Materials
Fresh flowers (If possible, let the children collect these: buttercups, violets, mock
orange blossoms, pansies, or any blossoms with delicate petals. Don't use
daffodils, roses, or other bulky flowers.)
paper napkins
old telephone books
wax paper
pads of old newspapers
electric iron
paper cutter
Instructions
This activity is done in two stages, a week or more apart.
Stage one:
1. Collect flowers with the children.
2. Demonstrate how to open a napkin halfway and place the flower face down,
spreading the petals.
3. Replace the other half of the napkin.
4. Carefully place the napkin inside the telephone book.
5. When all the flowers have been prepared, stack the books (extra weight will
help press the flowers) and leave them for a week to dry.
Stage two:
1. Before beginning this stage, test to see how much heat your iron needs to
fuse two pieces of waxed paper. Then pre-heat the iron to that setting.
Supervise this part of the activity carefully and use caution! Assist the children
when pressing and be certain the iron is safely out of reach when not in use.
2. Carefully remove the dried flowers from the telephone books and open the
napkins so the children can select which ones they want.
3. Tear off sheets of wax paper, about 28", and fold in half. Open a folded sheet
of wax paper and place it on the pad of newspapers.
4. Arrange several of the dried flowers and cover with the other half of the
waxed paper.
5. Help the children press the paper with the hot iron to fuse the two sheets of
paper.
6. Trim the finished product to desired size, using a paper cutter so the edges
will be straight.
7. Use the finished product as a placemat or sun catcher. These make great gifts
for Mother's Day.
Tip: In the fall, use this idea to make placemats with autumn leaves.
