How to process autumn leaves for compositions. Processing of leaves and fruits for compositions

The beauty of autumn leaves can be enjoyed not only in autumn. Some drying methods may result in leaf loss or discolouration. However, there are numerous ways that help keep the color and shape for a long time. After reading this article, you will learn how to dry autumn leaves so that they please you in the cold season, when the trees on the street are bare and unsightly.

Steps

Decoupage

Choose bright leaves. Collect freshly fallen, bright and enough soft leaves. The leaves may be slightly dry, but not to the point where they break or curl on the sides. Choose whole leaves. Avoid torn or slightly damaged leaves.

Cover the leaves with adhesive on both sides. For decoupage, a white adhesive is used, which becomes invisible when dried. You can buy an adhesive in a store that sells goods for creativity and needlework. Use a sponge brush to apply adhesive. Lay the leaves out to dry on a sheet of newspaper.

In most cases, decoupage should be done the same day the leaves were picked. If you delay this activity, the leaves will dry out, turn brown and brittle.
If the leaves are very damp, or if you have picked them directly from the tree without waiting for them to fall, they should be dried for a few days. To do this, put the leaves inside a large book.

Wait until the adhesive is completely dry. It should not stick to your fingers. On the leaves, it should also become completely transparent.

Repeat on the other side. Flip the leaves over and apply glue to them. When the second side is dry, the leaves are ready to use. This method allows you to keep the color and shape of the leaves for a long period of time.

Use of paraffin wax
1. Take fresh leaves. Collect freshly fallen bright leaves. Coating with paraffin wax will give the leaves a beautiful shine. Dry each sheet by wiping it with a paper towel before moving on to the next step.
  
  Melt the paraffin wax in a disposable bowl. 450 g paraffin wax should be melted in a disposable dish, heating it over low heat.
  - To melt paraffin wax faster, cut it into big chunks, and distribute them evenly on the bottom of the disposable tableware.
  - If you don't have a disposable container to melt paraffin wax, grab a cake pan that you don't plan on using for cooking anymore. Wax can ruin the mold, so don't use the utensils you're cooking in.
2. Remove the melted wax from the stove. Be very careful as the melted wax is very hot. Place it carefully on your desktop. Be careful not to overturn the wax container. This is especially important to consider if you have pets or children in your home.
  
  Dip each leaf into the melted wax. Hold the leaf by the handle and dip it in the wax a few times. Make sure that both sides of the sheet are completely covered with wax. Do not bring your fingers close to hot wax, so as not to burn yourself. Repeat the above steps for the rest of the leaves.
  
  Lay the leaves out to dry. Lay each waxed sheet on waxed paper and leave in this position until the wax hardens. Let the leaves dry for several hours in a draft-free room. After the leaves have dried, they should peel off the paper with little effort. Thanks to this method, the shape and color of the leaves are preserved for a very long time.
  - To be on the safe side, line your worktop with newspaper before laying down some wax paper. Thanks to this, the wax will not fall on the worktable. If the wax gets on the table, it will be very difficult to remove.
Use of glycerin
1. Choose fresh leaves or a small twig with leaves. If you want to dry a whole twig of autumn leaves, this method is the way to go. Choose a twig with leaves that are firmly attached to it.
  - This method may slightly change the color of the leaves. Yellows will become more saturated, reds and oranges will become more vibrant.
  - If possible, look for already fallen branches instead of plucking them from trees. Remember that such actions can harm the tree.
  - Do not take branches with diseased or frost-bitten leaves. This method will not bring the desired result if the leaves have been caught by frost.
2. Cut off the end of each branch. Beat the end of each branch with a hammer so that the fresh tree is visible. This should be done so that the branch absorbs glycerin better. Otherwise, it will not reach the leaves.
  - If you want to dry only the leaves, without the twig, you can skip this step.
3. Dilute the glycerin solution. It can be purchased at the store. To prepare the solution, mix 530 ml of liquid vegetable glycerin with 2 liters of water in a large container.
  - Glycerin is a natural substance derived from plants. This leaf storage process is environmentally friendly.
  - If you want to dry the leafy twigs, add four to five drops of dishwashing liquid. This makes it easier for the glycerin to penetrate the wood. For nai best result Use dishwashing liquid that is colorless and odorless. Alternatively, a liquid surfactant, available from a hardware store, can be used.
4. Place the twigs with leaves in the solution for three to five days. The twigs and leaves will need to soak up the glycerin for three to five days. Place the container with the solution and twigs in a dark place.
  
