Garland
“Come little leaves said the wind one day,
come o’er the meadows and we will play,
put on your dresses of scarlet and gold,
for summer is gone and the days grow cold!” -George Eliot
Changing leaves is one of the best parts of Fall. Don’t you think? Luckily there are a few maple trees in our Southern Cali neighborhood which I’ve scouted out. I ran over as soon as the winds began to blow to collect! One way to preserve leaves in all their vibrant glory is to coat them in beeswax. If you don’t have fall leaves, any leaf will work. Even wildflowers work well, I hear - let me know if you try!
This craft is super simple and when they dry, you can place a few around the house, on a nature shelf, or perhaps hang them up as a fall garland like we did. When I involve my children in a craft, I usually choose crafts that are much more open-ended. Where they are invited to create what they wish and explore materials without an agenda.
But I love how this craft brings nature into our homes and ignites our senses with warm, honey-scented beeswax. So cozy! There is also a bit of risk and trust involved, as we use melted beeswax. That can be a healthy thing for a child to explore too, with parents nearby.
Here’s how to do it….
Materials:
fall leaves
Beeswax - we used this one for its natural honey scent
tin foil
twine or string
small or mini clothespins
Step 1: Gather fall leaves, green leaves, or wildflowers depending on the season or what’s near you.
Step 2: Place a protective layer of tin foil down in a medium saucepan (beeswax is notoriously tricky to remove from pans, and it’s handy to wrap up the remaining cool beeswax and save it for later).
Step 3: Turn the burner to medium high heat and melt 1/4 cup of beeswax in the tin foil. The beeswax should be warm and melted, but not too hot or you’ll “cook” your leaves (learned this the hard way!).
Step 4: Remind children that the melted beeswax can burn our skin, so they can either gently and thoughtfully dip leaves into the beeswax using fingers, or use one of the clothespins to hold the leaf while they dip. Dip the leaf in once to coat and then let it cool on a mat or parchment paper.
Once cool and dry, dip the stem in and allow to cool and dry for a minute or 2.
Step 5: Hang the leaves on some twine using small clothespins. This is a nice way for toddlers to practice using their pincer grasps too.
Goooo fall! Enjoy it for up to a few months in your home.
More fall craft ideas: DIY Fall-Scented Play Dough and Create A Pumpkin Fairy House
PS - Here’s a link to my guide if you’d like to weave more sparkly rituals into your every day family life. A warm thank you for supporting my small businesses. :)
Sending you lots of love,
Jesse xo
WAYS WE CAN CONNECT:
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