Pressed Flower Place Mats

Pressed Flower Place Mats

Age: Preschool and up
Time: An hour or more
Type of activity: Nature Arts and Crafts

Add some flowers to your picnic table – no vase needed!

Materials needed:
· Flowers and leaves
· Clear contact paper
· Construction paper
· Scissors
· Ribbon (optional)

What to do:

Step One: Gather flowers and leaves that you'll use for your place mats.

Step Two: Remove the flower blossoms and leaves from their stems and lay them on the construction paper. You may want to practice arranging the flowers on the paper – once you put the flowers on the contact paper, you won't be able to move them!

Step Three: For each place mat you want to make, cut two pieces of contact paper, approximately 9" x 12".

Step Four: Peel the backing off one piece of contact paper and lay it sticky-side up on the table.

Step Five: Arrange the flowers and leaves on the sticky side of the contact paper.

Step Six: Press the flowers so they lay flat on the contact paper. If you'd like to add more decoration, press ribbon to the edges for a border.

Step Seven: Peel the backing off the remaining piece of contact paper. Carefully cover your place mat (sticky-side down) with the contact paper. Do this step slowly and carefully to avoid getting wrinkles in the place mat.

Step Eight: Flatten your place mat once more to smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles, and then use the scissors to trim any uneven edges.

Now you're ready to set the table!