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Pressed Flowers: Fun and Easy Craft Projects

Flowers are absolutely stunning. They are works of art provided by nature, and their fine details and striking colors add a great deal of beauty to their surroundings. You can preserve your favorite flowers forever through pressing and drying, and instead of just keeping them in a book, they can be used to make fun and easy craft projects that are far from ordinary.

The following easy craft projects are a great way to display the beauty of pressed flowers, and they make fantastic gifts. Give these craft ideas a try, and turn your favorite pressed flowers into beautiful works of natural art. Pressed Flowers for Craft Projects Old telephone books are ideal for creating pressed flowers. The pages are similar to newsprint, and they are very absorbent. If an old phone book is not available, place a few sheets of newsprint between the pages of a heavy book and arrange delicate flower heads inside. If the blooms are thin they will dry faster than thicker flowers, and the results will be far more satisfactory. Pansies, violas, and wild violets of various colors are all excellent choices. Stack heavy items on top of the heavy book with the flowers inside.

Approximately once each week check the condition of the pressed flowers. Once they are completely pressed and dry they can be used in many fun and easy craft projects, but handle them very carefully because they will be very fragile. Create a Vase Wall Hanging Filled with Beautiful Pressed Flowers If you would love a beautiful wall hanging filled with pressed blooms, consider pressing many flowers for a single display. Draw or paint a picture of a vase on a plain piece of cardstock, and using a clean paintbrush with a fine tip, carefully glue on pressed flowers to make a bouquet. A hand designed vase on cardstock looks magnificent when filled with dozens of pressed violas, wild violets, or large colorful pansies. A combination of pressed flowers also looks highly impressive.

Foliage can also be dried and added to this wall vase creation. After the glue has dried completely, lightly spray the surface with fixative to protect the fragile blooms. Mount the picture behind a color-coordinating mat, and complete it with a frame. This pressed flower craft project will look absolutely stunning when hung on a wall and surrounded by metal wall planters filled with artificial flowers and foliage of the same variety. Embellish Gift Tags and Bookmarks with Pressed Flowers Store-bought gift tags are usually not very impressive, and they can still be quite costly. Instead of buy gift tags, consider using pressed flowers to make extraordinary homemade tags to give with gifts. Simply cut out gift tags from cardstock in a color of your choice, and using a small paintbrush, lightly brush on a layer of clear-drying glue. Carefully apply a pressed flower to the tag. When the glue dries, cover the top of the flower with a another layer of clear-drying glue. Gently brush on the glue, and allow it to dry completely. Punch a hole in the end of the tag, and tie it to a gift with a narrow color-coordinating ribbon. The tag can also be laminated for strength and double as a beautiful bookmark.

Decorate a Stunning Floral Lampshade with Pressed Flowers Floral lampshades are absolutely gorgeous, especially in a cottage-style bedroom or an elegant floral living room. Begin with a clean dust-free paper lampshade, and lightly apply clear-drying craft glue to back of a pressed flower. Carefully apply the flower to the shade, and allow the glue to dry. Once the glue has dried, lightly brush a layer of clear-drying glue over the top of the flower while being careful not to get the glue on the lampshade. Although the glue will dry clear, it will still be visible on the paper lampshade should it seep past the flowers. Cover the entire lampshade with dozens of pressed flowers, or randomly place several around the shade. Use a low-wattage bulb to avoid heating the shade. When the light is on and the rest of the room is dark, the decorated shade will look breathtakingly beautiful and unlike anything you will find in a store.

Author Jessica Ackerman has years of decorating and design experience, and her tips and advice have been featured on a number of home decor websites. For unique ideas on decorating with metal wall hangings , modern wall mirrors, iron wall decor, and sconces, visit Wall Decor and Home Accents.