Do you love having a fresh magnolia wreath for Winter Decorating? Today’s wreath with magnolia leaves is easy to make, takes only an hour, and is almost free. You don’t need to buy floral wire or tape for this easy craft.
This wreath can be made quickly with fresh leaves and hot glue. If you have an old wreath to use, it’s almost free. Can you believe this wreath only takes one hour to make? In addition, your magnolia wreath will look good for weeks and maybe even months. See how well one of mine held up for 10 months.
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Magnolia leaves are beloved for their large, glossy green leaves and beautiful white blooms. They are a classic symbol of the American South. While magnolia trees keep their leaves year-round, the leaves that drop in autumn tend to be the freshest and most vibrant. Preserving these fallen magnolia leaves can allow you to enjoy their beauty for months as part of your holiday decor.
Why Preserve Magnolia Leaves?
Fresh magnolia leaves make beautiful holiday decorations. Their dark green color provides a lovely contrast against holiday colors like red and gold. The leaves are also quite large, with some varieties having leaves over a foot long! This makes them ideal for large displays.
However, the leaves do start to dry and brown soon after falling from the tree. Preserving them allows you to maintain their lovely color and texture so you can use them in holiday wreaths, garlands, and more The preserved leaves will last through the whole holiday season and can even be used year after year.
How to Collect Magnolia Leaves
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Look for freshly fallen leaves without any blemishes or holes. Pick them up off the ground as soon as possible before they start to dry out.
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Snip leaves off low hanging branches Choose leaves that easily detach with a gentle tug.
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Buy fresh magnolia leaves from florists and online retailers They sell them in bundles in the fall
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Don’t take leaves from public parks or private property without permission
Methods for Preserving Magnolia Leaves
There are a few different methods you can use to preserve magnolia leaves:
Glycerin
Glycerin is a clear, syrupy liquid that replaces the moisture in leaves. It helps them maintain their flexibility and color.
How to glycerize magnolia leaves:
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Make a glycerin solution by combining 2 parts glycerin and 1 part water. Heat the mixture to 135°F.
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Submerge your magnolia leaves in the solution, weighing them down so they stay under the liquid.
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Soak for 2-6 days until the leaves are flexible and have a translucent, golden brown color.
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Remove, rinse off excess glycerin, and allow to dry completely before using.
Mod Podge
The decoupage glue Mod Podge helps seal and preserve the leaves.
How to Mod Podge magnolia leaves:
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Use a foam brush to coat both sides of each leaf with a layer of Mod Podge Satin or Gloss.
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Let dry overnight. Apply another 1-2 coats for maximum protection.
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Once fully dry, spray with a sealant like Mod Podge Acrylic Sealer for added protection and shine.
Pressing
You can flatten and dry magnolia leaves with pressing. This method works best for small leaves.
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Place leaves between sheets of wax paper. Top with pressing boards or heavy books to weigh them down.
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Allow 3-4 weeks for leaves to fully dry and flatten. Replace the wax paper if it becomes damp.
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Once dried, you can spray leaves with acrylic sealant if desired.
Air Drying
Letting magnolia leaves dry out naturally is the simplest approach. However, they will become very crisp and delicate.
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Spread leaves in a single layer on wax or parchment paper. Make sure no leaves are overlapping.
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Allow 2-4 weeks for leaves to fully air dry. Check periodically for mold.
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If desired, reinforce dried leaves by spraying with acrylic sealant.
Microwaving
The microwave can rapidly remove moisture from leaves. But use care, as leaves can burn easily.
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Place a single layer of leaves between paper towels and microwave for 1-2 minutes. Check frequently.
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Allow leaves to cool fully, then repeat in 30 second intervals until crisp. Don’t overcook.
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Once fully dried, spray with acrylic sealant to help preserve.
Tips for Working with Preserved Magnolia Leaves
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If any parts of a leaf turn brown, you can trim them off with floral scissors once the leaf is dry.
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For decorative wreaths and garlands, wrap your preserved leaves together with florist wire.
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Use hot glue to attach leaves to frames and surfaces. Craft glue like Mod Podge also works.
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Display your magnolia creations out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.
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Store leftover leaves in airtight containers in a cool, dry place.
With a little time and care, you can enjoy the beauty of magnolia leaves all holiday season long. Whip up some gorgeous magnolia wreaths, garlands, and arrangements to add classic Southern charm to your home.
