DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Creating Cherished Memories: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Pressed Flower Journals for Children
Imagine the delight in your child's eyes when they proudly display their beautifully decorated journal, adorned with vibrant pressed flowers. These journals make for a perfect keepsake to store their memories, thoughts, and dreams. We'll show you how to create a unique and personalized pressed flower journal that will spark your child's creativity and imagination. You'll not only have a fun and engaging project to work on together, but you'll also create a treasure that your child will cherish for years to come.
Materials:
- Store-bought journal (with a plain, hardcover)
- Fresh flowers (variety of colors and sizes)
- Heavy books (for pressing the flowers)
- White tissue paper or parchment paper (for placing the flowers between)
- Mod Podge or clear craft glue (for adhering the flowers to the journal cover)
- Paintbrush (for applying the glue)
- Wax paper (for protecting the pages while gluing)
- Tweezers (optional, for placing delicate flowers)
Instructions:
Choose and Gather Your Flowers: Begin by selecting a variety of fresh flowers with your child. Opt for a mix of colors, sizes, and shapes to add visual interest to the journal cover. Keep in mind that flatter flowers will press better and be easier to adhere to the journal.- Press the Flowers: First, prepare your flowers for pressing by removing any unwanted leaves or stems. Then, place each flower between two sheets of white paper or parchment paper. Slide the paper-enclosed flowers into the pages of a heavy book, making sure they lay flat and are not overlapping. Close the book and stack additional heavy books on top to apply pressure. Allow the flowers to press for about two to three weeks, checking on them occasionally to ensure they're drying properly.
- Prepare the Journal: While the flowers are pressing, gather the remaining materials and prepare the journal. Open the journal and place a sheet of wax paper between the cover and the first page to protect the pages from any glue seepage. Close the journal and set it aside, ready for decorating.
- Arrange the Pressed Flowers: Once the flowers are dry and pressed, carefully remove them from the books using tweezers if necessary. Experiment with different layouts on the journal cover with your child, arranging the flowers in a design that's pleasing to the eye. Take a photo of the final arrangement as a reference for when you're ready to glue the flowers in place.
- Glue the Flowers to the Journal: With your paintbrush, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge or clear craft glue to the cover of the journal. Gently press the flower onto the journal cover, using the photo you took earlier as a guide. Hold the flower in place for a few seconds to ensure it adheres properly. Repeat this process for each flower, working from the largest to the smallest.
- Seal the Design (Optional): Gently apply a layer of mod podge over top of each of the flowers and let dry completely (24 hours).
You can also use pressed materials other than flowers such as leaves or ferns.
Creating a pressed flower journal with your child is a wonderful way to bond while fostering their creativity and appreciation for nature. With a little patience and some carefully chosen flowers, you and your child can craft a one-of-a-kind keepsake that will be cherished for years to come. Encourage your child to use their new journal to record their thoughts, memories, and dreams, or even to press more flowers inside the pages, creating a beautiful collection of nature's treasures.
Not only does this project provide a fun and educational activity, but it also encourages children to explore their surroundings and discover the beauty in their environment. As the seasons change, you and your child can embark on new adventures, collecting and pressing different flowers to make even more personalized journals.
In addition to being a creative outlet, journaling has numerous benefits for children, such as improving their writing skills, emotional expression, and self-reflection. Encouraging your child to write in their pressed flower journal can help them develop a lifelong love of writing and self-expression.
As a parent or caregiver, working on this project together with your child can also create precious memories that you both will cherish. Plus, these handmade pressed flower journals make wonderful gifts for friends and family members, providing a heartfelt and unique way to share your child's creativity.
By following this step-by-step guide, you've helped your child create a beautiful and functional piece of art that will serve as a lasting reminder of your shared experiences and the joy of discovering the natural world together. So, let your child's imagination flourish within the pages of their stunning pressed flower journal, and enjoy the magic of creativity and nature hand in hand.
Happy crafting!
Leanne
Print friendly version of these instructions.
