When Joanna shared a post about chic reusable containers last month, I knew it was finally time to post my take on DIY beeswax wraps. I’ve been seeing tons of Instagram ads for Bee’s Wrap for awhile now and I’ve always wanted to make some myself so I can store leftover food in a sustainable — and beautiful! — way. The process was really fun and surprisingly easy. Now I have something practical that makes me smile every time I use it!
How To Make Reusable Beeswax Wraps — Perfect for Zero Waste Food Storage!
Materials
- cotton fabric
- fabric paint
- beeswax wrap bar
- potato — the bigger the better!
- parchment paper
- sheet pan
Tools
- paring knife
- paintbrush
- grater
- oven
Start by grating about 1/5 of your beeswax wrap bar into a heatproof bowl. Speaking of which, this thing is pretty awesome. It contains a mixture of pure beeswax, jojoba oil, coconut oil and tree resin — everything you need to make the perfect wrap that’s sticky and pliable but not gummy or greasy. One and done!
Next, use a pencil to trace the outline for your pattern onto a halved potato. I opted for a freeform daisy motif. Then, using a small knife, carefully carve out your design. Remember, you want to leave your pattern raised, so you’ll carve the negative space away from your chosen design until it’s raised at least 1/2″.
Next, it’s time to paint! Brush the fabric paint in a thin layer onto your potato stamp. Place the stamp on your cotton fabric, press firmly and evenly and lift straight up. Repeat until your fabric is covered. Let dry.
After your paint has dried, trim your fabric into usable squares. I made a few medium-sized ones at 15″ square and some smaller ones at 8″ square, but you can really create any size you like!
Remember that beeswax bar we grated? Time to stick that in the microwave and heat until it’s nice and liquidy. Now’s also a good time to turn your oven’s broiler on.
Place a piece of parchment paper on your baking sheet, then lay the fabric on top, paint side down. Brush the melted beeswax over the fabric, making sure every bit is covered. The wax will probably start to harden as you work, and that’s totally fine!
After the fabric has been covered by wax, put the sheet pan in the oven and let warm for 2 or 3 minutes, keeping a close eye on it. When the wax starts to bubble a bit, carefully pull it out. Take your brush and go over the wax once more. The goal here is to make sure the melted wax soaks all the way through the fabric.
Set the pan somewhere safe and let cool. Once it’s all cooled down, peel the fabric off the parchment paper and crumple it up. Now it’s ready to use!
The Benefits of Using Beeswax Wraps
These beeswax wraps are a great, sustainable and natural alternative to plastic wrap. I love using the small beeswax wraps to cover the open ends of cheese in my fridge (if I don’t manage to eat all the cheese in one sitting), and the larger ones are great for covering bowls of leftover homemade aioli or pasta sauce. My leftover game has gotten a serious upgrade!
The warmth of your hands helps to soften the wrap and makes it easier to form around a bowl or piece of food. You can wash it with cool washer and dish soap, then allow to air dry.
