Wax Dipping Leaves

Have you ever left out in the rain, and it got too wet. Wet leaves start to decompose, which is good in nature, but not so good if you want to keep a special leaf.

If you leave a special leaf on the table, it can get too dry, and curl up. When touched, it crumbles!

Pressing a leaf in a book is a good option, but it still gets dry and fragile. Some leaves lose a lot of their color this way.

What would happen if you dipped the leaf in wax?

You will need:

- a perfect leaf

- an adult helper

- beeswax or paraffin wax - cut into small pieces to make it melt faster.

- a double boiler (small pot that sits inside a bigger pot)

- tongs

- a plastic or metal surface for the leaf to dry on

Step One: Find a perfect leaf, or several. They work best if they have been pressed for a day or two before you dip them in wax.

Step Two: Get an adult's help. (Kids should never work with melted wax without adult help.)

Step Three: Make a "Double Boiler". This is a pot inside a pot. You put hot water in the bottom pot, and the wax in the top pot. This helps the wax melt slowly, and not get too hot.

* Safety Note: If wax gets too hot, it can light on fire. Fire needs three things to burn: Oxygen, Fuel, and Heat. Remove any one of these, and the fire will go out. Keep an eye on your wax as it melts. As soon as it's fully melted, remove it from the HEAT. Keep a lid handy too, so you can remove the OXYGEN at any time in case of emergency.

Step Four: Once your wax has melted, remove it from the heat. Carefully dip your leaf into the wax, turning it so it is fully covered. Use tongs or hold it by the stem so you don't get wax on you.

Step Five: Holding it over your pot, give the leaf a little shake to get rid of extra wax. Then set it to cool on a metal or plastic surface. The wax will be cool and dry very quickly.

What will you do with your perfect leaf? Will you use it to decorate something around your home? Will you send it in the mail to someone you love.

I did notice that the wax will crack if you bend them, so it's best to use them in a craft that won't be touched once it's finished.