How To Preserve Leaves: Best Methods, Tips, And Tricks!

If you love autumn colors, learn how to preserve fall leaves to keep them around longer!

Learn how to collect, press, and preserve fall leaves and other autumn foliage with the step-by-step leaf-preserving instructions below. Preserved autumn leaves make a plentiful natural supply for arts and crafts. Once preserved, fall leaves can be used to create gorgeous nature art and leaf crafts. Most fresh green leaves can be preserved using the same leaf-preserving techniques.

There are several ways to preserve leaves; scroll down for step-by-step instructions for an easy leaf-preserving method and links to directions that teach how to preserve autumn leaves using a few other simple techniques! First published on October 25, 2015, this post is regularly updated to enhance its content and ensure it remains current. You may also like this list of Fall Nature Crafts.

How to Preserve Leaves:

As autumn’s vibrant foliage blankets the world in a rich tapestry of reds, yellows, and oranges, many of us are captivated by the fleeting beauty of changing leaves. But what if you could capture and preserve a piece of this natural spectacle to enjoy year-round at home or in the classroom?

The art of preserving leaves has been a cherished tradition for nature enthusiasts, crafters, and botanists alike. It’s a fascinating journey into the balance between science and art, where we unlock the secrets of nature’s intricate designs and discover easy ways to immortalize their beauty. You might also enjoy this list of fall art projects and painting ideas.

This handy guide to leaf preservation teaches various methods that allow you to extend the life and colors of fall foliage. Once preserved, these delicate botanical marvels can keep the spirit of fall and the magic of autumn alive in our homes and hearts throughout the harvest season. So, whether you’re a seasoned leaf preserver or a newcomer to this classic nature craft, join us in uncovering the wonders of pressing and preserving leaves —a pursuit that can transcend the seasons and offer a window into the world of nature’s exquisite masterpiece, known as fall.

Collect, Press, and Preserve Leaves for Nature Crafts and Art Projects:

Do you enjoy hunting for and collecting colorful, beautiful leaves in the fall? Searching for gorgeous autumn leaves is a favorite fall activity in our home and homeschool. My family enjoys creating new nature crafts and art projects with the stunning array of fall leaves we gather and collect every autumn. The problem is that they will turn brown, shrivel up, and crumble into pieces if you do not use them immediately. Today, I will share tips on what to do with fall leaves after you’ve collected them so that you can use them for nature crafts and art projects later. Once finished, you can use your preserved leaves for leaf lacing, leaf crafts, leaf art projects, and much more!

However, it’s essential to remember that preserving leaves is an inexact science with varied results. After preserving autumn leaves many times after many years, I’ve learned that maintaining leaves where the colors look as bright and remain as supple as the day you found them is almost impossible, no matter which leaf preservation technique you choose. It is best to approach each leaf preservation technique like a scientist and choose one or two that you prefer the most. Since there isn’t a perfect way to preserve leaves, the best method for you is the one you enjoy most. You might also enjoy 14 Ways to Play and Learn with Fall Leaves.

Related: Fall Bucket List of Fun Fall Activities

Craft Supplies Needed to Preserve Autumn Leaves:

There are several methods for preserving leaves. However, not all methods work the same or produce the same results. This DIY tutorial teaches you how to press leaves before painting them with Mod Podge (or a slightly watered-down PVA or white glue) to preserve their natural beauty.

To preserve autumn-colored or green leaves and help them retain their vibrant autumn colors, you can also dip leaves into beeswax warmed in a double boiler, press them between pieces of wax paper with a hot iron, soak them in glycerin overnight, spray them with hairspray or varnish, or put them between laminating sheets and then use a laminator to preserve them.

Experiment with each method to determine which one you prefer the most. Some methods are easier than others, so it’s essential to consider this when working with children, such as toddlers or preschoolers. In other words, working with melted wax or a hot iron is probably not the best option for toddlers and younger children.

