How to Dry Leaves
Leaves can make a wonderful addition to many kinds of craft projects. Colorful fall leaves have are a great addition to projects, but you can also use green leaves for crafts in the spring and summer. Drying leaves can be a fun project for kids and adults. You can dry leaves by placing them in a book or, if you’re in a hurry, dry them in the microwave. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Dry Leaves
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Choose leaves that have bright colors and good shapes. You may want to use a variety of colors, sizes and shapes. You can pick the leaves off a tree or off the ground, but make sure to choose leaves that aren’t damaged.
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Blot the leaves dry with a paper towel, if they’re wet from the rain.
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Place one large leaf (such as a maple leaf) or a few small leaves (such as birch leaves) on a dry paper towel. If you want to dry several different types or sizes of leaves, it’s best to dry each size or variety separately, since some types of leaves will take longer to dry than others. Cover the leaves with another paper towel.
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To press the leaves, place the leaves between two paper towels or sheets of paper. Place the leaves inside a heavy book, then close the book and place another heavy book or weight on top. Check the leaves every week until they’re dry, changing the paper towels if necessary.
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To dry the leaves quickly, microwave the leaves for 30 seconds, using a medium or low power setting if available. Check to see if the leaves dry. Microwave them for about 10 seconds longer if necessary, then check them again.
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Tips & Warnings
Large leaves, such as maple leaves, work best in the microwave, since very small, crisp leaves will dry too quickly. Make sure the leaves aren’t wet when you microwave them, or they’ll cook instead of dry.
If you want to make sure the leaves don’t stain the pages of the book, use extra sheets of paper to protect the pages. You can also use a flower press to dry leaves.
After you’ve dried the leaves, place them on a flat surface in between plastic towels or in a plastic zip bag to store them until you’re ready to use them in craft projects or as a decoration.
Do not microwave the leaves too long, or they may catch fire.
