On the verge of another weekend. Guess we will be looking at houses once again. Although, my son will be looking at a couple houses today after work. Weather looks nice for the weekend. No rain and high of 70. Beautiful.
I finished the weaving last night. Check it out...
So you see this can be both a child and adult nature craft. And once you add the warp (the lengthwise strings) out of yarn or string, you can add other nature items like small twigs even flowers.
Today's focus is nature crafts (like the weaving). One thing that I remember doing when I was young, but then have continued through adulthood is saving and pressing flowers.
The easiest way to save them is in a book with porous paper. But it is easy to make your own flower press with wood, nuts, bolts and washers plus the paper and cardboard. You can even make it easier with wood, paper and large bull clips.
To start you need two square pieces of wood. 4 to 6 inches square is a nice size...
For an easy, temporary press cut two pieces of card board and several pieces of porous paper (think child's drawing pad) in a square about one inch smaller than the wood. Once you have placed your flowers and leaves between the papers secure with a large bull clips on each side...
To make a more permanent press, place the wood pieces together and secure with bull clips. Then drill a hole in each corner about 1/2 inch from the edges. Again cut two pieces of cardboard and several pieces of porous paper in a square about one inch smaller than the wood.
To hold the wood together you need two washers, a nut and long bolt for each hole...
Place the washer around the hole on the top, push the bolt through the hole on both pieces of wood, add a washer and then with the nut tightened securely. In the above picture, there is also a locking washer which is not needed. Layer the press with wood, cardboard, several pieces of porous paper, cardboard and wood.
When choosing flowers and leaves to press between the porous paper, pick thin ones. If the flower is thick cut the thickest part off or use only the petals. Place on the porous paper and cover with another piece of paper, when full, securely tighten and place in dark, dry area and leave for several days or weeks.
When dry you can make lots of things from pictures to bookmarks (need a clear cover) to notecards, etc.
That's all for this week...
Talk with you on Monday...