  Remove the twigs and leaves from the solution. The color of the leaves will become brighter. In addition, they will become more elastic. You can use the whole twig or individual leaves to make various fakes.
Using the microwave
1. Dry the leaves in microwave oven. Place the leaves in the microwave and heat them for 30 seconds. Then continue heating for 5 seconds.
  - Autumn leaves usually need to be heated for 30 to 180 seconds before they become completely dry.
  - Be very careful when you put the leaves in the microwave. If you leave them in the microwave for a long time, they may catch fire.
  - If the leaves look burnt, chances are you overcooked them in the microwave. If the leaves are curling around the edges, they probably haven't been in the microwave long enough.
2. Leave the leaves overnight. Place the leaves in a dark, draft-free place and leave them for at least a night and a maximum of 2 days. If you notice that the leaves begin to fade, they urgently need to be processed.
  
  Treat the leaves with acrylic spray. Leaves need to be processed on both sides. Wait for the leaves to dry. After that, they can be used to make fakes.
Use of the book
1. Place a heavy book on paper. To on the book and on working surface there are no stains left, place paper napkins or toilet paper between a sheet of paper and a book. They absorb moisture from the leaves.
  
  You can also dry the leaves right in the book, but in this case, you should use only an old book, which will not be a pity, as stains may remain. Place the leaves between the pages of the book. For best results, place each sheet at least 20 pages apart.
  - Use the telephone directory if you have one.
  - Place a heavy object on top of the book. This will keep the leaves flat and dry. You can use other books, bricks, or any other heavy object.
2. Check the condition of the leaves after a week. They must be dry. If they are still not dry, continue drying for a few days.
Use of wax paper
1. Dry the leaves. Place dry leaves between two paper towels. Arrange the leaves in a single layer so that there is free space between them. Iron paper towels on each side. Iron each side for 3-5 minutes.
  - Drying the leaves ahead of time will help them retain their color and quality after covering the leaves with wax paper.
  - Do not use the steam function on the iron when drying leaves. The steam will return moisture to the leaves. Use the dry ironing function.
  - Feel the leaves after ironing them for 3 to 5 minutes. If the sheet is still not dry enough, iron it for a few more minutes on each side.

This year, my daughter and I very thoroughly, like squirrels, stocked up on autumn leaves, and all kinds of nuts, acorns, and cones. The older the child becomes, the more interesting it is to make crafts from all this material - the daughter does more and more herself, and often we just do something nearby, mother - her own, child - her own. It's very nice to spend time like this. I already mentioned on FB that we made stamps from autumn leaves and apples - so addicted to it! And this fall for the first time made "wax" leaves - preserved leaves in stearin and wax. I had never tried this before and simply dried the leaves - in the open air, in the sand, or soaked in glycerin. I love floristry and I'm good at it. Now we have mastered a new technique from which we are both delighted. It is not difficult at all and gives a very effective result. Now not all the leaves have flown around yet, and you can also try to make wax autumn leaves that retain their shape and color for a long time.

I don’t traditionally take pictures of a detailed master class, but I can describe everything in words. Let there be just a lot of photos of the result.

So we need:

1. Fresh autumn leaves (ideally - maple leaves with petioles);
2. Natural wax or stearin candles(I have the most common white IKEA candles, it is possible to use transparent candles or special kits for making candles. The final result depends on the type of wax - everything can be found out by experience.);
3. Baking paper or foil; (we will put leaves to dry on it);
4. A saucepan and a container for a water bath - better wide, so that your largest leaves can easily enter there;
5. A wooden board or dish, a tray, a baking sheet, where ready-made leaves will be temporarily stored and dried;
6. Stove, kitchen, free time and positive mood.

The process itself is:

1. Melt the wax or stearin in a water bath. (Amount - so that you can freely dip the leaf, about 1.5 -2 cm from the bottom of the container.) As soon as the wax has melted, reduce the heat to a minimum to maintain heat.

2. We spread baking paper or foil near the stove - the leaves will dry on it so that they do not stick to the surface. The distance from the plate to the foil should be minimal, ideally cover the edge of the plate with foil, otherwise it will then be necessary to scrape off drops of wax or paraffin for a long and dreary time.

