Waxing fall leaves, 1, 2, 3

I have such memories of this as a child, collecting fall leaves at their peak color and perfection. Mom or dad would set up the wax, and we'd sit and dip until we had heaps of waxed leaves.

And yet, I can't remember what we did with all of them...

Some we waxed right onto a piece of slate from the old fallen-down barn near my uncle's farm, the autumnal colors coordinating with the dark gray slate.

The rest? A mystery. I think we just liked to wax the leaves.

Today, before the first official day of Fall had ended, playing out in the yard we spotted a few ideal leaves. Just had to dig out the double boiler and the wax.

It's really easy as 1 2 3, this method of preserving fall color.

1. Find some good lookin' leaves with nice long stems.

2. Melt wax (Paraffin works fine--don't blow your $ on beeswax) in a double boiler. Holding the stem, dip the leaf in the melted wax.

3. Let the wax harden before setting the leaf down. You can just wave it around while holding it, use clothespins, or as I discovered tonight in a pinch, just tape them from the bottomside of your kitchen cabinets.

See? 1, 2, 3. After that, it's up to you. They are preserved, so you've got plenty of time to think about something crafty. Just get it done before the Christmas decorations have to come out.