DLTK's Crafts for Kids
DIY pressed flower bookmarks for kids
Introducing a wonderful kids craft: making flower and leaf bookmarks with contact paper! This easy pressed flower bookmark tutorial will guide you through the process of creating beautiful, nature-inspired bookmarks that children will love to make and use. Perfect for a rainy day or a family activity, these bookmarks are a great way to bring a touch of nature into your reading experience.
Materials:
- Fresh flowers and/or leaves (thin and small ones work best)
- Paper for pressing (white tissue paper, blotting paper, waxed paper or parchment paper)
- Heavy books or a flower press
- Contact paper (clear self-adhesive)
- Scissors
- Cardstock or construction paper (optional)
- Hole punch (optional)
- Ribbon or yarn (optional)
Instructions:
Collect flowers and leaves: Take a nature walk with the kids and collect a variety of fresh flowers and leaves. Make sure they are small and thin, as thicker flowers may not press as well.
Press the flowers and leaves: Place each flower or leaf between two sheets of paper (I like white tissue paper for this) or within the pages of a heavy book, like an encyclopedia or a large textbook. Make sure they lie flat and don't overlap. Close the book and place more heavy books or weights on top. Let them press for at least one week. Alternatively, you can use a flower press if you have one. - Wait two to three weeks. Alternatively, you can arrange the flowers on the contact paper before pressing and press the completed bookmark. If you're using flowers that you know press well (like pansies, calendula and cosmos) this approach works fine but if you're experimenting with a lot of new material, it's best to press everything first to see what works out well and then carefully arrange the pressed material on your bookmark.
- Prepare the contact paper: Cut two pieces of contact paper for each bookmark. The size will depend on your preference, but a standard size is about 2 inches wide by 6 inches long. Remove the backing of one piece of contact paper and lay it on a flat surface, sticky side up. I leave an extra inch so I can do a final trim at the end, so cut 3 inches by 7 inches.
- Assemble the bookmarks: Let the kids arrange their pressed flowers and leaves on the sticky side of the contact paper in any design they like. Make sure to leave a border around the edges so the contact paper can seal properly.
- Seal the bookmarks: Carefully remove the backing of the second piece of contact paper and place it sticky side down onto the first piece, making sure to align the edges. Press down firmly, smoothing out any air bubbles and sealing the flowers and leaves inside.
- Trim the bookmarks (optional): If desired, trim the edges of the bookmark to create a clean and even border around the flowers and leaves. Be careful not to cut too close to the flowers, as this may cause the contact paper to come apart.
- Optional Alternative: Add a cardstock backing -- Instead of using two pieces of contact paper, arrange your flowers on a piece of heavy cardstock instead. Apply a piece of contact paper to your arranged flowers to stick them onto the cardstock. This will give the bookmark more stability than a see-through bookmark made only of contact paper.
Add a ribbon, nature string or yarn (optional): Use a hole punch to create a hole at the top of the bookmark. Thread a piece of ribbon or yarn through the hole and tie it in a knot or bow for a decorative touch.- Enjoy your pressed flower bookmarks: Your beautiful pressed flower bookmarks are now ready to use or give as gifts! They're a wonderful way to preserve memories of a fun day spent outdoors and make great keepsakes for family and friends.
You can also make bookmarks out of things like pressed ferns and pressed autumn leaves.
Happy crafting!
Leanne
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