3. We take the leaf by the petiole with our hands and quickly dip it into stearin (wax). Make sure that it is all - all dipped, but do not boil it in water for a long time - 6-10 seconds will be enough. Take it out and let the droplets of wax run right over the pan. To do this, first hold it for 6 seconds down with the tips, then, if it is dense, turn it a little to completely cut off all the drops and so that no accumulated wax remains on the tips. Then quickly place the sheet on the foil or baking paper face up. The sheet dries quickly - in about half a minute. After it, you can immediately transfer it to the same baking sheet or dish, where the leaves will finally dry out or wait in line for use in crafts. But after a minute - two leaves can already be used in the work. Foil or baking paper must be periodically cleaned of drops of wax, or put a new one so that the drops do not stick to the leaves. When you put the sheet to dry - a small droplet may remain on the tip and go beyond its aisles - after drying, this droplet can be easily removed manually with a knife or fingers, but in such a way as not to damage the entire coating of the sheet.

If a child participates in the process, then he should be at least 4.5-5 years old, and then he can dip the leaves into the wax himself, but only with a long petiole and after a thorough explanation by his mother how hot the wax is. As soon as the child is tired, let him become a spectator. But in general, this activity, although interesting, bewitching, but not for kids. My daughter made 6 leaves and then helped to sort the finished leaves.

As a result of processing, the leaves become very beautiful: they retain their shape and color. It is impossible to make them absolutely even, since nothing can be put on top when drying. So the natural curve will be preserved. But such a juicy shade cannot be achieved by simple drying. From white stearin, the leaves slightly gleam, as if in hoarfrost or like candied, and the yellow color of the maple leaves becomes brighter, richer. It is not so easy to work with white stearin - when it hardens, it can show flaws in the work - accumulations of white on the hollows of the leaves. It is necessary to very carefully drive the stearin from the sheet - training to make precise movements. For stearin, you need to choose even leaves without dents. Good in stearin and variegated leaves with white spots. Stearin can be chipped from the leaves - if children's fingers pick it up. But he doesn't get off on his own. The leaves are quite fragile - like glass or frozen, but durable. It's a pity that the photos do not convey those delightful sensations that arise when you hold this "wax" sheet in your hand and rustle it! After paraffin we tried natural wax. With it, the leaves do not become hard, but remain soft and acquire an almost matte appearance. Of course, you should not bend them - the coating will lose beautiful view. All red leaves are very good under wax - for example, Maiden grapes. But yellow maple leaves are not as spectacular as in stearin, and are slightly curled. In general: depending on what you dip the leaves into, it turns out very different result. Since you don’t know what exactly will turn out, you feel like a little sorceress.

Part finished leaves we put them in a beautiful dish to decorate the dining room, and to touch them and admire them. And the other part made decorations on the windows: they tied the leaves with a thin black thread and attached them over window frame. These leaves have not lost theirs for two weeks now. appearance. Our garlands are good in cloudy weather and into the sun. In the sun, of course, they shine incomparably - like a stained-glass window. And they slightly rustle from the breath of the breeze ... But in general, anything can be made from such "wax" leaves - a bouquet, a voluminous application, an autumn tree, a mobile, a garland - everything depends on our imagination. The technology itself is great. My daughter and I are very pleased and will continue to experiment with her next year.

material prepared for work.

Water bath. Irgi leaves are drying nearby. Only I can dip such tiny leaves in wax - it is dangerous for a child to do this. Nearby lies a knife with which I remove droplets of wax from the foil.

This photo and one below: - leaves in stearin.

This photo and one below: leaves in natural pure wax.

We liked the paraffin treatment more - because they made more of these leaves.

Leaves in stearin. The most spectacular and beautiful. Although many also like wax, similar to the touch of soft thin skin.
Those in stearin are like candied, or in hoarfrost. They are hard and brittle to the touch.

I made a wreath on the wall from the leaves treated with stearin. These are the leaves of the irgi.

For contrast, this is how maple leaves dry at home without any treatment. My daughter was impressed.
True, we really like this bouquet: it is stylish and beautiful. In general, each dried maple leaf, twisted, becomes like a sculpture.

This is our composition on the window. Here you can see exactly how the leaves were tied - with a black thread for the petiole.

Our composition is made from leaves treated with stearin. It is good both in cloudy weather and in sunny weather.

It's on another window - in the nursery.

