Pressing Autumn Leaves
Fall Memories
Do you remember pressing leaves as a child? I can remember my grandmother and I finding the most beautifully colored leaves to keep as memories of our time together.
My grandmother will have been gone for 20 very long years in October of 2009, but I remember so clearly the times we had together. Each fall before the neighborhood kids would come to clean the leaves from the yard for her, we would walk around and find our treasures for pressing.
My grandmother was a teacher and librarian so there was always a full house of books to use for this purpose.
All images from public domain.
Pressed Leaves Projects
Have you considered what you will do with the leaves after they are dried and pressed?
There are so many things you can do that will add beauty to your home or bring a piece of furniture to life.
Many people use them in dried arrangements as illustrated in the picture. Some people use them in scrapbooks to remember a trip or special occasion.
Adding Texture and Beauty to Boxes
My grandmother loved to decorate gifts boxes or boxes that would be used as decoration in the house. Once it was even a hope chest that was decorated with leaves and sprigs from the yard. It was truly one a kind and so very beautiful.
Pressed Between the Pages of Time
To Press Leaves
Find a flat place that will not be disturbed and is out of the way.
Always choose the best looking leaves with no mold, cracks, holes or bumps and are not curly or only have a very slight curl.
Use newspaper instead of wax paper to dry the leaves more quickly.
Leave a little space between each leaf while placing the leaves on top of the newspaper and then place newspaper sheets carefully on top.
Use heavy books and gently place them on top of the newspapers.
Leave them for about a week and you should have beautiful pressed leaves to display!
If you simply do not have the time or enough books to use you can use a leaf press. My children each had one similar to this one so each could press his own.
Leaf or Flower Presses
Leaf Sculpting
You will be amazed at what can be done on the leafs surface.
Have You Ever Pressed Leaves?
I am doing it at the moment-Blessed
This would be fun to do with kids, blessed
I've never pressed a leaf, but I remember painting with them to make an autumn leaf art piece. Thank you for this lovely lens. *blessed*
I do every year - usually the big bright red maple leaves.
Hmmm... the way I remember it was we pressed the leaves between wax paper. But it has been many moons ago since I did it, so perhaps my memory is wrong on this. Nice article... you make me want to try it once again!
It has been a really long time since I pressed leaves but you have given me an idea to start this tradition with my own grandchildren. Thanks! And enjoy a little Angel dust to go along with my visit.
As a kid, I used to enjoy pressing leaves.
Great lens! I still press leaves and flowers, something my mom taught me as a child...most of them are in my Bible...I just wish I had ID them, because they are all over from my travels and places I lived...I also collect rocks and have forgotten to ID them as well.
Yes, I remember pressing leaves, flowers and flower petals when I was still a little boy. In fact, I when I first landed in Canada, I was fascinated by all the different colors of maple leaves that I collected some when a friend of mine visited a park. I still have them somewhere :) Reading this lens took me down memory lane...Fall blessings! :)
I can't believe I have never done this, now I need to think of a project to make with leaves!
Always, ever since I was a little kid,... even after the most horrible case of poison ivy got me!
We do but we have never done these imaginative things with them. Lovely.
I think we did this when I was younger. Good thought! Need to do this with my boys!!
Such a wonderful idea! Beautiful examples of what you can do with leaves.
Wonderful lens. I have a gizmo called a Microfleur that dries leaves and flowers in the Microwave. It works well but you have to experiment to get the time just right. About the decorated box -- I'm wondering how your grandmother covered the leaves for protection. Did she varnish over them some how? Great lens.
Some lovely ideas here for Autumn leaf projects!
So many wonderful memories of long walks in the Fall collecting leaves. The smell of the crisp air hit me as I browsed this lens ;)
I love this. Yes, I have had several Leaf Presses and have pressed leaves with my grandson. Lensrolling to Fall Trees.
Yes I have pressed leaves. What a gloriously entertaining video. Lovely thoughtful lens.
Hmmm, I wonder if mom finally threw out all those pressed leaves we did way back when in Ohio with the waxed paper? Do they still make waxed paper?
I remember pressing leaves. It was always so much fun to find the very best leaf ever and seal it in wax to keep it forever. I wonder what happened to all those leaves I pressed when I was younger? I wouldn't be surprised to find them in some of my mom's old books at her house! :)
Another wonderful nature and art lens - my favorite topics! I have been preserving leaves, seeds and flowers since I was a child, and I still enjoy drying leaves and making art from them each autumn. I've been using leaves to make sand cast bird baths for a couple years - nature is such a wonderful inspiration and provider for craftsmen and artists of any level. Congrats, new angel and thanks for your friendship and blessings - 5*
My son's friend just told us his grandfather bought a dictionary at a garage sale, went home and found it full of pressed leaves. Cool! 5*
We love to press leaves and use them as decorations throughout the house in the autumn.
I had lots of pressed leaves! Brings back memories! 5*
I remember pressing leaves, too! Must remember to do this with granddaughter this year!
Lovely lens! Yes, I did press leaves, but none of mine could hold a candle to the ones in the video, wow.
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