Waxing Leaves for Stitching and Journal Making

How I wax leaves for use in my slowstitch and mixed media journals.
The eco friendly medium I refer to is by Natural Earth Paints.
There are two other related videos, one showing how I stitch on leaves and another showing you some of the ways I have used leaves and other natural materials in my stitch journals.
Stitching on real leaves
• Slowstitch Week 27 - S...
Using leaves in my slowstitch journals
• Using real leaves in m...
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Thank you for watching, happy stitching! ❤️
#slowstitch #slowstitching #handstitching #journaling #mixedmedia

[@courageousspirit3586]

This is brilliant and I so appreciate your tutorial, for us to expand our creations. Love your channel.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Thanks so much 😊

[@valeriet457]

An ideal video for those of us whose autumnal walks are punctuated by picking up 'interesting' leaves (and conkers and acorns and twiggy bits and ...) I think my mantelpiece is a grown-up version of a primary school Nature Table!

[@k3n.clothtales]

😂 sounds like mine 😉❤️

[@maebayly9767]

Thanks for this easy way to wax leaves.

[@k3n.clothtales]

My pleasure ♥️

[@annaarmitage7348]

I am going to grate some beeswax because I have lots of it. They're the only candle I use. I think it will work well !

[@debrablanson2288]

Great idea never thought of this thank you for sharing ❤😊

[@k3n.clothtales]

You are so welcome!

[@gonerustic]

I am loving this! Can’t wait to get started - I just need to press some leaves as I haven’t had time yet. I will though 🌿😊

[@angelperry1836]

Who knew this was possible. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the stitching video.

[@k3n.clothtales]

You are so welcome! 🤗

[@maz3002]

Thanks Kathryn, i love that it's so simple ~ i look forward to waxing my leaves 🍃🍂

[@JournalBreeze]

What fun and so easy it is. Who knew! Thank you for the demo Katherine.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Glad you liked it!

[@neilstephen6761]

Thank you another wonderful project

[@RosemarieJohnson-bh6qe]

That was really interesting. Thank you

[@godschild1305]

Very helpful information. Thank you.😊

[@fayneilly833]

It’s a great thing to do I’ve never done anything like waxing so easy.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@dotlewallen6565]

That is a fabulous technique. Perfect for doll makers to embellish figures. Thank you so much

[@k3n.clothtales]

@@dotlewallen6565 my pleasure, that's a good use for it that I hadn't thought of, thank you for sharing 😊❤️

[@user-fs5vi6if8i]

Cool! ❤

[@juleswalker7847]

Excellent informative video - thanks Kathryn ❤

[@leonasdesigns]

Thanks Kathryn, I will definitely try this.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Wonderful!❤️

[@megantorri1711]

Thank you for showing how to wax leaves, I was thinking of ways to do it but they were much more messy.❤

[@sandramyer7081]

GREAT- LOVE these leaves❤😊❤

[@annrubino6252]

I'm all over this one, K3N. As a child, we ironed maple leaves between wax paper and it actually did the job. Now, wax paper or kitchen roll, as you call it, isn't actually waxed, when heated, it smells quite strange. The candle crumbs are such a good idea. In the Canadian Rockies we have little variety in trees but lovely alpine foliage to experiment with.

[@BarbaraEaves-vz1vl]

Oh, thank you for this tip. We used wax paper too.💕

[@k3n.clothtales]

Is that like freezer paper, the type you can iron onto fabric? I think the brand is Reynolds..

[@annrubino6252]

@@k3n.clothtales In Canada it has always been labeled "Reynolds Cut Right wax paper". However, as I mentioned, now it doesn't seem to be waxed. I suspect it must be some variety of petroleum product. I like your idea of using candle crumbs, especially bees wax. I also have a bees wax polish for furniture that I may try.

[@suebrown3194]

@@k3n.clothtales Here in the States we have waxed paper, freezer paper, and parchment paper. I'm not enough of a cook/baker to know what the differences might be. Freezer paper is the one recommended for stabilizing applique templates on fabric. Wax paper seems thinner, and one assumes has been coated with wax. However, given what Ann Rubino has said I will probably stay away from that for waxing leaves.

[@lesleymccallion2185]

Lovely! I have my leaves in a flowerpress given as a birthday gift this year by a friend so I was eager to see how to wax them 🧡

[@suethompson8538]

Thank you. Love this.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Glad you enjoyed it Sue ☺️

[@user-vc3ks5ii9r]

Thank you !

[@debzehr3244]

Thank you for the extra information. 💖💖💖

[@shirleyandersensmith113]

Wow, thank you Kathyrn.

[@ReallyJillRogoff]

Thanks, Kathryn. Can't wait until my leaves dry.

[@k3n.clothtales]

My pleasure Jill 😊

[@daphnewright5110]

What a terrific project.

[@k3n.clothtales]

@@daphnewright5110 thank you ❤️

[@beejayoung1546]

Thanks for sharing this Kathryn❤

[@Sa_Stafford]

Brilliant. Thank you. 😘😘 I’m going to try this method with some of my rust dyed papers too.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Have fun! 😊

[@kathysmith5411]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge ❤

[@k3n.clothtales]

It's my pleasure

[@poodlegirl55]

Very interesting, I will try it!! Years ago we would put leaves between two sheets of wax paper, cover with a cloth and iron.

