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Simple Ways to Use Pressed Flowers |
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samples
General Instructions and
Tips for Working with Pressed Flowers
This page contains general
information not necessarily specific to a particular grade level.
Before trying a project with a class, practice with
your own children.
You may decide to have the
students remove the flowers from the phone book.
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Part of the fun, and the learning, is to see what treasures wait in between
the pages of the phone books. This process takes more time since phone books
need to be shared and flowers sorted.
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Remind them of how the flowers looked before
they pressed them. Ask how they expect they will look now.
The process removed the moisture from the flowers as well as pressed them.
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Have the books laying
flat and be prepared with a tray or other container nearby. Turn
off fans. The flowers are very light and will blow away at the slightest
breeze.
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As you find a flower
in the book, carefully lift it out by the stem and place in a single layer
on the tray. This makes it easy to see what you have to work with and prevents
damage to the flowers from repeatedly lifting and moving.
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Some flowers like
petunias or morning glory
tend to stick to the paper and must be peeled off gently.
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You may decide to remove the flowers in advance to save
time and pre-sort the best flowers and leaves.
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You can control what is available – the flattest
pieces. Go a bit early to sort flowers onto paper plates that can be
distributed to groups of students. Or, you can remove all of the flowers to
a central location, pre-sort, and decide how many flowers each student can
choose.
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Remember with either method for removing the flowers,
only flat flowers and leaves should be used if you are laminating your
project or using contact paper.
Many teachers prefer to make bookmarks.
Materials: pre-cut construction
paper, toothpicks, white
glue, paper plates
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If your class will make bookmarks, they should use
only flat flowers, or their bookmark will bubble from too thick flowers
after they are laminated.
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Pre-cut construction paper in the size you want the
bookmarks to be.
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First, have the students write their name on the back
of the paper.
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Depending on the size of the items and availability
for students, three items is a good rule of thumb for bookmarks.
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Bookmarks laminate well if the flattest flowers are
used sparingly.
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Squirt glue onto a paper plate for a group of students
to use and pass out a toothpick
to each student. The toothpicks are used to apply glue. Advise the
students to place their design on the paper before they glue to be sure the pieces are
arranged as desired and that the pieces do not hang off the edge.
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Instruct students to use small drops of glue on the
backs of the stems and leaf veins or the centers of flowers, so dried glue
does not show. Avoid getting glue on petals.
Less is more with glue. Small drops mean the glue won't show.
Laminating will keep the pieces securely in place.
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After laminating, cut out the bookmarks leaving 1/4
inch around the paper.
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You may decide to punch a hole in the top and include
a ribbon.
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Other options
The uses for pressed flowers are only
limited by your imagination. They are commonly used to decorate
soap, candles, cards, bookmarks, placemats, lampshades, scrapbooks,
picture frames and to create the pictures.
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Decorate a haiku, cinquain,
or other poem that students have written to feature the flowers.
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If you have collected
flowers, leaves, and buds from the same plant, students can create a
botanical print featuring the name of the plant.
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Make cards and decorate the outside.
Be
sure to write the inside message first.
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Cut out a shape to decorate with
flowers and place an adhesive magnet on the back for a refrigerator magnet.
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Pressed flowers can be used inside frames or glued to the outside of paper Mache
frames.
Waxed-Paper
Pressed Flower
Pictures
Materials:
Pressed flowers
and leaves
2 sheets of waxed
paper (or one folded in half) per
child cut larger
than the desired finished project.
Scissors
Iron
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Arrange flowers and
leaves on one piece of the waxed paper.
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Place the second sheet
of waxed paper on top of the finished picture.
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Press the sandwich with
a WARM iron. The wax will melt and seal the paper around the flowers.
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Use scissors to trim to
desired shape and wrap the edges with sticky fabric binding, glue twigs
along the edges or make a cardboard frame.
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Punch a hole in an appropriate
spot and tie on a ribbon or piece of yarn for hanging. Hang in windows
at school to cheer the classroom or send them home.
Pressed Flower Picture
in a Frame
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Decide on the picture
frame.
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Decide on background
paper.
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Remove the glass and backing.
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Cut two pieces of paper
to the size of the glass (one can be from scrap paper).
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Arrange
the flowers, without glue, on scrap paper. Allow for the border
of your picture frame when making your design.
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When you are happy with
your design, transfer the flowers to the final paper securing with minimal
amounts of glue.
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When you are sure the
glue is dry, lay the photo frame glass on top of the picture and carefully
lift the two together and add the back of the photo frame to create a sandwich.
Hold the sandwich together tightly and insert into the frame.
Tips to keep in mind
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With any craft often “less is more”. The kids want to
use as many flowers as they can. You set the number of items a student may
use on their project.
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Squirt a bit of glue into
a container or on a scrap of paper/paper plate. Use a toothpick to put the glue on
the flowers. You need only a tiny bit, not even a drop, in strategic spots.
The glue is only to hold the flowers in place until you finish the project.
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Avoid putting glue on the flower petals. Though it dries clear you
will be able to see the glued spot through the translucent petals.
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If you are
using contact paper, before removing the backing
of the contact paper, rub the plastic side with a fabric softener sheet.
This will help to prevent static electricity forming. Static electricity
will cause the pressed flowers to rise up to meet the plastic, from forming.
Paper
considerations for your project
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Framed pictures
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use your imagination with background paper. Simple, plain black,
dark green or beige construction paper works. Another option is the
large varieties of paper used in scrapbooking. A much less expensive
option is leftover wallpaper.
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Greeting cards -
Card stock
or packaged blank cards with envelopes are best.
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Bookmarks -
Any paper will
do. The stiffer the paper, the stiffer the bookmark.
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Placemats
- Poster board
is best for placemats.
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| "Don't judge each
day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." Robert Louis
Stevenson |
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