Beeswax Leaf Art

Welcome to the enchanting world of beeswax leaf dipping. Using this process you can create beautiful decorations that last a long time. In fact, dipping leaves in beeswax is one of the most most beautiful ways to keep the color around for a little bit longer. A perfect project for all ages you can use many types and sizes of leaves. Choose a colorful mix and enjoy bringing the outdoors inside.

Leaves preserved with beeswax can be used to make beautiful seasonal garlands or wreaths. This natural wax made by honey bees has a low melting point. This makes beeswax easy to use for so many craft projects.

Getting Started with Beeswax Leaf Dipping

Anything created with beeswax seems to have a magical quality. It just smells so good!

Fall leaves are so beautiful on the tree and when they first fall to the ground. But after a few weeks and some rain, they begin to mold or dry up to a drab brown.

We can delay that process by dipping our leaves in wax. Beeswax seals in a small amount of leaf moisture. This keep them pliable and looking vibrant for weeks (or months) longer than usual.

With proper supervision, you can even get the kids involved. Make it a fun educational project by letting the children help collect leaves and identify the trees.

And, older students enjoy learning about how the chlorophyll that makes leaves green breaks down as the tree sap falls – allowing the Fall colors to show.

Selecting Leaves

The first step is to choose some colorful Fall leaves. You may use any color and combinations of colors.  Red, yellow, orange and many vibrant colors will be on display in a diverse forest.

When selecting leaves for preserving with beeswax, choose ones that are colorful and pliable.  You want most of the green color to be gone but the leaves should not be too dry.

It’s okay to include a few greenish ones for contrast. Try to vary the type of leaf too. A combination of leaf shapes adds interest to your display.

Large single leaves look nice but choose some with small compound parts. This provides a lot of variety in your display and looks more natural.

However, you must remember that you will be dipping them in a vat of melted beeswax. The larger leaves will require a larger (or deeper) pot of wax!

Beeswax

Coating the leaves does not require a lot of beeswax. However, the size of the melting pot or vat has an affect on the amount of wax needed to create a pool for dipping.

If you are using raw wax from a beekeeper, be sure to clean the beeswax if it had not been done. This makes it suitable for other projects too – such as making beeswax candles.

Luckily, while the colors of beeswax do vary in nature – it is perfectly fine to use some of your darker wax for leaf dipping. It will not make a difference for your finished product.

Many beekeepers use raw wax straight from the hive. It has often been run through a solar wax melter once and then cleaned again using water or filtering through material.

Melting Pot

Melt beeswax in a pot you plan to use for crafting and you don’t plan to use for anything else. Cleaning beeswax out of a pot can be done but I do not recommend it.

The safest way to melt beeswax is the double-boiler method. This is where you put a smaller pot containing the wax inside a larger pot with water. This reduces the danger of overheating your wax as the heat is more uniform.

Melting beeswax in a crock pot is a good option -but it does take longer.  And of course, your crock pot will not be suitable for anything other than melting wax afterwards.

Some crafters use a modified deep fryer pot. The fryer works great but is very dangerous without continuous supervision. Be safe and use the lowest temperature setting possible.

CAUTION:
If using a fryer, always triple check your temperature setting. We want it just warm enough to melt the wax. Around 160° F seems to do well. Do not rush the process.

Expert Tips

Here are some important project tips and safety tips to consider. Don’t be alarmed if your leaves look whiteish as the wax cools. If you did not dip them too many times, they will cool to a clear coating.

Leaf Selection

If the leaf crumbles easily in your hand, it is too dry to use. Leaves that fold gently without cracking are at the best stage for this project.

Another tip, choose leaves that will lay flat naturally. Some plants have more recurve in their leaf structure than others.

Even though I prefer leaves that naturally lie flat, I have enjoyed experimenting with curvy ones as they add natural beauty to a display.

Safety Precautions

One of the things that makes beeswax so craft friendly is the low melting point. However, caution should be used when melting beeswax. 

Beeswax is flammable and can catch fire if over-heated. That’s why it is good to use for homemade beeswax fire starters)! The flash point temp is around 400° F – there is no reason to let your wax get that hot. Never leave melting wax unattended.

Consider using a candy thermometer to maintain a safe temperature! Don’t be afraid of the beeswax, but give it the respect it deserves.

Protect your workspace with newspaper or sheets or parchment paper. Drips of beeswax are difficult to clean up – minimize the mess.

Decorating Ideas for Wax Dipped Leaves

After a few hours of drying time, you will have a selection of sturdy, colorful fall leaves to use for decorations. 

This is a great lesson of sustainability for children. A voice from the past when home decorations were made from natural materials that were readily available from nature.

Beeswax coated leaves can be part of a Fall table display. You can also brighten up any window by hanging your leaves with string or yarn to form a colorful garland.

Use them to create table centerpieces or decorate pillar candle displays. If you have artistic talents, beeswax dipped leaves can be used to create a wall art collage of various colors and shapes.

More Ideas

The ability of wax to hold in moisture is why beeswax products are so popular. Items such as beeswax lip balm recipes or beeswax lotion bars – protect our skin moisture. This is why it is a common ingredient in many beauty products.

In fact, while you have that melted beeswax handy – learn how to make these DIY Herbal Beeswax Sachets and you will have a beautiful sweet smelling display.

Final Thoughts

Dipping leaves in beeswax is a remarkable craft project that brings together nature and creativity. It allows you to capture the brief natural beauty of Fall and enjoy it for just a bit longer. Fill your home with the rustic charm of autumn.