Of all these leaf preservation techniques, my family enjoys painting glue on leaves to preserve them, as instructed here. It may be messy, but I share an easy trick in the step-by-step tutorial to help simplify the process and make it less messy, so anyone can do it. Read on to learn how below. Or scroll past the step-by-step instructions to see the resources at the bottom of this post for more information about preserving leaves using other methods.

Materials Needed for Preserving Leaves with Mod Podge or Glue:

• Fresh leaves: Fall Leaves or green leaves
• Choose one of the following leaf press methods:
  • Medium leaf press
  • Large plant press
  • Microwave plant press
  • Paper towels (or cardstock) and a stack of heavy books
• Mod Podge or white glue mixed with water
• Foam brush
• Newspaper, an old sheet, or wax paper
• An old magazine or catalog (optional but helpful)

Related: Nature Crafts and Nature Art Activities

How to Preserve Fall Leaves with Mod Podge: Step-by-Step Instructions:

These simple, step-by-step instructions guide you through preserving leaves with Mod Podge or clear drying white glue. Preserving leaves makes it possible to create fall arts and crafts with beautiful autumn colors. Please read the instructions before getting started so you know the steps involved and what to expect.

Related: Fall Nature Table Ideas for Natural Learning

1. Gather and Collect Fall Leaves:

• To preserve leaves, you first need to get outside to collect them.
• Avoid gathering overly dry or crumbling leaves; choose freshly fallen or recently picked leaves that are supple and flexible.
• One of our favorite fall activities is going on a nature hunt to look for vibrant, fresh, fallen leaves to bring home to create nature crafts or press and preserve for later. My daughter gets excited every time she races for a pretty leaf!

Related: Marbled Clay Autumn Leaves Craft

2. Clean and Dry Leaves:

• After you collect a few gorgeous autumn leaves, it’s time to clean and press them.
• It is best to ensure that the autumn leaves (or green leaves) are clean and dry before pressing them, or they can grow mold and peel.
• Rinse the leaves with water and allow them to dry completely before pressing and preserving them.

3. Press Leaves (optional):

• After cleaning and drying the leaves, press and flatten them with a leaf press.
  • The craft supplies above suggest a few leaf presses you can use.
  • Alternatively, you can press and flatten the leaves with sheets of cardstock (or paper towels) and heavy books with the step-by-step directions below.
• Pressing leaves before preserving them is optional, depending on the desired result.
• To keep the leaves flat and prevent curling as they dry, press them before proceeding to the next step.
• If you don’t mind the leaves curling, feel free to skip pressing them.
• Place the autumn leaves into a leaf press, or arrange a few fall leaves on paper towels or a heavyweight piece of paper, and follow the step-by-step instructions for pressing leaves with books (or heavy objects) below:

How to Press Leaves with Books:

1. Place several clean, dry leaves, with or without their stems attached, on top of a paper towel or heavyweight paper, such as cardstock.
2. Put another paper towel or a piece of paper on top of the leaves.
3. The paper towel or cardstock will help absorb any excess moisture and keep the leaves in place. Ensure the fall leaves lie flat under each layer.
4. If you have more leaves to preserve, place them on the second paper towel or piece of paper.
5. Next, place another paper towel or sheet of cardstock on top of the leaves.
6. Repeat these steps until all the leaves you want to press are stacked between sheets of paper or paper towels. (Keeping the leaves separated with paper towels or heavyweight paper helps ensure the leaf stems don’t bruise the leaves above and below)
7. Once all the leaves you’d like to press are stacked between sheets of paper towels or cardstock, place large, heavy books, binders, or other heavy objects on top of the stack to press them flat.
8. Press the fallen leaves for 12 – 24 hours.
9. Don’t press autumn leaves for too long, as they can lose their color or develop mold if left in place for an extended period.

