Hearts and Flowers

Create romantic ornaments with wax cherubs and pressed flowers encased in beeswax, then use a pretty ribbon to tie them to candlesticks or crystal bottles.

What You Need:

Use the same technique to make
ornaments for other holidays too.

Old double boiler
Beeswax
Scraps of nylon hosiery
Old coffeepot
Flexible plastic candy mold (Wilton #2114-90214 -- small hearts) or clear plastic heart-shape container (large hearts)
Cooking oil
Dried roses
Pressed catnip, yarrow, and artemisia leaves
Lowmelt adhesive
Metallic gold thread
Pressed pansies and phlox
White crafts glue
Slotted metal spatula or spoon

Instructions:

1. Put about 2 inches of water in the bottom of the double boiler and place the beeswax in the top pan. (If you don't have an old double boiler, improvise by putting the wax in a tin can and placing the can in an old saucepan into which you've poured 2 inches of water.) Melt the wax over medium heat, then pour it through a piece of hosiery into the coffeepot to remove impurities. Place the coffeepot in the bottom pan of the double boiler to keep the wax warm while you're working.

2. Lightly coat each mold with cooking oil, wiping off the excess. Pour the wax into the mold to within 1/4 inch of the top. Let the wax cool completely, at least 20 minutes. Tap the sides of the mold on the counter to loosen the wax at the edges, then tap the mold sharply on the counter to release the ornament. Use a sharp knife to trim away any excess wax around the edges.

3. For each cherub, dip a dried rose in the melted wax, shake off the excess, and let the wax cool. Firmly press dried yarrow leaves onto the surface of the cherub, then dip the body (but not the head) quickly into the wax to encase the leaves. While the wax is still warm, press the wax-covered rose onto the cherub's hands. Using lowmelt adhesive, glue a loop of metallic gold thread to the back of the ornament to form a hanger.

4. Layer pressed leaves and flowers on the ornaments to create a pleasing design. Temporarily secure each leaf and flower with a few tiny drops of white crafts glue, and let the glue dry. Using a slotted metal spatula or spoon, quickly dip each ornament in the melted wax to encase the flowers, then let the wax cool and harden. Glue a loop of metallic thread to the back to form a hanger.

Note: While the ornaments are still warm, rub the backs with rose oil to impart a lovely scent. Polish the surfaces of beeswax ornaments by rubbing them lightly with a piece of nylon hosiery.