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How to make a bookmark with pressed flowers

Koupie by Koupie

How to preserve flowers in a bookmark.

I love to collect Wildflowers in spring and summer and use them in my art work, including bookmarks, and cards, and I discovered a wonderful technique for doing so which I would like to share with you.

I did not create this technique myself, I first read about it in a magazine and thought it would be a great idea to use it on bookmarks.

This technique was found in a 1950's Boy Scout handbook , and you may need to fiddle, or experiment with amounts of glue and water used to achieve the look you prefer, but it really is very simple.

I use a microwave flower press, rather than wait for the flowers to dry, so I can go out and pick them in the morning, which is best, and they are ready to be preserved in the afternoon.

You will need the following materials

inkHere are the products I use, please experiment with your own brands if you don't have access to these products.

3 ply tissue
Aleene's tacky glue
Wax paper
White watercolor paper
Sewing machine and thread
Ribbon
Gel medium
Fibers
Ink pad
Vinyl bookmark sleeves

The glue I have used just happened to be the brand I had at home when I first tried this, I am sure you can use any regular glue, but you will have to play with it and see how your brand works for you. I did try a glue from the dollar store and it was terrible, too watery, and looked cloudy when dry. This is why you need to experiment, but I still keep going back to the Aleene brand tacky glue.

I use a metallic gold thread for the sewing. Just because I like it. If you do not have a sewing machine, why not? They are great for stitching paper and it gives such a lovely finished look. You don't have to be a seamstress to do this, just keep a needle specifically for paper or card stock if you do sew finer items.

I use a microwave flower press

a must have if you love to use flowers a lot in your art

This is the microwave flower press by Microfleur, and has excellent reviews. It is lightweight and easy to use if you have a microwave.
Also available in a larger size, this one is 5 x 5 inches.
Microwave Flower Press Is Fast And Easy To Use!

Microwave Flower Press Is Fast And Easy To Use!

Amazon Price: $20.25 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now
List Price:

I like to pick my wildflowers and dry them right away, this little tool not only dries, but presses them at the same time in just minutes so you can get right to your art project. Highly recommended if you don't want to wait.
After I have done using what I need I put the rest of my pressed flowers into a traditional flower press for safe keeping.

Let's get started

Keep a wet cloth or wipe handy for your hands

glue mixtureCombine a mixture of approx' 60% glue to 40% water.
To be honest I just guess. You don't want it too watery and you don't want it too gluey either.
Mix it really well with an old brush. This is the one I use below just some old thing but the bristles are still soft.

Wax paper and your flowers

wildflower on wax paperFor my bookmarks I use a piece of wax paper from the roll, wide enough to make several at a time.
Then I position my pressed/dried flowers the way I want them.

You can add some fibers at this point too so it is under the glue mixture, or add it later with gel medium. I do it both ways.
I use the shinier or top side of the wax paper to lay my arrangement on.

Grab a tissue from the box and separate it into 3 ply's, you are only going to use 1 ply.
I tried using a 2 ply and I really didn't like the look, it wasn't as transparent.

Items you may need for the bookmarks

Suggestions only

As I have already said, you can improvise using your own products, this is just a general list of items you can easily purchase online.
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Time to wet the tissue

adding the glue mixtureMake sure you are not in a breezy room to do this, or have a fan blowing :)

Take your tissue and gently place over your arrangement.
I hold a section of it lightly with a finger tip as I apply the solution to the tissue.
Dab it gently and not too much, don't over do it or the tissue with split open on you.
I first do the section where the flowers are and they don't seem to move once that is done.

Work carefully and be gentle

adding the glue mixtureThen I work around the arrangement as shown in the photograph here.
I need enough to use as a bookmark so I cover a good area and then I will trim it later when it is dry.
I usually do a row of these so I can use up all the glue/water mixture.

Leave your work to dry completely

and don't stick your finger in it

Now you have to be patient and let it dry all day or overnight. Then it will look like this... click on the photo for a close up. It has a beautiful texture which I love, I am passionate about texture and dimension in my art work. I also love how it is almost transparent.

While you wait you can always cut your watercolor paper into the size you want to make your bookmark. Mine all seem to be different, but I do try to make sure I can fit them in a plastic or vinyl bookmark sleeve.

Cut out two pieces of white "watercolor paper" in the size you would like your bookmark. I am using 140lb cold presswhich is a heavy weight paper, and sturdy enough for bookmarks.
Why white? I have tried other background colors and I just think they look so stunning on white.

Let's go over to the sewing machine

sewing the bookmarkUsing a metallic gold thread I now take it to the sewing machine and with one piece of the white watercolor paper I stitch the dried, wax flower paper to it, around the edges.

Don't worry how the stitches will look on the back we will be covering it up.
This step secures the flower paper to the bookmark, you could glue it I suppose but this keeps that nice transparent effect.