Related: How to Make and Keep a Nature Journal or Notebook

4. Preserve Leaves with Mod Podge or White Glue:

• Start by covering a table or surface large enough to dry the autumn leaves you’ve collected with newspaper, an old sheet, or waxed paper.
  • I recommend using Wax paper so the leaves won’t stick to it as much as they dry.
• The step-by-step DIY leaf preservation technique below describes how to paint Mod Podge (or a slightly watered-down, clear-drying white glue) onto autumn leaves to preserve them.
• Applying Mod Podge to a fall leaf is almost impossible without spreading it all over the surrounding area. However, I have developed a super-easy leaf-preserving hack when preserving them with Mod Podge or watered-down, clear drying white glue, described in the step-by-step instructions below. This will help you (or your children or students) preserve leaves with Mod Podge without making a huge mess!
• Other methods to preserve leaves are listed at the bottom of this article.

Related: Outdoor Learning Ideas and Nature Activities for Kids

How to Preserve Leaves with Mod Podge or White Glue:

1. After protecting your work surface with waxed paper (or newspaper), it’s time to paint the leaves with Mod Podge to preserve them. You can also paint leaves with clear drying white glue mixed with water to preserve them, but please ensure the mixture is not too runny.
2. Place the fall leaves, Mod Podge (or a glue and water mixture), and a foam brush on the covered work surface.
3. Grab an old magazine or catalog to provide a surface for applying the Mod Podge quickly without worry. (This step is optional but helpful.)
4. Open it to the first page, and use your foam brush to apply a thin, even layer of Mod Podge to one side of the fall leaf.
5. Lay the autumn leaf down in a single layer on the covered worksurface with the Mod Podge side facing up.
6. Repeat the steps above.
7. After using the first page of your catalog to paint a few leaves with Mod Podge, it will be nice and sticky. Turn the page to have a new, clean surface to work on. This means you will slowly glue the catalog pages together as you work. For this reason, using a magazine or catalog you don’t care about is essential.
8. Repeat the steps above until all the leaves you want to preserve have been painted with glue.
9. Give the preserved fall leaves time to dry. Allow the first coat to dry completely.
10. Once the autumn leaves are no longer tacky, apply Mod Podge to the other side of each leaf if desired. This final step is optional; scroll down to read my tips below for more information.

Preserving Leaves with Mod Podge: One Side or Both?

Many crafters will tell you that it’s best to apply Mod Podge (or white glue) to both sides of a leaf to preserve it fully. This is because coating only one side can leave the other side vulnerable to drying out and curling, much like an unpreserved leaf. When you coat the front and back of the entire leaf, you create a protective seal that helps maintain its color and structural integrity for extended use in crafts.

However, I have tried both options, preserving the leaf with Mod Podge on only one side (the top) and on both sides (the top and bottom) of the leaf. The leaves, painted on one side, retained a good amount of color and remained flexible, making them well-suited for art projects, such as watercolor and fall leaf art. However, I found it best to store them flat so they didn’t curl before I was ready to use them. In contrast, the fall leaves that are painted and preserved with Mod Podge on both sides are better suited for sturdy crafts, such as leaf lacing.

I still have the box of autumn leaves that I collected and preserved when I wrote this post ten years ago. Believe it or not, some of the most vibrant colors that remain only have glue painted on one side. While those painted on both sides are a bit sturdier and better preserved, both options are viable. My advice is to experiment to see which option works best for your needs. Please scroll down for more of my best leaf preservation tips, and see how the preserved fall leaves look after a year and 10 years later!

How to Use and Care for Preserved Leaves:

Preserved fall leaves will maintain their vibrant colors longer if stored in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. Depending on the leaf type, preserved leaves can also still curl and wrinkle. If you want your preserved autumn leaves to stay flat, it’s best to press them again once the Mod Podge or white glue is dry, until you are ready to use them. There are several crafts and art projects you can make with preserved autumn leaves. Scroll down to the bottom of the post to see several options.

Related: Fall Books for Kids: Autumn Stories Children LOVE!

How long do Preserved Leaves Retain Their Color and Suppleness?

The leaves can yellow over time when Mod Podge is used to preserve them, especially if they are exposed to direct sunlight or candlelight. Exposure to the air can also cause the preserved leaves to degrade slightly over time. If you want the fall leaves you preserve to maintain their vibrant colors, store them in an airtight container out of direct sunlight.

