Homemade Bookmark with Pressed Flowers
A pressed flower bookmark is the kind of gift that gets used every single day — slipped into a book, pulled out at the end of a chapter, held up to the light to see the translucent petals. Children collect and press the flowers themselves over several days before Mother's Day, then laminate or cover them in contact paper to make a bookmark that will last for years.
What You'll Need
- Fresh flowers and leaves — pansies, violets, small daisies, fern fronds, and clover all press beautifully
- Heavy books — for pressing (encyclopedias, dictionaries)
- Parchment or wax paper — to protect the book pages
- Cardstock strips — 2 x 7 inches, for the bookmark base
- Clear contact paper or self-laminating sheets
- Hole punch and ribbon — optional, for a decorative top
How to Do It
Step 1: Collect flowers. Several days before making the bookmarks, go on a flower-picking walk. Choose flat, thin flowers — pansies and violets are ideal because they press flat without bulk.
Step 2: Press the flowers. Place flowers face-down between two sheets of parchment paper. Lay inside a heavy book. Stack 2–3 more books on top. Wait 5–7 days.
Step 3: Arrange on the bookmark. Remove the pressed flowers carefully — they are fragile. Place a dot of white glue on the back of each piece and arrange on the cardstock strip.
Step 4: Let glue dry completely. Any moisture left will cloud the contact paper.
Step 5: Laminate. Cover with clear contact paper or feed through a self-laminating sheet, pressing out all bubbles. Trim edges to match the bookmark shape.
Step 6: Finish the top. Punch a hole at the top and thread a ribbon or piece of yarn through for a tassel.
Skills Your Child Will Develop
Patience across days — A multi-day project builds the concept of work that happens across time.
Delicate manipulation — Handling fragile pressed flowers without damaging them develops careful fine motor control.
Nature identification — Selecting flowers and leaves for pressing prompts naming and describing plant parts.
Tips & Variations
- Press leaves in addition to flowers for a more complex design.
- Write a word or name on the bookmark before laminating using permanent marker.
- Make bookmarks for teachers, grandparents, and neighbors — press enough flowers for a set.
My Two Cents
Allow at least 7 full days for pressing — 5 days produces flowers that are not fully flat and will have visible texture bumps under the contact paper. The longer the press, the more beautiful the result.
