How to Make Greeting Cards With Pressed Flowers

Pressed flowers or leaves make beautiful homemade stationery. Crafters of all ages can use dried flowers and leaves to create original gift tags, pictures or cards. With a few basic supplies, you can get started. Your designs can be as simple or as complex as you like. Read on to learn how to make greeting cards with pressed flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Flowers and leaves
• Heavy book or flower press
• Card stock
• Ruler
• Paint brush
• Tweezers
• Glue or adhesive
• Wax paper

Instructions

1. Choose flowers and leaves from outside that you wish to press and use. To press the items you gathered, you can put them in a flower press or simply between the pages of a heavy book. In a day or two, you will have a dried pressed flower.

2. Select your card stock, which you can find at your local craft store. Card stock comes in a variety of colors and textures. You can even find card stock that is already folded and in bundles with envelopes.

3. Decide on the size of your card or gift tag and cut the paper. If you want to add a decorative edge to your card, cut the paper slightly larger than your intended card. Use a ruler and place it on the cardstock parallel to the edge and in from the edge about half an inch. With a damp paintbrush, make a straight line along the ruler's edge. Holding the paper secure with one hand, begin to tear away that extra half inch, using the wet line and ruler as a guide. This creates a natural torn edge. Fold the card stock in half, lining up the torn edge to the now-backside edge of the card.

4. Arrange your leaves and flowers on the card or tag using tweezers. Start with the largest pieces and work your way to the smaller ones. Once you have a sense of what you want your card to look like, remove the pressed pieces carefully from the paper.

5. Apply glue or other adhesive to the backs of your pressed flowers and leaves using a small paint brush. Don't overdo the glue or adhesive; small dabs will do. Position the flowers on the card with the tweezers and let them stick. Wipe away any glue that oozes out from underneath.

6. Allow the adhesive to set for a few minutes. Then take wax paper and place it over your card face. On top of that, place a heavy book and let sit overnight. Or if you prefer, seal the card with clear contact paper or cover it with wax paper and iron it.

7. Finish your card by writing your message on the front or inside. Place it in an envelope and deliver.