How to Make Flower Paper Weights
A paperweight is not only a functional item for an office, as it holds down a stack of papers, but it can also be a decorative touch in any office. Make your own flower paperweight with a few items that you probably have out in your yard and a few inexpensive items from the craft store. A homemade flower paperweight is easy to create, making it a wonderful homemade gift for children to make to give to mom or dad.
Things You'll Need
- Flower
- Printer paper
- 3 to 4 heavy hardcover books such as dictionaries or encyclopedias
- Decoupage
- Foam brush
- Large rock with on flat smooth surface large enough to fit your flower on
Instructions
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1
Take a freshly picked flower and make sure there is no moisture on the flower, such as dew on the petals or leaves.
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2
Lay the flower out on a piece of printer paper, gently flattening the flower just enough to arrange it how you want it to look when it is done pressing. Make sure that no two parts of the flower overlap each other, such as a leaf overlapping a petal.
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3
Place another sheet of printer paper over the top of the flower.
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4
Place the flower, sandwiched between the two sheets of paper, in the middle of a heavy hardcover book, such as a dictionary.
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5
Place two or three more heavy hard cover books on top of the first to add pressure to the pressed flower.
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6
Allow the flower to sit in this pressed position for about two weeks so that it can dry thoroughly. You can speed up the process by microwaving the flower in the first book for 30 seconds at a time, allowing the flower to cool between, until the flower is almost completely dry, and then putting the other books on top of the first for at least a few days.
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7
Remove the pressed flower from the book and decide where on your rock you would like to place it.
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8
Spread a generous layer of decoupage, which can be found at craft stores, to the area of the rock that you want to place the flower on with a foam brush.
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9
Place the flower onto the rock, in the decoupage, and press it down with your fingers. Smooth out any air bubbles from under the petals and leaves. Piece the flower back together during this step if it has fallen apart from being pressed.
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10
Spread another layer of decoupage over the top of the flower to seal it to the rock. Coat the rest of the rock with the decoupage as well to seal the whole rock to prevent it from leaving any dirt or markings on your papers.
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11
Allow the rock to dry for at least two hours before using it to weigh down any papers.
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