The shadows from the leaves on the window are especially good with the curtain drawn. And they sometimes "walk" around the room, depending on the time of day.

The child is delighted with our "eternal", magical leaves.

Do-it-yourself wax autumn leaves step by step with a photo

Natural material is an interesting thing, but short-lived. After some time, the moisture from the collected leaves evaporates, they become brittle and brittle, and lose their color. How to prolong life and decorative look? You can make wax autumn leaves that retain their shape and color for a long time.
Material Description: the master class will be useful for older students, teachers, parents.
Purpose: room decoration, decorative bouquets.
Target: creation of a decorative bouquet.
Tasks:
- develop creative abilities
- educate accuracy, perseverance
For work we need:
1.Fresh autumn leaves.
2. Candles (the most common white candles).
3. Baking paper or foil (we will put leaves on it to dry).
4. The saucepan and container for the water bath are better wide so that your largest leaves can easily enter there.
5. Stove, kitchen.

The process itself is:
1. We melt the candles in a water bath. (Amount - so that you can freely dip the leaf, about 1.5 -2 cm from the bottom of the container.) Once the wax has melted, reduce the heat to a minimum to maintain heat.

2. We spread baking paper or foil near the stove - the leaves will dry on it so that they do not stick to the surface. The distance from the plate to the foil should be minimal, ideally cover the edge of the plate as well, otherwise it will take a long time to scrape off drops of wax.
3. When the wax becomes liquid, dip the leaf into it, turn it over so that the wax covers it on both sides, 5-7 seconds will be enough.

Take it out and let the droplets of wax run right over the pan. To do this, first hold it for 6 seconds down with the tips, then, if it is dense, turn it a little to completely cut off all the drops and so that no accumulated wax remains on the tips.

Then quickly place the sheet on the foil or baking paper face up. The sheet dries quickly - in about 1 minute. After a couple of minutes, the leaves can already be used in the work. Foil or baking paper should be periodically cleaned of drops of wax, or put a new one so that the drops do not stick to the leaves. When you put the sheet to dry, a small droplet may remain on the tip and go beyond it - after drying, this droplet can be easily removed manually with a knife or fingers, but in such a way as not to damage the entire coating of the sheet.

If a child participates in the process, then he must be at least 7 years old, and then he can dip the leaves into the wax himself, but only with a long petiole and after a thorough explanation of how hot the wax is. As soon as the child is tired, let him become a spectator. But in general, this activity, although interesting, is not for kids.

It is easy for children to be carried away by something new and interesting. If the child is already bored with drawing or modeling, you can invite him to make crafts from bright autumn leaves. This process is utterly fascinating - amazing things are born from simple dried leaves with the help of glue, threads and other improvised devices. Having engaged in applications or making vases and bouquets, the child will not only be able to develop his creative skills and imagination, but also get to know environment. Collecting a herbarium for crafts is an excellent opportunity to teach a child to distinguish different breeds trees. So, what can be done from the leaves?

Preparing leaves for crafts

For the manufacture of any leaf craft, only well-dried material is needed, fresh leaves will not work. Leaf preparation takes long time so you have to be patient. In addition, you need to dry the material correctly, here are the basic rules:

If the evenness of the leaves is not important for the craft, they can be placed in a spacious container (for example, a large wicker basket) and left on fresh air. So the leaves dry quickly, and air circulation will not allow mold to develop.
To get perfectly smooth leaves, you need to lay them between book pages or landscape sheets under pressure. Carefully spread the material between the sheets of books or albums. It will take at least 14 days for the material to dry completely and be ready for use.
If you do not want to wait a long time, you can use a special herbarium press. To do this, fold a stack of leaves, alternating each layer with newsprint or unnecessary sheets. In a few days, the material for crafts will be ready.

How to make leaf skeleton

Skeletons of leaves due to their lightness and transparency look very impressive as a decor. To achieve this effect, you need to resort to a special technique - skeletonization.

What you need:

any fresh leaves;
soda;
dye for eggs;
small capacity - ladle or pan;
Toothbrush;
paper napkins.

How to make skeletonized leaves:

Mix soda with water in proportions of 1 to 4 and put the leaves in the prepared solution so that they are completely hidden by water.
Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the stove and remove the leaves, lay them carefully on the table, glossy side up.
Remove excess moisture with paper towels.
Clean the pulp from the leaf with a brush (this must be done very carefully, the leaves are quite fragile).
Rinse the skeleton under water and then paint it in desired color.
Leave the painted skeletal leaves to dry.

