This week's fun activity... Pressed Flower Bookmarks

If you haven’t started your Summer reading list yet, grab a book, head outside, and find a quiet spot in nature to immerse yourself in the story!   This week we'll make a pressed flower bookmark!

Materials: For Pressed Flowers: Flowers or small leaves Tissue Paper (wrapping paper) Newspaper or Paper Towels Heavy Books or bricks   For Bookmark: Card stock Water-based Glue Pressed Flowers or Leaves Contact Paper Hole Punch Yarn

PRESSING FLOWERS FOR YOUR BOOKMARK

Step 1 - Find Head outside and grab some flowers and small leaves.   Small and thin flowers and leaves will dry and press easier and much faster!

Step 2 - Arrange and Layer Arrange your flowers and leaves on a piece of tissue paper.   How you arrange them and place them is how they will appear flattened. Once you’re happy with your arrangement, place another piece of tissue paper on top.  Then, layer 10 pieces of paper towel or folded newspaper on both sides (top and bottom).  This will help absorb the moisture and dry out your flowers.

Step 3 – Press Place your flattened flower and papers in between two flat surfaces, like a book, a smooth brick, or a board.   If you have a phone book, try placing your bundle in between the pages.   Then, place books or bricks or other heavy objects on top to weigh it down and press your flower or leaf flat.

Step 4 - DRY TIME NEEDED Your flower or leaf should be dry enough and flattened in about 3 days.  Thicker leaves or flowers may take an additional day or two.   When you remove the flower to take a look, it should be flat, dry, and very fragile!   Be very careful when picking it up and handling it.  If your flower isn’t quite ready, replace the paper layering and press it again for another day or two.

Fun Fact: Dried flowers made by this method are usually pressed for at least two weeks up to a month long!  We don’t need to wait quite that long to make a bookmark!

BOOKMARK DIRECTIONS

Step 1 – Cut Cut a piece of card stock into a 6-inch by 2-inch rectangle.   You can make this bigger or smaller, but make sure it’s at least large enough to hold your pressed flowers!

Step 2 – Arrange Place a tiny amount of glue wherever you want to place your pressed flowers and leaves; then gently add your pressed pieces to your bookmark.   Remember, your pressed flowers are delicate, so be gentle!  The glue will help hold them while we add the contact paper as a final step.

Step 3 – Cover Take a piece of contact paper and press it over your bookmark.   Once done, flip it over and take a second piece of contact paper and press it on the backside.   This way, your entire bookmark is protected.   When you have both sides covered, cut away the excess contact paper.

Step 4 (Optional) - Decorate For an added touch, make holes around the edges of your bookmark using your hole punch and weave a piece of yarn or ribbon around it.   Start at the top, work your way around, and tie off your extra yarn.   You could even add a bell or some beads to your yarn “tail” to remind you to read! ENJOY BEING CREATIVE!

Step 5 – Read Enjoy using your newly created bookmark!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FBBG MEMBERSHIPS  We are continually renewing memberships and processing new ones. You will receive a temporary card in the mail until we are able to send out your complete membership packets. Membership questions? Please contact  Dkoepsel@fbbg.org You can easily purchase a membership on-line by clicking here . THANK YOU!

We’d love to see your creativity! Tag us on:  Facebook ( Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens )  Twitter (@FBBG) or Instagram (friendsofbbg)  to show off your pressed flower book marks or any of our weekly activities!

Please continue to watch for our weekly activities...  fun learning for ALL ages!