Pressed flowers

To press a flower you need a flower press or 2 sheets of wax paper and some heavy books.

Pick your flowers when they are at their freshest. This will keep intact some of their color and they don't carry as much moisture.

To use a flower press unscrew the wing nuts and place your flower(s) in-between the sheets of wax. Make sure its the smooth side that's facing the flower. Put a layer of cardboard above and below the papers. Place the top back on and screw the  wing nuts back on. The flowers need to flatten and dry out so leave them in for 3 weeks.

To press flowers using books place your flowers in-between two sheets of wax paper and place heavy books on top of it. Leave them for 3 weeks

To make the card above you will need:

• Dried flower
• Cutting mat
• X-Acto knife
• Ruler
• Green cardstock
• Pink cardstock
• 2 sheets of White cardstock
• Rubber cement
• Nylon beading string
• Needle
• Small beads
• Tape
• Decorative edge scissors
• Pencil

1. Mark the half line on the green cardstock
2. Cut a rectangle of pink cardstock the size 4 1/2 inches tall by 2 1/2 inches wide
3. Cut the white cardstock 4 inches tall by 2 inches thick
4. On the cutting board use the needle to poke 2 holes in the cover. They are both 2 1/2 inches from the bottom edge. The first hole is 1 1/2 inches from the left side and the second hole is 1 1/2 inches from the right side.
5. Cut the string 5 inches long.
6. Thread the string through the 1st hole and tape it on the other side of the card.
7. Put small beads on the string. I used white beads and little bells. Put about 12 beads on the string.
8. Thread the string through the second hole and tape it on the other side. If you need to trim the leftover do so.
9. Glue (using rubber cement) The white paper to the pink paper that you cut in steps 2 and 3. Leave   a 1/4 of an inch on all sides of the pink paper.
10. Place glue on the white paper where you plan the flower to be. 
11. Lay down the flower and tap it to make a tight seal. Rub off any excess glue with your finger
12. Once those are dry glue it onto the card 1 1/2 inch from the right side and 1 inch from the top of the card.
13. To hide the string on the inside of the card you will have to make a liner.
14. To make the liner mark a sheet of white cardstock 1/2 inch in on all sides.
15. Cut the liner with the decorative edge scissors.
16. Glue down the liner with rubber cement.