Make Your Own May Gibbs Beeswax Wraps!

Date :
April 30, 2023

Beeswax Wrap

Beeswax wraps – the eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap

These May Gibbs Beeswax Wraps are an eco-friendly alternative to cling film, used to seal leftovers in the fridge or keep a sandwich fresh for lunch.  

There are so many good reasons to make your own Beeswax Wraps, but here are a few to mention: 

Customisable – Customise your own wraps by choosing your favourite fabric prints. We’ve chosen May Gibbs fabric because we love the illustrations and it adds a bit of Australiana to the lunchbox! 

Reusable – simply wash your wraps and leave to dry, ready to be used again. You’ll save money usually spent on cling wrap. 

Breathable – Beeswax wraps are breathable, ensuring no moisture is trapped with the food yet won’t accelerate the drying of food, which means fresh food, and less mould.   

Versatile – You can make a variety of sizes to suit the applications of wrapping food – whether it’s wrapping a sandwich for school lunch or covering leftovers from dinner. The wraps are also great for use to cover bowls to prevent flies hovering and can be used to protect the bottom of bags due to condensation from a drink bottle.  The beeswax makes these wraps water-resistant.  

Washable – a bit of cold water and detergent can clean your wrap ready for re-use. No need to wash in the washing machine or dishwasher. 

Antibacterial – Beeswax has antibacterial properties which can give you peace of mind when wrapping food for your family due to the added health benefits.  

Prevents landfill – each time you use a beeswax wrap, you’re preventing plastic wrap ending up in landfill which can find its way into oceans and parks. Plastic wrap can take many, many years to break down, and poses a threat to wildlife. 

When choosing the materials to make your Beeswax Wraps, it’s important to consider using local ingredients.  Using AB’s Honey Natural Beeswax to make your wraps means the product has gone through less processing and is 100% Australian and 100% natural.  

Ingredients for May Gibbs Beeswax Wraps

Materials for Beeswax Wraps

  • May Gibbs fabric – available at Spotlight 
  • Crimping scissors 
  • Pure Australian Beeswax from Simply Honey – 1 cup, grated 
  • Food grade pine resin – 3 teaspoons 
  • Jojoba oil – 2 teaspoons 
  • Paint brush 
  • Glass jar 
  • Pot of hot water 
  • Spoon 
  • Bowl 
  • Grater 
  • Tongs (not pictured) 
  • Oven mitts (not pictured) 
  • Teaspoon and 1 cup 
  • Baking paper 
  • Baking trays 
  • Coat hanger and pegs – to allow for drying (optional) 

Instructions

You will need adult assistance and two sets of hands to complete this method of making beeswax wraps.  

As we are using boiling water and hot items to create the wraps, adult supervision is a must for this craft activity.  

  1. STEP 1: Wash your May Gibbs fabric to prevent it from shrinkage. Allow to dry. 
  1. STEP 2: Cut your May Gibbs fabric to size using crimping scissors. You want to avoid any frayed edges for your wraps. Cut to suit what your baking tray can handle. I did a 20cm square wrap to fit my baking tray.    
  1. STEP 3: Put a pot of water on the stove and bring it to the boil. While the stove heats the water, grate your AB’s beeswax block into a bowl. You want to grate 1 cup.  
  1. STEP 4: Put the oven on to 150 degrees Celsius.    

Beeswax Wraps Instructions

  1. STEP 5: When the pot of water is at boiling point, place the grated beeswax, pine resin and jojoba oil in the glass jar. Put on an oven mitt and use the tongs to hold the glass jar in the pot of hot water to create a double boiler. Alternatively, if you have a smaller pot, this can assist in not having to hold the glass jar in the hot water using tongs. Use a spoon to stir the mixture to ensure all parts are melted. 
  1. STEP 6: Once your beeswax, resin and jojoba oil have melted, take off the boiler and place jar on an old tea towel. Work quickly to paint the mixture on your May Gibbs fabric. Be sure to evenly coat the fabric. You will need to work quickly to prevent the mixture from solidifying.  
  1. STEP 7: Keep painting the mixture on your cut pieces of fabric until it is used up. Place the coated fabric on trays in the oven for 3-5 mins.  
  1. STEP 8: Remove the trays from the oven and allow the beeswax wraps to cool.
    Optional – You can hang the beeswax wraps on a coat hanger using two pegs.      

Your beeswax wraps are ready to use to cover leftovers or to wrap food items taken to school for lunch.    

Beeswax wrap in use

Bee –Friendly Activities

 

May Gibbs Craft

Crafty Bec
Crafty Bec is here to help stimulate little imaginations and spark a creative flame in little people. Inspired by May Gibbs’ own passion for creative writing and art, Bec helps educators and mums to embrace nature inspired creativity.
https://www.theplumbette.com.au/