How To Make A Holiday Wall Hanging With Magnolia Leaves
- Thrift Store Open Frame
- DecoArt Silver Metallic Paint
- Foam Brushes
- Surebonder Cordless Hot Glue Gun – this is my absolute favorite glue gun!
- Sugared Fruit – You can find it at the craft store, but I lucked out and found this box at Goodwill for $3:
- Magnolia Leaves
- Fresh Pine Stems
You can usually find open frames at the thrift store for just a few dollars.
This is the frame I started with:
If you have pine trees available, snip some stems and hot glue them to the frame.
If not, you can leave them out. I just felt it gave extra texture and more of that holiday feel.
These are not preserved, but can be removed after the holidays.
Begin hot gluing the magnolia leaves to the frame. I started in each corner with 4-5 leaves.
Continue adding leaves until the wreath is full. I used two full bunches which is about 60 leaves.
Hot glue three sugared fruits to each corner of the wreath.
I opted to paint the red fruits with silver metallic paint, as it goes with my holiday color scheme.
I love to use sugared fruit in holiday decorating.
You may also want to check out the sugared fruit wreath I made last year.
This is such an inexpensive project, especially if you are lucky enough to have a magnolia leaf tree.
Another option for preserving the leaves is to use glycerin.
This wall hanging is such a statement piece and can be used in so many different ways.
Here I show it on an old window:
I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, please PIN the below :
Below is the link to this month’s 2-Hour Decor Challenge projects.
How To Preserve Magnolia Leaves
Use the gardening shears to snip all the leaves off the stems.
Use the foam brush to apply mod podge to each magnolia leaf.
You do need to add the Mod Podge to both the front and back of the leaves.
This is time consuming, but so worth it for the end result!
Allow the leaves to dry overnight.
Spray the entire wreath, front and back with 2 coats of Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer.
Allow to dry and you are ready to use them in your holiday decorating.
Now I will show you how to make an oversized holiday wall hanging.
How to make the Easiest Wreath with Fresh Magnolia Leaves
FAQ
How to make magnolia leaves last longer?
If you want to preserve those leaves to make a wreath or a floral arrangement, you can do so easily by a process called “glycerination.” This process replaces …May 1, 2024
What can you spray on magnolia leaves to preserve them?
Clear acrylic spray sealer, hairspray, pressed flower and leaf sealant, or a solution of one part glycerin to two parts water are all options for preserving the magnolia leaves.
How long do magnolia leaves last in a vase?
Vase life: Blossoms, 5 to 7 days in water. Leaves, 10 to 21 days. Description: The flowers and the leaves of the Magnolia are both valued by floral designers.
How long will cut magnolia leaves stay green?
Fresh magnolia will last in its fresh state for 2-3 days without water. It will dry beautifully, though, and can last as a dried leaf for up to three months. For longer lasting fresh holiday greens, try a wilt stop product to extend freshness.
What can I do with preserved magnolia leaves?
You can use your leaves to create a magnolia leaf wreath or add to a faux greenery garland to make it more realistic. The possibilities here are endless and completely up to you. I chose to add some of my leaves to a faux garland on my mantel. What ever you use your preserved magnolia leaves for, I am sure it will be beautiful.
How to maintain magnolia 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. This step is where you can get really creative with what spray you use. Mod Podge has glitter, high gloss, pearl and matte sprays to make your magnolia leaves unique.
How do you keep magnolia leaves submerged in glycerin solution?
Soak the Leaves: Place the trimmed leaves in the glycerin solution, making sure that only the stems are submerged. Submerging the entire leaf could lead to discoloration or molding. 6. Weigh Down the Leaves: To keep the magnolia leaves submerged in the glycerin solution, place a weight or brick on top of them.
How do you keep Magnolia Leaves from curling?
Weigh Down the Leaves: To keep the magnolia leaves submerged in the glycerin solution, place a weight or brick on top of them. This will also prevent curling as they dry out. 7.
How long do magnolia leaves last without Mod Podge?
Without using Mod Podge, magnolia leaves will slowly dry out in about 4-6 weeks. I will keep you posted on the status of this method and how much longer the leaves will last. Important: Be sure to keep the leaves out of direct sunlight as well. You can also use the glycerin method. This takes longer to do than using Mod Podge.
Do Magnolia Leaves need to be dried?
The leaves need to be harvested fresh but then fully dried before using any preservation technique. How long do preserved magnolia leaves last? With proper drying, sealing, and storage, magnolia leaves preserved with Mod Podge or glycerin can last 6-12 months. Avoid humidity, heat, or direct light which shortens their lifespan.