How to Create Aesthetic Dried Flower Bookmarks at Home

There is something magical in a book – the feel of the page turning one after another, the smell of old paper, and the ability to transport you to another world. But a real book lover’s reading experience should be specially tailored to create the perfect ambience. And what could be better than a handmade bookmark to go with your morning tea-time reading?

Are you a fan of those aesthetic transparent bookmarks with pressed flowers? If yes, then you are not alone. Everyone has seen such bookmarks on social media, mesmerized by their beauty and transparency. But did you know that you can make them right at home?

In this guide, we will go over all the necessary steps of creating a handmade bookmark. We will discuss what materials you will need for the project, how to prepare your flowers for pressing, the process of assembling the bookmark itself, and a few handy tips and tricks to perfect your creation.

Why Make Bookmarks with Dried Flowers at Home?

Before proceeding to the exciting process of creating your own bookmark, we would like to present a few reasons why you might want to try this project.

Mindfulness and Slow Living

In this fast-paced world, we crave experiences that slow us down and help us be present at the moment. Creating bookmarks with pressed flowers is one such activity that helps you be mindful and engaged.

Ultimate Gift Idea

While store-bought bookmarks are nice, nothing compares to something handmade with love and care. You can make unique bookmarks with pressed flowers as presents for your friends, family members, and teachers on various occasions, including graduation, mother’s day, or a retirement party.

Easy and Inexpensive

You will not need any special equipment for this project. Many materials for making bookmarks with pressed flowers can be found around the home. Even if they need to be purchased, they will be very affordable and widely available.

Uniques Pieces of Art

Every single flower is unique in its color, shape, and size, and every person can create a one-of-a-kind bookmark! The possibilities are endless!

Phase 1: Materials and Tools

For making bookmarks with pressed flowers at home, you will need a few supplies. Depending on the desired aesthetic and material of your bookmark, various items may be required. But most people will need the following supplies:

The Florals

Real pressed flowers and leaves. They can be pressed at home (see below) or bought already pressed from a store or online.

The Bookmark Base

Heavy cardstock (kraft paper, white, and pastel-colored watercolor paper),

clear acrylic bookmark blanks,

and self-adhesive laminating sheets or clear packing tape.

Adhesive and Sealer

Matte or glossy Mod Podge, resin-effect glue, or a fine decoupage medium.

Tools

Small paintbrushes, scissors, and tweezers (to avoid damaging delicate pressed petals) are essential tools for making a bookmark with pressed flowers. Also, you may need a single-hole puncher.

Finishing Supplies

Silk ribbons, suede cords, embroidery floss for making tassels, and metallic twine.

Phase 2: Flowers Selection and Preparation

It is time to choose and prepare the flowers for your bookmark! The flowers can be bought already pressed or at home. While there are many options for purchasing pressed flowers online (Queen Anne’s lace, pansies, ferns), making them at home will allow you more creative control over the final result.

Choosing the Flowers

When selecting the flowers for your bookmark, avoid thick, fleshy plants that hold on to moisture. Such flowers are more likely to rot during the pressing process. The best flowers to press are those that grow flat, like Forget-me-nots (beautiful blue flowers), tiny daisies, chamomile, and sweet alyssum.

Other great options include pansies and violas (press them so that the pretty faces of the flowers are visible), ferns, eucalyptus leaves, thin blades of ornamental grasses, and pressed rose petals (individual petals, not whole thick buds).

Traditional Book-Pressing Method

The traditional way to press flowers at home requires no special equipment. Just a large, heavy book (encyclopedias are great for this purpose) and some parchment or kitchen paper towels. Simply follow these easy steps:

Select a few flowers on a dry, cloudless day. Morning hours are the best as the flowers will be dry after the night.

Open the book to an empty page and lay a thick sheet of parchment or paper towels on it.

Arrange the flowers on the paper so that they are placed face down and do not overlap each other in unusual ways.

Cover them with another sheet of parchment or paper towels and close the book. You can also place additional heavy books on top to press the flowers further. Leave them for 2-3 weeks, or until they are completely dry and papery. Do not try to check on them earlier as delicate petals may break when you open the book.

Phase 3: Bookmark Assembly: 3 Beautiful Ways to Make it

There are three popular ways to make a bookmark with pressed flowers at home. All of them are super easy and will provide you with lovely results. Let’s discuss each method in detail.

Style 1: Vintage Botanical Cardstock Bookmark

A vintage-style botanical cardstock bookmark is a great option for a beginner. It provides a rustic, cottagecore look and feel and is super cozy and comforting.

Cutting the Base

Take a thick cardstock or watercolor paper and cut it to the desired size. Usually, the bookmark should be 2 inches wide and 6 or 7 inches long. You can also cut the edges with a ruler and tear the paper to create a nice deckled edge.

Laying Out the Design

Once you have the cardstock base, you need to lay out the design. You may want to place a few pressed flowers vertically on the Bookmark to create a stem effect or make a cluster of different wildflowers bloom at the bottom of the page. You can use fine tip tweezers to arrange the delicate petals without damaging them.

Adding the Flowers

The next step is to glues the pressed flowers to the cardstock. Take a small amount of Matte Mod Podge, dip a fine paintbrush in it, and spread a tiny amount of glue on the paper where you want to place the flower. Then, take the pressed flower in the tweezers and gently press it to the glue spot. Repeat this step until all the flowers are placed on the bookmark.

