In this installment of my pressed flowers from houseplants series, learn how easy it is to make a card and bookmark. Harvest the flowers and foliage from your indoor garden, and dry it, then decorate a wide variety of items.
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Today, we’re diving into another installment of decorating items with pressed flowers and foliage from the indoor garden. We’re going to work on embellishing a card. Although this isn’t a pressed flower, the image is a beautiful addition to the interior of the card. You can also create things like bookmarks. For instance, I started this bookmark that says “Good Times with a Good Book,” and I plan to decorate it further with pressed flowers. I’ll also add a pretty bow at the top, which will serve as the finishing touch.
When working on stationery or similar projects, it’s important to play around with the design before you start gluing. That’s what I’m going to do now. I have some pressed flowers from my indoor garden to work with, including leaves from a pink polka dot plant, a pink African violet that turned a darker hue, and some variegated African violet petals.
I’ll start by laying out the flowers. You can pour them onto the surface you’re working on or use a wooden dowel to carefully position them. A dowel works well because it’s dry and doesn’t have sharp points, making it easy to move delicate flowers without damaging them. Tweezers are also helpful for more precise adjustments.
For this project, I’m going to use a few African violets. One is a variegated purple with a hint of yellow. It’s always interesting to see how flowers dry, as they often turn out differently than expected. I’ve arranged the flowers and now I’ll show you what the original plant looked like before it dried. This will give you an idea of the transformation that occurs during the drying process.
After deciding on the arrangement, I’ll move on to gluing the flowers. I’m using Elmer’s glue mixed with a bit of water to thin it out—specifically, one teaspoon of glue to an eighth of a teaspoon of water. This helps the glue spread evenly without becoming too goopy. After applying the glue, I’ll seal the flowers with a water-based polyurethane product, applying two to three coats to ensure they’re well-protected. This will also help prevent fading over time.
For the bookmark, I decided to use three similar African violet flowers. After gluing them down, I carefully pressed them into place using a popsicle stick, which helps flatten the flowers without damaging them. The final result is a beautiful, personalized bookmark that would make a perfect gift for someone who loves flowers and reading.
Next, I’ll work on a card. I’m considering using a green leaf from a parlor palm and a moth orchid petal. It’s important to choose elements that complement each other and the overall design. After playing around with a few different options, I decided on a simple and elegant arrangement using the green parlor palm leaf and a single African violet petal.
When gluing larger elements like the parlor palm leaf, it’s crucial to get good coverage with the glue, ensuring all parts of the leaf are adhered to the card. If necessary, you can use the brush to apply more glue underneath any areas that didn’t stick well. Once everything is in place, I’ll seal the card with polyurethane, just like I did with the bookmark.
The end result is a lovely, handmade card and bookmark that reflect the natural beauty of the flowers and plants from my indoor garden. These personalized touches make the perfect gifts or keepsakes.
FAQs: Decorating with Pressed Flowers and Foliage from Your Indoor Garden
What types of items can I embellish with pressed flowers?
You can embellish a variety of items with pressed flowers, including cards, bookmarks, and other stationery. These projects allow you to create personalized and unique gifts or keepsakes.
What flowers and foliage work best for pressed flower projects?
Flowers and foliage from your indoor garden, such as leaves from a pink polka dot plant, African violets, and moth orchids, work well for these projects. Each plant’s characteristics contribute to the overall design, and it’s fascinating to see how they dry and change during the process.
How should I arrange the pressed flowers before gluing?
Before gluing, it’s important to play around with the arrangement of your pressed flowers. Lay them out on your surface and use tools like a wooden dowel or tweezers to position them carefully without causing damage.
What type of glue should I use for pressed flower projects?
Elmer’s glue mixed with a bit of water (one teaspoon of glue to an eighth of a teaspoon of water) works well for these projects. This mixture ensures even spreading and prevents the glue from being too thick or goopy.
How do I protect the pressed flowers after gluing them?
After gluing the flowers, seal them with a water-based polyurethane product. Applying two to three coats will protect the flowers and prevent fading over time, ensuring your project lasts.
What tools should I use to press the flowers into place?
A popsicle stick is useful for pressing the flowers into place after gluing, as it helps flatten them without causing damage.
What are some design tips for creating cards and bookmarks with pressed flowers?
When creating cards and bookmarks, choose elements that complement each other in terms of color and design. Experiment with different arrangements before finalizing your design, and ensure all parts of larger elements are well-glued.
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