| Simple
ways to use pressed flowers |
Granny's
Garden School
Keeping kids in touch
with nature
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samples
General Instructions and
Tips for Working with Pressed Flowers
This page contains general
information not necessarly specific to a particularl grade level.
Before trying a project with a class, I strongly suggest you practice with
your own children.
Removing Flowers from
Books
It is desirable for the
students to be invloved with removing the flowers from the phone book.
Part of the fun, and the learning, is to see what treasures wait in between
the pages of the phone books. 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.
1. Have the books laying
flat and be prepared with a tray or other container nearby. Turn
off fans. They flowers are very light and will blow away at the slightest
breeze.. |
2. 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 the flowers from repeatedly lifting and moving.
3. Some flowers, i.e. poppies,
tend to stick to the paper and must be peeled off gently.
Paper
Framed pictures: You can
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 wallpaper. We have a large collection of wall paperbooks in the
green barn.
Greeting cards: card stock
or packaged blank cards with envelopes.
Bookmarks: Any paper will
do. The stiffer the paper the stiffer the marker.
Placemats: poasterboard
is besf for placemats.
The supplies needed for
pressing and using pressed flowes are simple and inexpensive.
General supplies
Any white glue that dries
clear
fabric softener sheets
a tooth pick for each child
a pair of tweezers for
each child
paper
small, very sharp, scissors
Tips
Squirt a bit of glue into
a container or on a scrap of paper. Use a toothpick to put the glue on
the flowers. You need only a tiny bit, not even a drop, in stragetic spots.
The glue is only to hold the flowers in place until you finish the project.
Avoid putting glue on the flower pedals. Though it dries clear you
will be able to see the glued spot through the translucent pedals.
Before removing the backing
of the contact paperc, 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.
Whatever the size of the
paper you give young children to place their flowers, they will go over
the edge. To avoid cutting off the edges of their creations, just
cut the plastic large enough to encompass it all.
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Uses for Pressed Flowers
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. This page addresses the simpliest
ways of using pressed flowers for working with children: waxed paper "suncatchers,"
bookmarks, framed picture, card, placemat. |
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
Instructions
1. Arrange flowers and
leaves on one piece of the waxed paper.
2. Place the second sheet
of waxed paper on top of the finished picture.
3. Press the sandwich with
a WARM iron. The wax will melt and seal the paper around the flowers.
4.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.
5. Punch a hole in an appropriate
spot and tie on a ribbon or piece of yarn for hanging. Hange in windows
at school to cheer the classroom or send them home. |
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Book Mark or Placemat
The only differenct between
a bookmark and a placemat is the size of the project. Laying out
the design is what takes the most time on any project. Lay out the
design; lift and lightly glue each piece; lay plastic wrap over the finished
piece. |
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Pressed Flower Picture
in a Frame
1. Read General Instructions
and Tips for Working with Pressed Flowers.
2. Decide on the picture
frame. I prefer frames that
are designed to stand.
Most pressed flower pictures are better viewed up close on a desk or end
table.
3. Decide on background
paper. Remove the glass and backing. Cut twp pieces of paper
to the size of the glass (one can be from scrap paper).
4. Using tweezers,
arrange
the flowers, without glue, on an scrap paper. Allow for the border
of your picture frame when making your design. Don't forget leaves.
5. When you are happy with
your design, transfer the flowers to the final paper securing with minimal
amounts of glue.
6. 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. |
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