Leaf Fondue

I thought I'd share a fun autumn craft today (even though there is currently SNOW on the ground!!!).  A few weeks ago, Addie and I decided to give Wax-Dipped Leaves a try!  I found the project here and thought it looked like fun.  It was also a great way to use up some of the beeswax I bought last year  when I was on our homemade herbals kick.

First, we collected a bunch of pretty-colored autumn leaves.  It was a rainy day so we spread them out to dry well before we started dipping.

Next, we melted beeswax pastilles that I purchased last year from Mountain Rose Herbs.  They melt really quickly and smell great.  I used my small crockpot that I never really use for much of anything else.  It is now a beeswax only crockpot though; so, if you don't want to commit to that much beeswax crafting, you can melt it over boiling water in a glass jar or bowl.

When the wax was fully melted, we just started dipping our leaves.  You'll need to make sure that you collect leaves with the stems attached so that you have a handle for dipping.  The wax dried really quickly, so we only needed to hold the leaf over the pot for a few seconds.  We laid them on wax paper to finish hardening.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with them next.  Addie wanted to make necklaces; but, I thought those might be a bit scratchy and potentially sticky if you were feeling warm that day.  We decided to string them with a needle and thread and hang them up as an autumn decoration.  I checked them for a few days to make sure they wouldn't get too warm in the window and start to melt; but, they seem to be holding up just fine!

I saved a few extra and scattered them around the house.  I'm planning to use them for our Thanksgiving place cards by writing or painting our names on them with some metallic paint.  I'll let you know how those turn out!