Pressed Flower II -- Fun with Kids

Photo: fdarling fotos, Fran Darling

It doesn’t matter what activities adults choose to do with young children. It only matters that adults do them often and have fun and talk together.  Pressed (dried) flower projects are good choices in late summer.

  These glass luminary candles with pressed flowers are beautiful gifts.

Materials Needed:

  You’ll need glass votive candle holders, thin clear tissue or facial tissue, white glue thinned with a little water, small pressed flowers or leaves.

  Coat the outside of the glass with the glue and water mixture and cover with tissue.

Arrange pressed materials on the tissue covered votive and brush on another coat of glue. Cover the entire outside with another tissue and glue to hold the flower or leaf in place.

  Coat with 3 or 4 more layers of glue to seal it making sure you let it dry between coats. You can use a few coats of spray on acrylic sealer or other sealer that dries clear. The glass will have a frosted look. Dry thoroughly. When the candle is lit, the light shines through the pressed materials for a beautiful effect.  Young children can substitute tea lights lit by a battery for safety.

Frames, notes, and Bookmarks

 Framed pressed flowers make very delicate pictures that do not fade. Children can use watercolors to paint wavy lines and swirls on paper. Spatter some water on the paper or run through a dripping water faucet to blend the paint.  They can be used for thank you notes when dried and ironed on low.

Photo: fdarling fotos, Fran Darling

  While the paper is drying, children can choose some small dried flowers, dried ferns and burning bush leaves. Apply a few dots of white glue on the back of the foliage.  Wipe off any excess glue that may seep around it. Then place a heavy book on top and let dry overnight. Insert the picture in a small frame when dry.

  Pressed flower cards and bookmarks are made the same way. Use card stock paper so the paper will not flop around from the weight of the dried material. Place a heavy book on top and dry overnight.

  Search children’s poetry books for a few poetic lines or make up your own.

Use colored markers to make designs around the flowers or add a short quote or note. You can then write your message on the card and send it to someone special, or you keep it for future use to be given for occasion. Pressed flowers can also be used to decorate gift packages, rock paperweights, and magnets. Notes will not go through the mail because they are lumpy. Place inside a gift box.

More Ideas and Activities...

See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org.

Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest.

 

Pressing Flowers with Children

fdarling fotos

 Gardens and fields are full of flowers for a few more weeks.  It’s a perfect time to teach young children how to press flowers and use them to decorate their own art. Adding a few real flowers makes projects 3D and cheery later in January. For best results pick fresh flowers on a dry summer afternoon when there is no rain or dew on them.

Pressed Flowers

  Go for a walk around the neighborhood. Young children can practice their manners by asking adults you know if they may pick a few little flowers for an art project.    The neighbor can receive a pressed flower thank you note later. Look for flat flowers like pansies, lavender, baby’s breath, daisies, geraniums, herbs, decorative grasses, and weeds. Petals, and leaves from large shrubs like hydrangea also work well since the whole flower is too big. Children can carefully snip the flower with ½ inch of stem for handling. Point out the parts of a flower and their job to help produce seeds.

  Carry a thick book and paper toweling with you so the flowers can be pressed immediately.  To avoid damaging the book, flowers should have a sheet of toweling on the top and bottom. Some people also add waxed paper or newspaper on the top and bottom. Do not add so many flowers and leaves that the book is puffy and out of shape.  The book will be ruined and there won’t be enough pressure. Leave at least 1/8 inch of pages between flowers.

Easy Drying

fdarling fotos

  Be sure the flowers and leaves are not folded or crinkled. Change the paper every day to help the flowers dry faster and prevent a natural chemical reaction that makes them turn brown.

  Place a pile of books or some other weight on the pressing book. Drying time will vary depending on the temperature, humidity, and type of flower. Small flowers may be dry within four to five days. Larger flowers could take eight days or longer.

 Dry flowers will be stiff and papery. Removing the flowers before they are completely dry could cause them to shrink and pucker.  To keep good color and form, place them in consistent heat throughout the pressing process. Attics, car trunks, and garage shelves work well in warm weather.

  Store dry flowers in a box between layers of tissue paper in a warm dry spot until you are ready to use them. Pressed flowers can enhance writing paper, create greeting cards, decorate gift tags, and add to children’s drawings. Use white glue to hold the flowers and let them dry completely. Decoupage or clear nail polish will keep them shiny.

Photos: Fran Dealing: fdarlingfotos

More Ideas and Activities...

See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org.

Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest.