Wax paper provides an inexpensive way to preserve or "laminate" flat items such as paper, autumn leaves or flattened dried flowers. Make a sandwich with the item between two sheets of wax paper, with the waxy side of the paper facing in. Cover the work area with craft paper; then cover the wax-paper sandwich with another sheet of paper before ironing the paper to seal it.
Wax Paper Lamination
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Things You'll Need
Ironing board
Craft paper or paper bag
Wax paper
Clothes iron
Scissors
Step 1
Cover the ironing board with a sheet of craft paper or a folded plain paper bag such as a grocery bag. Several sheets of thick plain paper can be used if you do not have craft paper or a paper bag.
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Step 2
Tear off two sheets of wax paper larger than the item you wish to preserve or laminate. Place one piece of the wax paper, waxiest side up, atop the craft paper on the ironing board.
Step 3
Plug in the iron and set it to a low-heat setting without steam.
Step 4
Center the item you wish to preserve, such as a flat dried flower or autumn leaf, atop the wax paper. Place the second sheet of wax paper waxy-side down atop the project item you wish to preserve. Align the top wax paper sheet with the bottom sheet as closely as possible. If they aren't exactly the same, it's OK; you can trim the wax paper later.
Step 5
Place another sheet of craft paper or a paper bag atop the wax paper. This sheet protects the iron from wax.
Step 6
Iron the top layer of paper, moving the iron around slowly, for 5 to 10 seconds. Wait 30 seconds or so; then lift the top paper to see if the wax paper pieces stick together. If not, replace the paper and iron it again. If the wax paper still isn't stuck together, adjust the iron's heat setting so it is slightly warmer, and iron the paper again.
Step 7
Allow the wax paper to cool for several minutes once the pieces are sealed together. Trim the wax paper to the desired size with scissors so at least an inch of wax paper remains around all sides of the laminated object to keep it in place.
Tip
If the wax paper won't seal no matter how many times you try, shave a minimal amount of white paraffin wax off a candle and sprinkle the shavings around the perimeter of the item you wish to preserve. The wax goes between the two sheets of wax paper and may help seal the item completely. Keep the wax 1/2 inch or so away from an item that may absorb it, such as paper, to avoid staining the item you're preserving.