How to Preserve Fall Leaves with Glycerin

[@B30pt87]

Great video, and a lovely display of the leaves. I usually do individual leaves and make wreaths out of them, but your are so pretty I'm going to try sprays this year. Thank you!

[@CoriumCorvidaeAndrewPolman]

The temporary nature of life is beautiful, and preserving what we can of it only adds to that temporary nature. :)

[@Timetraveler1111MN]

Great video I love your tips. OK so wait them down with a tree and then you put water in a bowl to keep that heavy and weighted down that’s great tip. Also, I saw that you used branches which I would like to do is have some full branches I just have leaves, I have a big round metal arch on the top of my front step and I would like to preserve some there. I have an oak tree that the first year we cut it down. I wove some of the big huge long branch is through, but not any colorful one.

[@jenniecoleman2488]

Gorgeous as always😊

[@artemiumgames]

Thanks for video. I'm not sure exactly, but it seems to me that the detergent allows the water to fit into the plant better.

[@fredkrol932]

Thank you. Better outcome than with wax!

[@wassabilove1111]

Can we put not dried out leaves in it? Or should we flatten the leaves in a book first?

[@clarewilliams1859]

How beautiful! Do you think i could do this with Rowan Berries?

[@SmileMercantile]

This will not work with berries, they would likely rot.

[@grisellescakes]

Such a beautiful leaves 🍁 🍂Where I live you don’t see them ☹️

[@SmileMercantile]

I totally get it! I grew up in the desert. Moving to a place with autumn leaves was so crazy! :)

[@user-ek8qh3hs6p]

I always LOVE your videos. Thank you! Do you think this could be done with magnolia leaves?

[@SmileMercantile]

I've heard of it being done! I think it might change the color- probably would not remain bright. :)

[@JudiMiles]

I’m trying magnolia leaves now

[@nathyllustre431]

Hello. Thank you for your video. How long can I use the glycerin ? Can I use it many times ?

[@SmileMercantile]

Yes, you can reuse the mix and do multiple batches. 😊

[@joshuadivahar7719]

How long does this remain as it is ?

[@lindakorthanke4242]

How long will they last?

[@lacyreed8234]

I tried this but the leaves went really dark and nothing like their original colour :( I don't understand why

[@SmileMercantile]

I had a handful that did that too. The ones that stayed truest to the original color were the really red maples. My birch leaves changed the most.

[@B30pt87]

Some leaves do. Oak leaves, (Black oak not so much, but other oak leaves will darken considerably). If you notice the glycerine solution going dark, you've left the leaves in too long. Don't re-use dark glycerin solution unless you want black leaves (which make great Halloween wreaths/Goth wreaths!)

[@krystiankrysti1396]

can you get rid of that sheen with potato flour or some other powder ?

[@SmileMercantile]

I noticed that the glycerin continued to "sweat" for awhile, I'm not sure that a powder coating would be enough to keep that from happening.

[@primitiveseasons1]

How long do they last

[@SmileMercantile]

They are supposed to last through the season. When I switch over to Christmas I'll be storing these in the attic to see if I can get them to last through next fall! ☺️🍂

[@Linaaaa_18]

@@SmileMercantilehave the lasted? Thanks

[@SmileMercantile]

I just got them out of the attic! The color has faded quite a bit, but the texture is still supple and bendy. They aren't dried out at all. The color is muted though.

[@B30pt87]

I have some Oak leaves and some Maple leaves I preserved almost four years ago. They look almost the same as when I first took them out of the glycerin - the maples are a bit darker, but the oaks haven't darkened appreciably.

[@lauraandrews8072]

can that used solution be reused?

[@SmileMercantile]

Yes, a few times. 🧡