Here in the northeast United States, as well as in many other areas, October is our most colorful month. The trees are ablaze with their fiery red, yellow and orange leaves. The kids are all in school for the moment, and I’m enjoying a magnificent Indian summer morning in silence. Of course, the silence won’t last; my cherubs will be bolting through the door very soon. Today there will be no television. Homework can wait until after supper. Today is a perfect day for enjoying our New England blessing – autumn. And of course using our fall collections in wonderful crafts. Do you remember preserving leaves as I kid? Ironing them in wax paper, I think, is the most common way to preserve them. It also makes them flat, flexible and easy to work with. Another suggestion for preserving leaves using glycerin. The glycerin technique: Purchase glycerin at your local pharmacy (it’s used as a suppository for children) Melt glycerin in a jar using 3 parts hot water to one part glycerin Find the prettiest leaves or small leafy branches Using a toy or other small hammer, split the ends of the stems or branches. This will allow them to absorb the glycerin. Put the leaf stems and branches in the jar. Leave for approximately a week. They make a pretty center piece while in the jar, so leave them where you can enjoy them. During the week, you will notice them start to change color and texture. When they are soft and pliable, they are ready for your craft. Now, what to do with them. Wreaths and center pieces to bring the color into your home are some of my favorites. Make a door or wall hanging using a cereal box paper plate or wicker paper plate holder (which is what we did). If you use a paper plate or cereal box, cut a hole in the middle and color it with brown, orange and yellow crayons. Make sure you color the back as it is easier to glue things to the back than to the front. In addition to our leaves we gathered various nuts, branches with berries (preserved using the glycerin technique) and bark. The kids glued items of their choice to the wicker plate holder (using the back). Since I have 3 kids, I used some gold ribbon to tie the 3 plates together vertically and have it hanging on my back door. It really looks awesome! Individual leaves can be used to decorate windows or layer in bowls and plates top with pumpkins or gourds to make a lovely, seasonal centerpiece. The kids love the gourds, and it’s fun to cut them open when the season’s over to see what’s inside.
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