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Collection of colorful Fall leaves collected to dip in beeswax image.

Preserves Leaves with Beeswax Dip Tutorial

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC
Step by step directions for preserving Fall leaves with beeswax. A light coat of beeswax is all that is needed to keep those bright colors around for several months. With a little supervision, a wonderful craft for kids.
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Tools

Supplies
 

  • 1 piece Parchment Paper or equivalent
  • 1 pound beeswax
  • 12 pieces Fall leaves
  • 1 piece string or yarn 12" long

Instructions
 

  • Melt beeswax in a double boiler of your choice. The size of this container depends on how much wax you have and how large your leaves are.
    You can use your fingers or (tie a small piece of string to the leaf stem for ease of dipping).  This is especially true when coating  leaves in beeswax with children as participants. 
    Otherwise, carefully dipping the leaves and coating most of the stem will serve the purpose.
    Quickly dip a leaf into the melted beeswax.  When you pull it out hold it firmly and give it a few shakes – allowing any excess wax to drip back into the pot.  
    Dipping yellow leaf in melted beeswax image.
  • Hold the leaf above the wax pool for a few seconds. Then lay it flat on a piece of wax paper, aluminum foil, or parchment paper. 
    It should cool for several minutes ( 5 min). Then, gently pick up the leaf and repeat the dip and shake process.  
    Place your finished leaf out flat once again to cool. A cloudy coating of beeswax will be visible on the surface of the leaves. Don’t worry.  If you performed the dip process correctly, the wax will become clear as it cools.
    Popular leaf preserved in beeswax coating image.

Notes

  • Do not over heat your beeswax.  Beeswax melts at a temperature of about 144° - 147 °.  It is not necessary to heat your beeswax to a high temperature.
  • When beeswax reaches a temperature of around 180° F it will darken and become less appealing. 
  • You want the wax to be completely melted but at its lowest temperature.  If it begins so skim over on the top, it is not quite warm enough.
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