The resulting material is ready for use.

Bouquet of flowers from leaves

A bouquet is the simplest thing that can be made from leaves, and it is worth starting with it if the child has not previously been involved in such crafts. To make crafts in the form of a homemade bouquet, it is not necessary to use real flowers, dry them, etc. Buds can be made from multi-colored leaves collected on a walk. Connect children to every step of the process, creating a real creative workshop.

What you need to make crafts:

maple leaves (fresh) with stems;
spool of strong thread.

To make a bud from maple leaves, you will need to perform several steps:

Take one sheet first and fold it glossy side out.
Roll the sheet into a tube.
Fold the next sheet in half and wrap it around the straw.
Continue to wrap the bud with leaves until the flower is quite lush.
Wrap the base of the bud with thread so that the flower does not fall apart.

With this method, you can make any number of flowers, which are then simply collected in a bouquet.

Topiary can be made from the most different materials. Often you can find crafts made from coffee, banknotes, sweets, hearts, etc. This version of the topiary involves the use of maple leaves.

So, what is required for the topiary:

pot;
wooden stick for the trunk;
a ball of foam rubber or polystyrene as a base;
gypsum;
dye;
hot glue;
elements for decoration.

The procedure for creating an autumn topiary looks like this:

The stick must be inserted into the pot and firmly fixed with a gypsum mortar. As a result, the structure will be strong and stable.
Paint the pot and wand a color you like, such as gold to match the leaves.
We fix a ball of foam rubber on the top of the stick - this is the future crown of the tree.
Stick the desired number of leaves into the ball. For decoration, you can use berry clusters, ribbons, beads, as well as artificial twigs and flowers. To make the stems of the leaves more durable, they must first be soaked in a hot solution of glycerin (1 to 2) and left in this form for 10 days in a dark, cool place .
Next, we decorate the trunk and soil of the tree with dry moss, bark, and beads.

How to make a decorative fall wreath

From bright autumn leaves you can weave a beautiful wreath to decorate windows, doors, walls, etc. A wreath attached to front door, will delight not only you, but also your guests.

What you need for crafts:

flexible branches of any tree;
dried leaves different colors(contrasting combinations look best, for example, yellow and red);
bunches of red berries (mountain ash, viburnum, etc.);
physalis;
glue;
coil strong threads;
decorative metallized threads;
small figurines of birds for bouquets.

How to weave a wreath:

The branches will serve as a frame - make a round or oval wreath out of them.
For strength, fasten the structure with a thread in several places.
Wrap the frame tightly with gold thread, leaving small twigs free.
Glue the leaves to the branches.
Attach the berry clusters with string.
Glue or thread physalis.
Finally, attach the birds to the wreath.

A ready-made craft made of leaves in the form of a wreath can be hung anywhere in the house, it will delight you with its beauty for a long time and remind you of the most colorful season.

Beautiful autumn leaves can be used not only for simple children's crafts, but also for a full-fledged interior decoration. One of these products is a fruit vase.

To make such a vase you need:

glue and brush;
inflatable ball;
petrolatum;
scissors;
maple leaves.

Step by step instructions:

Inflate the balloon to the size you need.
Lubricate the surface of the ball with petroleum jelly, this is necessary so that the leaves do not stick to it in the process and easily separate from it.
Fix the ball in a stationary state, so it will be more convenient for you to make your vase.
Glue maple leaves to the ball, pre-lubricating them with plenty of glue.
To make the vase strong enough, you will need several layers of maple leaves.
Once last layer completed, once again carefully coat the product with glue and leave for 3 days.
Pop or deflate the balloon, remove its remnants from the product.

The original interior decoration is ready.

Photo frame in autumn style

Children love to decorate the walls of their room with their own drawings and favorite photographs. Craft from leaves in the form of a frame, perfect for complementing the design of the room. Help your child decorate the frame with autumn leaves, where he will then place his favorite photo.

For crafts you need:

thick cardboard;
glue;
leaves you like;
pencil;
scissors.

How to make a frame:

From cardboard, cut a square or rectangular frame of the desired size. The center of the frame, where the photo will be placed, needs to be cut a little smaller than the size of the photo.
To wrap the frame with leaves, pre-soak them in hot water, so they will become softer and will not tear and break in the process.
Glue the leaves to the frame.
Wait for the product to dry.

