How to Preserve Fall Colors

Wax Paper

• 1

  Line a flat surface with a towel and place a piece of wax paper on top.

• 2

  Arrange your fall leaves on the wax paper. This can be in a bouquet design of the red, orange and yellows, or simply a single leaf that's especially eye-catching.

• 3

  Place another piece of wax paper on top of the leaves. Lay a towel or cloth rag on top.

• 4

  Move a warm iron across the towel on top to heat the layers below. This will melt the wax paper together, preserving your fall colors inside.

• 5

  Cut out the foliage, leaving a small margin of wax paper along the edges. Attach a string to turn the leaves into a window ornament or simply hang them on the wall to see your fall colors through the seasons.

Glycerin Mix

• 6

  Mix one part glycerin and two parts water together in a flat pan. Glycerin, a sweet syrup used to preserve food and drinks, can be purchased in a bakery or from a pharmacist.

• 7

  Submerge the fall leaves into the glycerin and water mixture. Some leaves might float, so weigh them down with pebbles or other objects.

• 8

  Leave the foliage in the mixture for two to six days. During this time, they will absorb the liquid.

• 9

  Remove the leaves from the pan. Use a soft towel to wipe them dry. The foliage should now be soft and pliable, and will preserve the vivid fall colors for years to come.

Book Press

• 10

  Find an old book with pages large enough to fit the size of each leaf. The pages might get damaged during this process, so pick a book you don't mind risking damage to.

• 11

  Ensure the leaves aren't wet to the touch. If they are, place them in a sunny window so they can dry. This will ensure they don't get moldy once they've been pressed.

• 12

  Place the leaves between pages of the book, layering each one between paper towels first. You can press multiple leaves in the same book, but be sure to layer them at least 15 pages apart.

• 13

  Allow the leaves to sit in the book for at least seven days. After the first two days, check to ensure the paper towels aren't moist from the leaves. Replace them if they are.

• 14

  Remove the leaves from the book when they are pressed and dry. Display them in a vase as a souvenir of fall.