Sealing and Protecting

To protect the flowers, you need to apply a sealer on top of them. Use a fine paintbrush to spread a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the flowers. They will look slightly cloudy, but the cloudy appearance will disappear as the Mod Podge dries. Wait for 20-30 minutes or until it is completely dry.

Style 2: Modern Clear Acrylic Floating Bookmark

If you want to make a more modern-looking bookmark, try the transparent acrylic version. It is super easy to make and looks amazing!

Preparing the Acrylic Blank

Take a clear acrylic bookmark blank and remove the protective plastic films from both sides. Then, use a microfiber cloth to remove any dust particles from the acrylic surface.

Designing the Bookmark

Now it is time to design the bookmark. Since the background is clear, you will see all the details on both sides of the bookmark. You can position the flowers and leaves any way you like. But pairing delicate fern leaves with tiny white daisies looks especially beautiful on a transparent acrylic background.

Applying the Flowers

Now, use a toothpick to apply a small amount of clear glue to the back of the pressed flowers. Then, gently press them to the bookmark blank. Since the surface of the acrylic blanks is non-porous, you will need only a small amount of glue to adhere the flowers.

Sealing the Flowers

To seal the flowers, apply a clear gloss medium on top of them or use a dimensional clear glue to make the flowers “pop” out of the surface of the bookmark.

Style 3: Laminated Film Bookmark (for Kids and Busy Adults)

This method is ideal for kids and adults with a busy schedule who want to enjoy making bookmarks with pressed flowers without spending much time on it. Simply glue the pressed flowers in between two layers of laminating sheets and you are done!

Arranging the Flowers on Contact Paper

Open a laminating pouch or a contact paper with a sticky side up. Then arrange the pressed flowers on the contact paper in the desired pattern. Since the contact paper is sticky, the flowers will adhere to the plastic and will not move.

Sealing the Bookmark

Now, peel the liner of the laminating pouch (or attach another contact paper to the flowers) and slowly press it on the bookmark from one side to another. Then, use a ruler or a credit card to remove any air bubbles from the plastic surface.

Trimming the Excess Plastic

Finally, use scissors to cut the excess plastic around the bookmark, leaving about 2-3 millimeters of clear plastic around the flowers. You can also use a paper-trimmer to cut the bookmark to the desired size. Make sure to round the sharp edges of the bookmark with your scissors.

Phase 4: Adding the Finishing Touches (Tassel, String, Ribbon)

Every handmade bookmark should have a cute tassel, a ribbon, or a piece of twine at the end. Adding this detail will give your bookmark a professional finish. To do this, simply follow the steps below:

Punching the Hole in the Bookmark

Using a single-hole puncher, punch a hole at the top of the bookmark. Make sure there is enough space between the hole and the edge of the bookmark so the hole does not tear when you thread the ribbon through it. Punching the hole in the bookmark made of laminating sheets or cardstock may be tricky. Make sure to keep your punches aligned when making the hole.

Threading the Ribbon or Twine

Now, cut a 6-inch piece of silk ribbon, metallic baker’s twine, or faux suede cord. Fold the ribbon in half to create a loop, and then thread the folded loop through the bookmark hole. Then, push the two ends of the ribbon through the loop and tighten it to make a larks-head knot.

Trimming and Final Inspection

Trim the excess ribbon to the desired length. Now, inspect the bookmark under a bright light to ensure that all the flowers are properly adhered to the bookmark. If one of the petals lifts, simply glue it with a drop of extra glue on the back of the bookmark with a toothpick.

Troubleshooting

Despite the best efforts, some flowers may still prove to be challenging to work with. Below are a few handy tips that will help you with some of the most common bookmark-making issues.

Issue: My flowers are too fragile and break when I try to glue them to the bookmark base.

Solution: Remember that all pressed flowers are usually quite fragile and break easily. To fix this issue, gently blow warm air over them to add some moisture and help them become more flexible. Also, use fine-tipped tweezers instead of your fingers to handle them.

Issue: The Mod Podge wrinkles the paper cardstock.

Solution: Using too much liquid medium can cause paper to wrinkle. To prevent this from happening, apply the glue in thin layers and gently brush them with a paintbrush. Put some heavy books on the bookmark to keep it flat while it dries.

Issue: My bookmark has bubbles in it.

Solution: To eliminate air bubbles from laminated and taped bookmarks, slowly run a piece of fabric (you can use a piece of clothing) over the bookmark from left to right. Do not use your fingers to remove the air bubbles from the plastic surface as it may damage the flowers. Smooth the plastic with a credit card.

Caring for Your Handmade Botanical Bookmark

• Since handmade bookmarks with pressed flowers are made from natural materials, you will need to take special care of them. Here are a few essential care tips:

Avoid the Sunlight

• Just like real flowers, your handmade bookmark should not stay in direct sunlight for too long. Doing so will cause it to lose its vibrant colors.

Do Not Get it Wet

• Never use a bookmark in a humid room or get it wet with your hands. Paper and pressed flowers do not tolerate moisture and will discolor and mildew over time.

Store it Properly

• When not in use, store the bookmark in a closed book or in a dedicated box instead of bending it.

Create Beautiful Aesthetic Bookmarks with Pressed Flowers at Home!

Creating bookmarks with pressed flowers is a fun and easy project that anyone can try. It is also a great way to enjoy the slow process of pressing your favorite blossoms and putting them into a pretty little shape so that they can accompany you on your reading adventures. Now you know how to make the most popular styles of bookmarks with pressed flowers at home. Gather your supplies and enjoy the creative process of making beautiful handmade bookmarks!