Flower printing is an engaging craft activity suitable for children and adults alike, where pigments from flowers and leaves are transferred onto paper or fabric through pounding to create beautiful botanical prints.
This activity is quick, fun, and yields beautiful results! Kids learn patience as they work carefully to develop focus and attention to detail through this activity.
Gather your supplies
Flower printing is an engaging nature art project that can be completed quickly using any paint, fabric, or paper scraps, making this activity accessible and affordable to children of all ages.
Start this project off right by gathering flowers or other plant materials, as well as a frame. Additionally, you will require a hard surface for pounding on, such as an outdoor wooden picnic table or bench; an alternative would be a cutting mat or large board sturdy enough for repeated hammering.
If this is your first time making hammered flower prints, start small. This allows you to practice different types of flowers and leaves before embarking on larger compositions. Furthermore, take some time to perfect your technique and determine how much pressure to use.
Once you understand how the process works, try out your flower or leaf compositions on larger pieces of parchment paper. Always cover leaves or flowers with kitchen paper before pounding on them to protect their vibrant pigments from getting onto your hammer and creating prints on the form.
Gather your flowers
Flowers add beauty and charm to handmade projects, especially pressed flower wall art. This easy DIY project brings nature’s splendor into your home in hours from start to finish!
For this project, we suggest choosing spring blooms with vibrant and thin petals, such as snowdrops, dwarf daffodil varieties, primroses, and fritillaries – these make beautiful choices of colors. You could also experiment with various wildflower varieties or daisies from your garden; alternatively, you may find many colorful options at local nurseries or grocery stores.
Once you’ve identified the flowers you wish to press, remove their stems and calyxes before placing the bloom on paper, petals down. Cover it carefully with clear plastic, use a hammer to tap over its surface lightly – careful not to apply too much pressure – then allow it to dry for 2-4 weeks before using an acrylic sealant to preserve its colors.
Once your flower is complete, remove its clear plastic cover to admire your work! Display it proudly as wall art, frame it for display, or give it as a unique gift by attaching the pressed flower to the card or gift wrap for someone special in your life – there are so many possibilities here! This nature-inspired craft activity makes an excellent family activity!
Prepare your fabric
If you’re printing onto fabric instead of paper, soak the cloth for 15-20 minutes in water and alum powder solution before beginning. Alum is an effective natural mordant that will help plant pigments adhere to fabric better. After it has been immersed, rinse it and dry it afterward.
Once the fabric is prepared, have children arrange flower petals and leaves on its surface. Cover these features with a paper towel; once covered, they can use a small hammer to transfer pigments from flowers and leaves onto fabric.
Tip: Use heavy-duty paper, such as duct tape, to secure the paper towel to the fabric before hammering to prevent natural dyes from bleeding to the backside of your print. A smaller hammer allows children to be more precise with their pounding action.
Heat setting your prints is an option that will help your designs maintain their shape and colors for longer, though their form and colors will inevitably fade naturally over time if left alone; otherwise, they can always be rinsed and reprinted as many times as desired.
Pound your flowers
Flower pounding is an engaging, sustainable craft for the whole family to participate in, creating beautiful prints of flowers and plants on paper or fabric for decorative textiles or handmade greeting cards. Additionally, this technique works on greenery, such as yarrow and ferns, to produce lush greenery impressions.
Assemble your flowers carefully, using petals without stamens or pollen, and arrange them into bud shapes if possible. After collecting your collection, cover your material for pounding with masking tape (or similar) to keep the flowers still while you beat them – otherwise, their impression might not be apparent or large enough! Alternatively, tape them down directly onto your pounding surface while using earplugs as noise protection!
As time progresses, you will notice the colors of your flower or leaf emerging in your fabric. Once satisfied with their pigment, carefully peel back the masking tape to reveal your press print. Dab it with a damp cloth to remove any remnants and allow the fabric to dry thoroughly before ironing it at low heat to set its print.