Tidy up your threads and bring it back to your glue table.
(sorry, this photo makes it look pink , but it's not)

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Almost finished

watercolor paperTurn over the piece you have stitched on and place some ribbon as shown below. Glue this to the paper and then glue your second piece of watercolor paper over top of this.

(Another option is to punch a hole in the bookmark when it is finished, then add ribbon. I do it both ways.)

I use beautiful Hug Snug seam binding but you can use any ribbon.

Inking the edges

and a little fiber maybe?

Now I edge the back with the green ink and sign it if I remember.
I use Versafine ink pads but the Martha Stewart product is good too.

When that has dried which isn't long, turn it over the front again.

Now you can edge the front with the green ink too. It gives it a finished look don't you think?
Don't forget these are just my steps, you can do whatever your little heart desires, use any ink, any thread etc etc, just do your thing, be creative.

If you didn't add any fibers under the tissue, you can still do it now. This is all a part of the mixed media artist in me, I love to add fibers, on nature products, they are wool fibers, and you only need a tiny bit, but it just gives it more depth.

Take a very teeny tiny amount and lay it where you like the look of it. I stick my little finger in the gel medium and rub it right on top of the bookmark.
Click on the photo to see it close up.

Make sure to let it dry well.
This is usually when I add "words" if I am going to, which I print on card stock.

The finished bookmark

bookmarkNow you have a pretty bookmark, which would make a lovely gift with a book or for a garden/nature lover, or for anyone really.
Wouldn't you love one?

Here are two that I finished and put in plastic sleeves. Click on the photos to see close up.
I try to make them skinny enough to do this so it protects the bookmark, that way you can actually use it and not worry about it getting dirty, but sometimes the flowers I use are too wide for these plastic sleeves, so it all depends, and on who I will be gifting one to.

I have made a lot of these last summer and still have wild flowers in my flower press for more.

You may also like some of my other handmade lenses

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Photographs of how I use this technique

Same technique used on an altered note book and gift tag

I would love to hear what you think of this tutorial

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  • keepingscore May 25, 2012 @ 10:06 pm | delete
    Thanks! I have been curious about doing this project since I noticed them at a craft fair, I like the look of the tissue paper after it dries!
  • Deadicated May 9, 2012 @ 7:57 pm | delete
    I love this Lens and your wonderful bookmarks; thanks for sharing your method of doing them. Awesome!
  • simpsonia Apr 25, 2012 @ 2:55 pm | delete
    Lovely work!
  • Brandy McCaleb Apr 7, 2012 @ 3:37 pm | delete
    Excellent tutorial! The Best I have read and believe me, as a new presser, I have been researching and reading for months! HATS OFF TO YOU!
  • Koupie May 17, 2012 @ 8:11 am | delete
    Thank you so much Brandy...
  • dellgirl Apr 1, 2012 @ 6:36 pm | delete
    Beautiful lens, you really put a lot of thought into it. This is very informative. Thanks for sharing.

    Thank you also for visiting my lens and for Squidliking it. I appreciate your visit.
  • Cari_Kay Apr 1, 2012 @ 3:56 pm | delete
    These bookmarks are absolutely beautiful. I make bookmarks all the time for classes but I've never tried making them with pressed flowers. I have to try this. Thank you!
  • smsr0100451 Mar 28, 2012 @ 3:29 am | delete
    Nice idea.
  • privresearch Mar 25, 2012 @ 2:30 pm | delete
    What a great idea! You are very creative Koupie :)
  • bloomingrose Mar 24, 2012 @ 12:51 pm | delete
    This is an excellent how to lens - I haven't seen many this thorough and complete. I think people could really do this craft, without getting to one step in the middle and then having to quit in frustration. Plus, I like that it is a simple craft that does not require a lot of complicated tools or materials that you will never use in any other crafts. This is a perfect craft for an older child (with supervision) to do for Christmas presents. Angel Blessed!
  • Centavo Mar 22, 2012 @ 8:16 pm | delete
    Super info, thanks. Love your bookmark.
  • PawsForThought Mar 18, 2012 @ 3:10 pm | delete
    Excellent! I enjoyed this lens, and I think you did a very thorough step by step tutorial. Your photographs are also simply beautiful. Your talent shines!
  • iMorpheus Mar 18, 2012 @ 1:19 pm | delete
    These pressed photographs look so beautiful. Thank you for this excellent work :-)
  • Musicalcroc Mar 18, 2012 @ 12:16 pm | delete
    Very interesting idea. I press flowers and plants for my collection and sometimes I've extras. Now I know what to do with them.
  • Joan4 Mar 17, 2012 @ 5:31 pm | delete
    Oh I will be glad when granddaughter is old enough to do this! She loves pretty flowers!
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This So Crafty page written by

Koupie

I have a creative spirit, always have and I love all things creative, knitting, sewing, all kinds of art, photography, digital art and gardening.

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