When the frame is ready, insert a photo into it, securing it with glue or tape.

Applications from autumn leaves

Applications are one of the simplest types of crafts made from dried leaves. Using leaflets different forms and sizes, you can create real paintings, which will then become the decoration of your home. You can make a whole series of panels united by a common theme. These can be animals, landscapes, etc. Next, several small workshops will be presented on making applications in the form of an owl, a Firebird, a fish and a lion.

Owl

To make an application with the image of an owl, you will need:

small leaves of brown tones (for this you can use oak, willow, birch);
colored paper;
a small branch of thuja;
a sheet of cardboard;
a bunch of rowan berries;
any branch of a tree;
glue.

Before starting work, the leaves and berries must be dried. Once all the materials are ready, it's time to proceed to the most important thing:

Cut out an owl from cardboard along the contour.
Birch or oak leaves will depict the ears and legs of an owl, glue them in the right places.
For feathers, use long, narrow willow leaves.
Cut out eyes and a beak from colored paper and glue them on.
Glue your owl onto a tree branch to serve as a craft stand.

For additional decor, you can use moss or thuja twigs. You can also use mountain ash as owl paws. The product is ready.

Firebird

For the application with the Firebird you will need:

paper;
leaves of linden, birch and wild rose;
pumpkin seeds;
thuja branches.

And here's what the process looks like:

A lime leaf is glued to the place where the body of the bird will be.
Birch leaf - head.
Rosehip leaves are glued individually on the tail.
Whole rosehip branches will serve as an additional decoration of the tail.
Glue birch leaves to the body, these will be the wings.
From pumpkin seeds eyes are made, as well as decorations for the body and tail of the Firebird.
The final stage- a tuft of thuja sprigs or any other suitable plant.

The firebird is ready.

a lion

Children love different animals, so it will be especially interesting for them to make one of the familiar animals.

What you need for a lion cub:

rounded linden leaves yellow color;
black marker;
ash seeds;
horse chestnut (nuts);
glue;
a small pine branch;
scissors;
a sheet of yellow paper;
a sheet of orange cardboard.

Having collected all necessary material, it's time to start making crafts:

Draw a lion's head on yellow paper or print the image on a printer, cut it out along the contour.
For the mane, use linden leaves by gluing them around the head.
Draw the lion's nose and glue a chestnut in its place.
Pine needles will go to the mustache.
The ash seed will represent the tongue.

As soon as the craft dries, it will be completely ready.

Rybka

What kid doesn't know about the wish-granting goldfish? Making crafts with your own hands will be very entertaining for the baby.

To make a fish craft, you will need:

dry leaves of quince and linden brown and yellow, respectively;
glue;
marker;
ash seeds;
acorns;
paper scissors;
sheet of blue paper.

How to do:

Draw the outline of the fish on blue paper and cut it out.
Make scales from linden leaves and glue them to the body of the fish.
To decorate the tail, use brown leaves quince.
Use acorn caps to draw the outline of the fish's head.

Everything real gold fish ready.

Multi-colored leaves delight the eye every autumn, falling to the ground. This beauty quickly fades under the rain, turning the leaves into a solid brown mass. However, there is a way to preserve the beauty and brightness of autumn leaves - dry them or skeletonize them and use them to make various gizmos from children's crafts to interior decorations. This activity will appeal to both children and adults.

75 photos of leaf craft ideas

Almost any flower - from a fragile field rose to a luxurious garden rose, any leaf and blade of grass can become not only a part of a school herbarium, but also turn into an ikebana, a postcard for your beloved grandmother, material for decoupage, scrapbooking and a real picture that will become an excellent decor for your home . But for this you need to know how to properly dry the leaves and flowers.

There are many ways to dry plants and other natural materials to preserve their original shape and color. There is even a way to instantly prepare leaves and other raw materials for autumn crafts and herbariums. And he will help you a lot if you learned tonight that your child needs to bring this very herbarium to school tomorrow.

But sometimes you should not rush, especially if you want to create something unusual and unique from the gifts of nature. And then air or volume drying comes to the rescue, allowing you to preserve both the shape and color of beautiful delicate flowers. You just need to be patient so as not to spoil anything inadvertently.