[@k3n.clothtales]

@@poodlegirl55 that would be fun to try, not sure what the coating is on wax paper these days though.. 🤔❤️

[@mixedthreadart]

A few bits of coloured wax would be fun. I know the dyes are a concern, but better in art than the landfill.

[@k3n.clothtales]

I agree, you might get some fun results 😊

[@user-hi8zg7yu7i]

😊👏🪻🌻🌼💐 teşekkürler Türkiye'den selamlar ☺️

[@alexandraalmeida3661]

Thank you for sharing this! Really helpful (this must be the shortest comment I’ve ever written 😂) 💚🌿💚🌿💚🌿💚🌿💚🌿💚🌿💚

[@k3n.clothtales]

Couldn't believe it was you for a minute 😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️

[@alexandraalmeida3661]

@@k3n.clothtales 😂😂😂

[@MyMeriArt]

I can't wait to try this. My leaves may be a bit damp though🌷🌷🌷

[@k3n.clothtales]

I would give them a good blot dry on some cloth then go for it if you really can't wait 😁❤️

[@JeriBellini]

How would you know if a candle isn't all wax? You have some really beautiful leaves! I guess I'm just tired of looking at mine! 💜💜💜

[@k3n.clothtales]

By the packaging, label whatever. 😉 I think some are paraffin and that also melts and sets again so will work. I once had some cheap candles, don't know how they made their way to me, and they melted strangely and didn't set again, no idea what they were made of 😁❤️

[@annameynell935]

I have used glycerine to preserve leaves in the past - have you tried this and does it work for your projects? 🙏🍁

[@mixedthreadart]

Does glycerine dry or is it more like oil which would transfer or spread onto the background or surrounding pages.

[@k3n.clothtales]

I have never used it but just replied to a person who uses it on pine needles for basket making so I think it will work 😊

[@marykienenberger9078]

Thanks again. I will now get all of my materials together. I want to try the waxed leaf. I am thinking that glycerin might work well, also. I use that when I prepare my pine needles for basket making. I will give it a try later. So many ideas, so little time.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Hello Mary, yes I think that would work for leaves too though I haven't tried it 😊

[@marykienenberger9078]

I'll give it a try overnight and let you know how it goes. ​@@k3n.clothtales

[@AlisonGreenValleyCrone]

Thank you. I had a vague inkling (isn’t that a lovely word?) but good to see process explained and demonstrated so clearly. I have a tiny flower press that I filled weeks ago and am due to open today…could you use the same process of flowers & petals ?

[@k3n.clothtales]

@@AlisonGreenValleyCrone you could try petals but they are likely to be more fragile, even waxed. And yes inkling is a wonderful word 😁❤️

[@BarbaraEaves-vz1vl]

Wax paper is similar to parchment paper, but it has a thin coating of wax on each side. I usually buy the generic (cheaper) brand.

[@mjemyers]

Is there a way to determine if my candles are proper wax candles? Thanks so much! Great fun.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Unless it's written on the packaging, the best way would be to try a little bit and see how it melts and sets again. I remember years ago using some cheap candles and it kind of went watery and wouldn't coat the leaf. I believe some candles are also paraffin based and that also works. Not sure what my dodgy ones were made of. I now always buy the same ones, regular household candles from my local supermarket. ❤️

[@cosmiccoyotedog-doreenb9605]

Cool, I'll be doing that to my leaves with the wax. Kathryn, I wonder if soy wax will work as well...?

[@k3n.clothtales]

I have never tried it but I couldn't see why not. Only one way to find out 😁❤️

[@RosemarieJohnson-bh6qe]

I do have 1 question. The kitchen paper, is silicone baking paper alright and not waxed either?

[@k3n.clothtales]

Yes I would think that would work ok ❤️

[@user-yl9xf3su4w]

Kathryn, thank you very very much! It was so important to me! I appreciate your help and your information! Only one question: how does it come that your leaves preserve colour while drying? My leaves become usually almost of the same dark brown colour…😢

[@k3n.clothtales]

I think it depends on the leaf and when you gather them. Oaks seem to keep their colour the best. When they are fully dry, I keep them in sealed tins out of the light. ❤️

[@user-yl9xf3su4w]

💞

[@nancyd9397]

Is your kitchen paper, parchment paper or freezer paper?

[@k3n.clothtales]

I think it's what you would call parchment paper. It's NOT that paper that people use as templates to iron on to cloth. It's the same both sides, non stick paper for lining cake tins etc ❤️

[@nancyd9397]

@@k3n.clothtales yes, parchment paper, thank you!

[@suebrown3194]

@@k3n.clothtales Ah, thank you from me too. 😊

[@xmobile.]

7:45 expensive, white liquid, somewhat translucent, plant-based / from nature... my first thought is, i wonder if this is the natural latex sort of stuff that bleeds out of wild lettuce, or milkweed, or other plants. Hmm.

[@k3n.clothtales]

It must be something of that kind ♥️