Pressed Flower “Blossom” Cards

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014

(2 projects)

Summer is here! It’s a perfect time to start harvesting those wildflowers or blossoms from your garden and pressing them in any of the Arnold Grummer flower presses. The presses are so easy to use and the results are wonderful. The cards created with some handmade paper and pressed flowers are a special way of preserving the memories of summer.

“and then the day came when the risk to remain tight
in a bud was more painful than the risk to blossom”

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• Any of the Arnold Grummer Flower Presses (take advantage of the sale this month!)
• Microwave if using either of the Mirofleur presses
• Flowers of your choice to press
• Scraps of off white and dark green paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, paper cutter, scissors, bone folder
• Deep grape (or color to match your pressed flower) card stock 5 ½ x 8 ½” folded and envelope
• Dies:  CheeryLynn tiny leaves
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• ColorBox™ Chalk Warm Violet Ink pad (or color to match your flower)
• Stamp A Mania MH7061G “Blossom” stamp: (verbiage “and then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk to blossom
• Beacon  ZipDry™ Adhesive
• Double sided foam tape or foam dots

Directions:

1. Follow the directions for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to create white slurry.
2. Create one (or more) sheet of thick white handmade paper.
3. Create a sheet of dark green paper.
4. When the white sheet is dry, tear it into 4 pieces. (set the extra 3 pieces aside for other cards)
5. When the dark green sheet is dry, die cut three of the tiny leaf stems. (I always cut more leaves than I need for a project and keep them on hand for future use)
6. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer flower presses to press flowers of your choice. (I press a number of flowers at a time so that I always have some ready)

Assemble the card:

1. Attach the pressed blossom and tiny leaf sprigs with the Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive.
2. Stamp the verbiage with Chalk ink.
3. Attach the handmade paper to the card with foam tape or foam dots.
4. Add your special message to the inside of the card.

NOTE - Since the pressed flower is a bit fragile, I suggest placing some bubble wrap or thin foam packing over the front of the card before mailing it.

Any of the Arnold Grummer flower press kits would make a wonderful gift for your gardening friends!

Project 2

“Passion of Life” Pressed Daisy Card

Glorious summer wildflowers and garden flowers are everywhere and are ready to be picked and pressed in my Arnold Grummer flower press. Hundreds of blossoms can be dried in a short time and stored for future creations.

“There is no end… there is no beginning…
there is only the infinite Passion of Life”

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• Any of the Arnold Grummer Flower Presses (on sale this month!)
• Microwave if using either of the Mirofleur presses
• Daisy type flower
• Scraps of off white and light green paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, paper cutter, scissors, bone folder
• Olive green card stock 5 ½ x 8 ½” folded and envelope
• Die:  CheeryLynn tiny leaves
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• ColorBox™ Pastel Olive Chalk Ink pad
• Stamp A Mania MH7102-H “Passion of Life” stamp: (verbiage “There is no end…….. there is no beginning………there is only the infinite Passion of Life”
• Beacon  ZipDry™ and QuickGrab™ Adhesive
• Double sided foam tape or foam dots
• 8-10” of 1” sheer white ribbon
• Heat tool/gun

Directions:

1. Follow the directions for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to create white slurry.
2. Create one (or more) sheet of thick white handmade paper.
3. Create a sheet of light green paper.
4. When the white sheet is dry, tear it into 4 pieces. (set the extra 3 pieces aside for other cards)
5. When the light green sheet is dry, die cut two of the tiny leaf stems. (cut more leaves than needed and keep them on hand for future projects)
6. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer flower presses to press flowers of your choice. (press extras to use on other projects later)

Assemble the card:

1. Attach the pressed blossom and two tiny leaf sprigs with the Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive.
2. Stamp the verbiage with the Olive Pastel Chalk ink.
3. Tie the ribbon into a tiny bow. Attach it to the stem area of the pressed flower with QuickGrab™ adhesive.
4. Heat the ribbon for a few seconds with the heat tool to “crinkle” the ribbon.
5. Attach the handmade paper to the card with foam tape or foam dots.
6. Add your special message to the inside of the card.
7. The pressed flower can be a bit fragile, so I suggest hand delivering the card or placing some bubble wrap or thin foam packing over the front of the card before mailing it.