And then real magic is born under your hands and the flowers continue to delight the eye when a blizzard sweeps with might and main outside the window.

Air drying without hanging

If for hanging plants there is no suitable conditions or places, they can be wrapped with paper napkins (preferably rice) or other moisture-absorbing material, and then laid out in boxes or on top of cardboard.

Flowers usually dry out in 2-3 weeks.

This method is suitable for plants such as ammobium, periwinkle, heather, gypsophila, goldenrod, kermek (statice), lavender, echinopsis and the like.

Air drying in a vase with water

Some plants wither very quickly, so it is difficult to dry them in their original form. Therefore, a combined method is used for them: air drying plus water.

The tips of the stems must be cut diagonally and put the plants in a vase of water, submerging no more than 4-5 centimeters.

As the water evaporates, the plants will dry out.

After the buds have puffed up a little, remove the flowers and cut off the tips of the stems that were in the water to prevent mold.

Then dry the plants by laying them horizontally on cardboard or paper.

This method is suitable for plants such as artichoke spherical, heather, carnation (after full bloom), gypsophila, hydrangea, lavender, bulbous, yarrow, chicory and the like.

Air drying with hanging

Air drying is an indispensable method for large flowers and plants that are needed for crafts or winter bouquets.

For such drying, dark (without direct sun rays), dry cool room with excellent ventilation (pantry, attic, garage, attic).

Depending on the type and size of the plant, the drying process takes different amount time.

What flowers can be dried?

Easy to air dry ornamental grass or spikelets cereal plants(rye, wheat, barley, etc.), as well as medicinal or useful herbs(mint, St. John's wort, nettle, etc.).

Of the flowers - cornflower, hydrangea, decorative bows, poppy, rose, lilac (cut immediately after the lower flowers bloom), physalis.

Cereals

Harvest the ears a couple of days before flowering or after the spikelets become light straw in color.

After harvesting, collect the ears in small bunches, placing the tops of the plants at different levels.

Tie the stems tightly, but not tight, and trim the ends of the stems to align them.

Hang the bunches spikelets down on a stretched rope or wire, at least 15 centimeters from the ceiling. The gaps between the beams are 10-15 centimeters.

You can fix bunches of flowers on hooks, paper clips or clothespins.

Leave the cereals to dry completely.

Flowers

Cut flowering plants as soon as the flowers open. Remove the bottom pair of leaves, or all of the leaves if you only want the flower itself.

Tie the plants at the base of the stem, 5-10 per bunch. It is better to wrap every 2-3 stems, and at the end of the whole bouquet with a tourniquet, elastic band or twine, so that the flowers do not fall apart after drying.

But do not tighten the rope too tight and do not wind it excessively so that moisture does not accumulate in the ligation points.

Hang bunches of flowers or spikelets down on a stretched rope or wire, at least 15 centimeters from the ceiling. The gaps between the beams are 10-15 centimeters. You can fix bunches of flowers on hooks, paper clips or clothespins.

In a bunch, the leaves should be well ventilated, and the flowers should not touch each other.

Leave the flowers to dry for 15-30 days. If the petals are thick and dense, or not optimal conditions, the drying time can be extended up to 40 days.

When the flowers are completely dry, the petals will be hard and brittle to the touch.

General rules

Large flowers and flowering branches should be dried one at a time (hydrangea, peony, rose, lilac).

Thorns must be removed from roses.

It is better to bind different types of plants separately, because their drying time may vary.

Volumetric drying of flowers in a wrapper

Absorbent cotton

In addition to powder drying using bulk substances, absorbent cotton wool can be used. In this case, the petals also retain their shape and color well.

Place all petals, including the most central ones, with pieces of cotton wool. Hang the plant by the stem on a hook or rope.

The flower head usually dries out in 5-6 days, but the cotton wool can be removed only after complete drying stem.

Toilet paper

When drying flowers with toilet paper the calyx is flatter and the papery texture leaves marks on the petals, but it doesn't fall apart.

The flower is shifted with paper in the same way as with cotton wool.

Waxing fresh flowers and leaves

Fresh flowers can be covered with paraffin, including a bouquet presented for the holiday. Almost all types of flowers can be treated with paraffin.

Dip the brush in melted paraffin, then carefully and delicately work the petals and leaves.

It is better to start from the extreme and move to the center of the bud.

After the petal is completely dry, you can move on to the next one.