I use a number of techniques when creating my pressed flower bookmarks.
In order to make them functional, you must use some type of protection. I normally use hot laminator pouches which
are run through a laminator to seal them.
You can purchase the pouches in different thicknesses. I normally use 3 mil pouches for my bookmarks
but others may use 5 mil. I have also
used iron on laminate, such as Drytak or Thermoweb which do not require a
laminator. You can also use laminate
which uses a sticky background instead of heat to seal the contents (e.g.
contact paper or cold laminate).
You can find reasonably priced laminators and laminator
pouches in craft stores or even Wal-Mart.
However, office supply stores have the greatest variety. My first laminator was a Scotch brand. I later purchased a Fellows Saturn 95 brand
laminator which was on sale. I like this
one better for bookmarks as the paper can be loaded horizontally and is less
apt to shift. It is also great to take with me to classes. Many members have purchased Purple Cow brand
laminators with good results. I
recommend that you look for an option for both 3 mil and 5 mil laminating and
the ability to load a full sheet (e.g. 8-1/2” wide).
Creating Your
Bookmark:
1) For the best results, use thin flowers and
leaves for your design. The flowers can
be glued onto cardstock, cut into strips suitable for bookmarks (e.g. 1-1/2” to 2”wide x 5”
to 7” tall).
You can also add ribbons and/or decorative paper to the surface.
2) Lay out your pressed flower design and glue the
flowers to the card stock. Be careful to apply only a small dot of glue to the
center of the flower or leaf. Less is
better. I like acid free tacky glue (available
at craft stores) as it dries quickly. Since it is not water-based, it can be
used on most flowers without turning them brown. I use a toothpick to apply my glue.
3) Let the glue dry completely. Sometimes, I will place my “in process” bookmarks under weight to hold
the flowers in place until the glue has dried.
4) If using iron-on laminate, cut two pieces to
cover both the front and back of the bookmark. Then, cover the bookmark with a
soft cloth and apply the heated iron (medium heat) on the surface until the
laminate is set. If using Drytac brand
laminate, make sure the tiny holes are fully closed.
5) If using laminator pouches, you can place 4-5
bookmarks onto the surface, making sure there is a small space between each
one. I apply a tiny dot of glue or
2-sided tape to the back of each bookmark to prevent them from shifting. Run them through your laminator and then trim
them to size. When trimming, make sure
you leave a small border of the laminate around each bookmark so you do not
break the seal.
6) If you sell your bookmarks, you can add a small
label to the back before laminating them.
Bookmark Making
Tutorials
I did a Google search on “pressed
flower bookmark instructions” and have added some links below
for you to check out.
