Materials

• Selection of flowers
• A heavy book, such as a phone book or dictionary
• Several sheets of plain white paper
• Tweezers (optional)

Directions

1. Choose appropriate flowers. Full flowers with lots of dimension like roses or peonies won't work well. Instead, try flat, single-layered flowers such as cosmos, pansies, verbena or blue bells. Intricately patterned leaves or delicate ferns also work well. Pick unblemished blooms that aren't damp from rain, watering or morning dew. Pressed flowers can fade over time, so choose brightly hued blooms. If you don't have a good source for picked flowers, use a bouquet purchased from a local florist or farmer's market instead.
2. Gather the flowers to be pressed and two pieces of plain white paper to protect the book because the colors in the flowers may stain slightly. Arrange the flowers on one piece of paper in the middle of the book, cover with another piece of paper and close the book. Leave the book undisturbed for a week to 10 days-no peeking!
3. After 10 days, slowly open the book to check on the pressed flowers. They should be completely dry. If they aren't, close the book and give them a few more days. Dried petals and leaves are very delicate so use care in removing them.
4. Once your dried botanicals are ready to work with, use your imagination to create a project that best fits your child's age and interests. Here are three kid-friendly project ideas to get you started:

• Pressed flowers picture frame