For example, the fall leaf colors on the leaf lanterns my daughter and I made have faded significantly after being exposed to several hours of candlelight, but we still love the way they look, both lit and unlit. So, I continue to dig them out of storage each fall to add them to our home decor.

Update 2016 after one year:

The leaves my daughter and I collected and preserved last year are still gorgeous. Some of our preserved autumn leaves have become brittle over time, and some of the vibrant autumn colors have faded slightly. However, I still have a plentiful supply of red, yellow, and orange preserved leaves to work with after they have been stored for a year.

They have lost some of their flexibility, and some have become somewhat brittle, but most remain surprisingly colorful. The photo of the “Thankful” leaf below was taken a year after it was preserved with a coat of Mod Podge on its surface. I did not apply a coat of Mod Podge to the underside of the leaf; I only applied one coat to the top. Once it was dry, I used a white paint pen to doodle dots and write “Thankful” on it, and then attached it to a DIY thankful tree that my family made and decorated with real leaves on which words of gratitude were written.

Update 2020 after five years:

I have a box filled with some of the leaves my daughter and I preserved five years ago, which (believe it or not) are still ready to use for arts and crafts. My family has used the preserved leaves repeatedly to decorate our Thankful Tree with real leaves, which still work well. The colors have faded slightly since they were first preserved, especially the reds and yellows, but they are still looking pretty good.

Update 2025 after ten years:

Believe it or not, the photo below was taken in 2025, ten years after I preserved the leaf with Mod Podge, allowed it to dry, and then wrote “Thankful” on it with a white paint pen. You can see that the sides of the leaf aren’t any more damaged than they were in the photo above, taken one year after it was preserved.

I’ve kept it stored in a plastic shoe box with several other leaves I preserved in 2015. Some are painted on both sides, while others, such as this “Thankful” leaf, only have one coat of Mod Podge applied to them. Most of the colors have faded, yellowed, and browned, but this Maple leaf, along with several others, retained a good bit of color.

Related: Healthy Pumpkin Cranberry Bread Recipe

Other Recommended Methods to Preserve Autumn Leaves:

As mentioned above, there are several other methods for preserving leaves that you can try. Learn how to preserve leaves with wax or glycerine with the following DIY project tutorials:

• Come back soon to learn how to preserve leaves with warmed beeswax. I am currently creating a new post that teaches how to preserve leaves with this natural leaf preservation technique.
• Press them between sheets of wax paper with an iron, or learn how to preserve fall leaves in a glycerin bath with Chelsey on Buggy and Buddy.
• Maggy Woodley at Red Ted Art has another basic write-up on six commonly used leaf preservation methods, complete with a video on how to use glycerine to preserve autumn leaves.

Related: Thanksgiving Traditions and Fun Things to Do on Thanksgiving.

Preserve Leaves and use them for Nature Crafts and Art Projects:

Pressing and preserving fall leaves is a simple crafting activity suitable for both kids and adults. Once finished, you can use preserved leaves to create leaf lacing crafts, nature crafts, leaf art, and other beautiful fall decorations.

You might also enjoy our fall bucket list of fun activities and crafts! Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author and photographer of these leaf preservation techniques HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!

Fun Ways to Use Preserved Fall Leaves: Nature Crafts and Art Ideas

• Fall Leaf Crown Craft
• DIY Leaf Lanterns
• Fall Leaf Lacing
• How to Make a Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving with Real Fall Leaves
• Heart Leaf Lanterns
• Watercolor and Fall Leaves Art
• Turkey Leaf Lanterns
• Thanksgiving Turkey Leaf Nature Crafts
• Best Fall Nature Crafts: Includes leaf art ideas and nature crafts made with real fall leaves.
• Autumn Leaf Fish in the Sea Art
• Fall Leaf Baby: The picture below was taken when the fall leaves used to make it were two years old. As you can see, they lose a bit of color over time but are still lovely!

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• The Best Fall Art Projects for Kids
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