How to preserve magnolia leaves

You can buy a pack of garland wire at the 99 Cent Store. Without using Mod Podge, magnolia leaves will slowly dry out in about 4-6 weeks.

Paint a coat of Mod Podge on the front and back of the leaves, letting them dry completely. Can you believe it is that simple to preserve those beautiful and much sought after leaves? There is one last and final step to maintain them. Get some Mod Podge spray acrylic to spray over the front and back of your leaves.

Rinse the leaves with warm water and blot them dry.

Then, lay them flat on a towel and pat them dry with a cloth or paper towel. If you want shiny leaves, you can polish them with a soft cloth for 15-20 seconds each to make the leaves glossy.

Fresh Magnolia Leaves for DIY Magnolia Leaf Wreath

Clip fresh magnolia leaves to make a simple DIY magnolia leaf wreath. To start, grab some pruning shears and cut individual magnolia leaves as close to the branch as possible. This keeps the stem long which is necessary for insertion into the foam wreath form.

Keep Leaves Hydrated by Misting

In areas with extra-dry climates, lightly hydrate the magnolia garland to keep its leaves from drying out quickly. Use a small spray bottle and simply mist the leaves lightly by keeping the bottle held eight inches from the magnolia.

Use Mod Podge –

All you need to do is press the leaves first. Brush one side of the pressed leaf with Mod Podge and allow it to dry. Flip over and brush the other side. You‘ll have a perfectly preserved leaf.

Step One: Snip the Magnolia leaves from the trees just before you’re going to paint them, so they’ll stay fresh as long as possible. Step Two: Gently rinse the leaves on both sides and let completely dry. Step Three: Paint the backs of each Magnolia leaf with one coat of Brown Sugar acrylic paint.

The fruit of the magnolia is also a great way to identify the tree as it is relatively large and unique in shape. Magnolias have large seed pods that look like cones, which are unique when compared to most hardwood tree species.

Start the swag.

Tie a knot at the top of your nylon twine and then tie it around the base of your first magnolia branch. Then, wrap the paddle wire around the stem and twine to join them.

When you‘re ready to get started divide the preserved magnolia leaves evenly into four groups and cut off the stems. Working on a protected surface and in a well-ventilated area, spray each group of leaves with one of four metallic spray paints: We used gold, silver, copper, and champagne.

A magnolia wreath does best if hung out of direct sunlight. Spraying it with water will not extend the shelf life. In fact it will damage the wreath. A little misting on the boxwood would be beneficial.

Slowly melt bleached beeswax over a double boiler; never allow wax to boil. Dip leaves in wax one at a time, holding by stem. gently shake off excess wax. Hang leaves on clothespins to dry.

Fall Leaf Garlands

Preserve them and make a cool garland! Add lights to make it more festive and your space cozier. If you want something long-lasting, take silk leaves and just attach them to a string, add pinecones and acorns to get a more fall-like look.